ASQA Guidelines for VET Trainers Working Under Supervision: What You Need to Know

As an RTO, ensuring that your VET trainers are equipped with the right skills and knowledge is crucial to delivering high-quality training and assessments. This becomes even more important when trainers are working under supervision. The ASQA guidelines for VET trainers set the framework for maintaining consistency, compliance, and excellence in training delivery. These guidelines outline the specific responsibilities of trainers working under supervision, ensuring they adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements. Understanding and implementing these standards not only helps your organisation stay compliant but also ensures that your learners receive the best possible educational experience. In this guide, we will explore the key ASQA requirements and how they impact VET trainers working under supervision, offering practical insights for RTOs looking to stay audit-ready and meet the evolving needs of the VET sector.

What is Supervision for VET Trainers?

Supervision is the process of providing support and guidance to a new or inexperienced VET trainer. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the trainer is meeting the requirements of the ASQA guidelines, and they must provide feedback and advice to help the trainer improve their skills and knowledge.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Supervisor of VET Trainers

The VET trainer is responsible for the delivery of training and assessment to students. They must have the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver the training, and they must be able to assess students’ progress. The VET trainer must also be familiar with the ASQA guidelines and must comply with them in their work.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Supervisor

The supervisor is responsible for overseeing the VET trainer’s work. They must ensure that the VET trainer is meeting the ASQA trainer requirements, and they must provide support and guidance to the VET trainer. The supervisor must also be familiar with the ASQA guidelines and must be able to provide advice and feedback to the VET trainer.

Requirements for Assessment

Assessment must be fair, valid, and reliable. It must be aligned with the learning objectives of the VET course, and it must be conducted in a way that ensures that students are assessed fairly.

ASQA Guidelines for VET Trainers

The user’s guide to the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2025 contains several clauses that relate to trainers working under supervision. These clauses are:

• Clause 1.17: Provide supervision of trainers where needed. This clause requires RTOs to provide supervision to trainers who do not have the necessary qualifications or experience to deliver training and assessment
• Clause 1.18: Trainers working under supervision. This clause sets out the requirements for trainers who are working under supervision. These requirements include:
  • The trainer must have the necessary vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed.
  • The trainer must have current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided.
  • The trainer must work under the direct supervision of a qualified trainer.
  • The trainer must not determine assessment outcomes.

The user’s guide also provides some additional guidance on the supervision of trainers. This guidance includes:

• The supervisor should be an experienced trainer who is qualified to deliver the same training and assessment as the trainer they are supervising.
• The supervisor should meet with the trainer regularly to discuss their work and provide feedback.
• The supervisor should help the trainer identify areas where they need to improve and provide them with support and resources to help them improve their skills and knowledge.

By following the requirements of the user’s guide, RTOs can ensure that trainers who are working under supervision are provided with the support and guidance they need to deliver high-quality training and assessment.

How to Comply with the ASQA Guidelines for VET Trainers

Be familiar with the ASQA guidelines

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Be able to apply the guidelines to your work.

Meet the requirements for assessment

• Ensure that your assessments are fair, valid, and reliable.
• Ensure that your assessments are aligned with the learning objectives of the VET course.

Provide regular feedback to the supervisor

• Discuss the work with the supervisor on a regular basis.
• Get feedback from your supervisor on how you can improve.

Take action to improve trainer skills and knowledge if necessary

• If the RTO trainer is not meeting the requirements of the ASQA guidelines, or if the trainer feels that they need to improve their skills and knowledge, take action to do so.
• This could involve attending training courses, reading books or articles, or getting feedback from other trainers.

Benefits of Supervision for the VET Trainers

Increased confidence and competence

• Supervision can help the VET trainers to develop their confidence and competence as VET trainers.
• By working with an experienced supervisor, you can learn from their expertise and experience.
• Trainers can also get feedback on their work, which can help them identify areas where they need to improve.

Improved skills and knowledge

• Supervision can help the trainers to improve their skills and knowledge as VET trainers.
• Supervisors can help RTO trainers with resources and support to help trainers learn new skills and knowledge.

Feedback and advice from an experienced professional

• Supervision can give RTO trainers access to feedback and advice from an experienced professional.
• This can be invaluable in helping trainers to improve their practice as VET trainers.
• Supervisors can provide trainers with insights and perspectives that they may not have considered on their own.

Support and guidance to help RTO trainers succeed

• Supervision can provide a trainer with support and guidance to help them succeed as a VET trainer.
• Supervisors can help VET trainers navigate the challenges of the job, and they can offer support and encouragement when needed.
• This can help ASQA trainers to stay motivated and focused on goals.

Conclusion

By following the ASQA guidelines for VET trainers working under supervision, RTOs can help to ensure that they are providing high-quality training and assessment to their students. If you are a VET trainer who is working under supervision, or if you are considering becoming a VET trainer, we encourage the RTO to read the ASQA guidelines in full.

Are you an RTO looking for quality training resources?

Then VET Resources is your partner. We offer free consultation to RTOs. We also have a YouTube channel with videos explaining RTO and its operations in great detail. For further information, contact us here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the different types of supervision?

There are two main types of supervision:

• Formal supervision: This type of supervision is usually provided by an experienced VET trainer from the same RTO. It typically involves regular meetings between the VET trainer and the supervisor to discuss the VET trainer’s work and to provide feedback.
• Informal supervision: This type of supervision can be provided by anyone, including other VET trainers, colleagues, or even students. It can involve informal discussions about the VET trainer’s work or providing feedback on a specific task.

2. What are the consequences of not complying with the ASQA guidelines?

If the RTO does not comply with the ASQA guidelines, the RTO may be subject to disciplinary action, such as a warning or a fine. In serious cases, RTO may even be deregistered as an RTO.

3. Where can an RTO find more information about the ASQA guidelines for VET trainers working under supervision?

An RTO can find more information about the ASQA guidelines for VET trainers working under supervision on the ASQA website.

4. What are the roles and responsibilities of support providers in the VET sector?

Support providers play a vital role in the VET sector by providing support to training providers, trainers, and students. This support can include:

• Providing advice and guidance on curriculum development and delivery
• Providing training and development for trainers
• Providing assessment services
• Supporting students with their learning

5. What is the importance of vocational experience in the VET sector?

Vocational experience is essential for trainers in the VET sector as it allows them to gain practical skills and knowledge in the industry in, they are training. This experience can help trainers to better understand the needs of students and to deliver training that is relevant and up to date.

6. What is the regulatory approach to delivering training in the VET sector?

The regulatory approach to delivering training in the VET sector is designed to ensure that all students receive high-quality training. This approach includes:

• Setting standards for training providers and trainers
• Conducting regular audits of training providers
• Taking action against training providers who do not meet the standards

7. What are the expectations of training providers in the VET sector?

Training providers in the VET sector are expected to

• Deliver high-quality training that meets the needs of students.
• Employ qualified and experienced trainers.
• Provide students with the support they need to succeed.
• Follow the regulatory requirements for delivering training.