Standard 1.2 requires RTOs to engage with industry in a way that is:
- Ongoing – not a one-off exercise
- Representative – input from more than one person or group
- Meaningful – feedback must lead to improvements in TAS, delivery, or assessments
- Well-documented – evidence such as minutes, forms, consultation letters, and action logs
In other words: you can’t just collect one signature and file it away. Industry engagement must shape how you deliver training and assessment.
Why Industry Engagement Matters
- For CEOs & Directors: Shows your RTO is trusted by employers and delivering job-ready graduates.
- For Compliance Managers: Demonstrates continuous alignment with Standards.
- For Trainers & Assessors: Ensures training reflects workplace expectations.
- For Students: Builds confidence that their skills match industry demand.
Breaking Down Standard 1.2 Requirements
Representative Range
Employers, supervisors, peak bodies, regulators, recent graduates. Not just one contact.
Ongoing Consultation
Must be part of your annual compliance cycle (TAS review, validation, improvement).
Evidence of Improvement
Consultation must lead to real changes (e.g., updating tools, revising delivery methods).
Clear Records
Signed forms, detailed minutes, documented changes.
Case Study: Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care)
Audit Context:
An RTO delivering CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support was audited for Standard 1.2.
Findings (Non-Compliance):
Tick-and-flick consultation
- Feedback forms had only yes/no checkboxes.
- No detailed suggestions or evidence of action.
Not ongoing
Consultation done once in 2022. No records for the following 18 months.
Narrow range of input
- Only one aged care supervisor consulted.
- No engagement with peak bodies, graduates, or broader employer groups.
Poor record keeping
- Missing minutes and unsigned forms.
- No file showing what actions were taken.
Compliant Approach (What the RTO Should Have Done):
- Annual Calendar: Build consultation into TAS and validation cycles.
- Diverse Stakeholders: Employers, professional associations, and graduates.
- Action Evidence: Feedback led to:
- Adding more simulation hours for dementia care.
- Updating infection control delivery after COVID-19 guideline changes.
- Strong Records: Signed forms, detailed minutes, action log showing what was updated in TAS.
Outcome:
- Employers confirmed graduates were more placement-ready.
- TAS clearly showed updates from industry input.
- Audit evidence was complete and aligned with Standard 1.2.
Self-Assurance for Standard 1.2
ASQA’s new Standards expect RTOs to take responsibility for their own compliance – not wait for an audit to find gaps.
Here’s how your RTO can apply self-assurance to industry engagement:
Step 1 – Plan Consultation
- Build an annual consultation calendar (align with TAS reviews and validation cycles).
- Identify a range of stakeholders (employers, supervisors, associations, graduates).
Step 2 – Collect Evidence
- Use structured Industry Consultation Forms (with space for detailed feedback).
- Keep signed minutes, meeting notes, or email confirmations.
Step 3 – Analyse Feedback
- Compare responses across different stakeholders.
- Look for patterns (e.g., multiple employers asking for more placement hours).
Step 4 – Act on Feedback
- Update TAS, assessment tools, or delivery based on consultation.
- Record changes in your Continuous Improvement Register.
Step 5 – Review & Report
- At management meetings, review consultation outcomes.
- Report back to staff and trainers on changes made.
👉 Self-Assurance Tip: Don’t just store evidence — close the loop. Show consultation → action → improvement. This is exactly what ASQA looks for.
Use our Free Industry Consultation Form Template to start building your self-assurance evidence today.
Common Pitfalls RTOs Face
- Treating consultation as a tick-and-flick exercise.
- Only engaging one employer contact.
- Not revisiting consultation regularly.
- Failing to record outcomes or changes made.
- Storing evidence inconsistently or losing it.
FAQs on Standard 1.2
Standard 1.2 requires RTOs to actively engage with industry so that training and assessment remain relevant and reflect current workplace practices. It ensures that students graduate with skills employers actually need and that RTOs adapt to changes in industry standards, regulations, and technologies.
Consultation must be ongoing, not just once a year or at audit time. Best practice is to:
- Align consultation with TAS reviews, validation cycles, and continuous improvement processes.
- Conduct additional engagement whenever industry regulations, technologies, or practices change.
Industry representatives may include:
- Employers and workplace supervisors
- Professional and industry associations
- Regulators and licensing bodies
- Workplace assessors or mentors
Recent graduates employed in the field
👉 Importantly, ASQA expects input from a range of sources, not just one contact.
Evidence should show both consultation and outcomes. This may include:
- Signed consultation forms or feedback surveys
- Detailed meeting minutes or email summaries
- Reports that compile and analyse industry input
Updates made to TAS, assessment tools, or delivery strategies as a direct result of feedback
👉 Auditors look for the consultation → action → improvement loop.
No. A single consultation, especially with only one person, is not sufficient. RTOs must demonstrate:
- Engagement with multiple stakeholders
- Consultation occurring across time (ongoing, not one-off)
- Evidence that consultation led to continuous improvement
Industry feedback should directly inform:
- TAS updates – sequencing, delivery methods, placement requirements, resources
- Assessment validation – ensuring tasks are realistic, reflect current industry practice, and are fair
- Continuous improvement – evidence that feedback has been reviewed and acted upon
- “Tick-and-flick” consultation forms with yes/no answers and no detail
- Consultation that is not ongoing (done once, then forgotten)
- Consulting only one employer or supervisor
- No evidence that feedback led to improvements
- Missing or poorly managed records (unsigned forms, no minutes, no action logs)
- Create an annual industry consultation calendar linked to validation and TAS review cycles
- Use structured templates for capturing feedback
- Keep an Industry Consultation Register showing who was consulted, when, and what action was taken
- Review consultation outcomes in governance meetings and record decisions in your continuous improvement register
Best practice is to use:
- Structured consultation forms (with sections for stakeholder details, feedback, and suggestions)
- Meeting minutes signed by participants
- An action log that records what changes were made to TAS, tools, or delivery
👉 Using consistent templates makes evidence easy to present at audit.
Yes. Consultation can be done via surveys, email, video calls, or online forums. However:
- Records must still be detailed and signed/verified.
- Feedback should be specific enough to demonstrate meaningful input (not just “yes, it’s fine”).
Industry engagement isn’t about ticking a box — it’s about proving your RTO is delivering job-ready graduates that meet workplace needs.
Disclaimer:
The information presented on the VET Resources blog is for general guidance only. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information. VET Resources is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Always consult a professional for advice tailored to your circumstances.
