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14.3.25 The Revised Standards showed up on the Federal Register of Legislation

Updated: Mar 23

The revisions to the Standards for RTOs are now in place on the Federal Register of Legislation
Revisions to the Standards for RTOs are now in place

Yesterday, the revisions to the Standards for RTOs appeared on the Federal Register of Legislation. 


This means now the changes have been enacted and are in place as law. Anything previous to yesterday 14.3.25 was in draft state, not finalised, and subject to change.


Rather than educate on unfinalised drafts subject to change, Skills Education has waited to deal with the absolute facts and now we have them, will release our program of support materials that deal with the legislation now in place and that will come into effect for ASQA-regulated RTOs from 1 July 2025.


In the meantime, here are a few facts to light so far:


Composition 

The ‘revised Standards’ are comprised of three parts:

  1. Outcome Standards

  2. Compliance Requirements

  3. Credential Policy


Revised Standards for SRTOs are comprised of 2 x legislative instruments made under the NVR Act 2011, and 1 x Policy
Two legislative instruments and one Policy comprise the revised Standards for RTOs

The official names for these and links for where they are found are:

  1. Outcome Standards - National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Outcome Standards for Registered Training Organisations) Instrument 2025: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/asmade/text 

  2. Compliance Requirements - National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Compliance Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations and Fit and Proper Person Requirements) Instrument 2025: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00355/asmade/text

  3. Credential Policy - Credential Policy Standards for Registered Training Organisations 

    via the National Register of VET (training.gov.au):  [Word version] https://content.training.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/Credential%20Policy.docx  [PDF version] https://content.training.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/Credential%20Policy.pdf



In addition to the legislative instruments, there are a number of documents to support interpretation. The current list is here:


Outcome Standards:


Compliance Requirements:



The Outcome Standards contain the areas for quality delivery of training and assessment, including the standards of performance required to achieve the necessary outcomes, and the indicators for performance that RTOs must demonstrate in order for the regulator to consider compliance at the standard level.


RTOs must act under their own self-assurance model to demonstrate to the regulator how they are meeting the requirements of the Outcome Standards in the context of their operations.


The Compliance Requirements contain the administrative requirements that must be met by

RTOs in order that their registration is maintained. 

This is a prescriptive document. It stipulates what can and cannot happen. 

The Compliance Requirements deal with:

  • Marketing and information shared by the RTO

  • Issuance and record keeping of AQF certification documentation

  • Retention of records (‘certificates’ and assessments)

  • Student identifier requirements 

  • Use of the Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) logo

  • Transition arrangements

  • Annual declaration on compliance

  • Notification of material changes

  • Third-party arrangements

  • Pre-paid fee protection, insurance, and compliance with laws


The Fit and Proper Person Requirements and the NRT Logo Conditions of Use Policy are contained in the Compliance Requirements as Schedules 1 and 2 respectively.


The Credential Policy stipulates the credentials required to undertake various activities in VET. It deals with requirements to:

  • Deliver and/or assess VET qualifications

  • Deliver and/or assess TAE qualifications

  • Participate in or lead assessment validation

  • Work under direction (and the allowable circumstances for this)

  • Provide direction (and the allowable circumstances for this)


The Credential Policy is a prescriptive document. It stipulates what is, and what is not, allowable.


All three (3) components of the Standards must be read in conjunction with each other. And at times, with reference to other, noted legislation.


RTOs are required to comply with the requirements across all documents to maintain registration.


Changes

On the morning of 15.3.25, we are part way through the analysis of the final documents; it is noted that there is a significant number of wording changes between the final legislative instruments and Credential Policy, and the Draft Policy Documents that were released in October 2024.


Further, we have already noted a couple of additions to the Outcome Standards that were not included in the Policy Drafts.


Implications

Whilst the wording changes may not always vary the intent of the Standard and/or Performance Indicator, particularly when written into RTO documents such as policies, procedures and processes, we recommend care is taken to ensure the correct wording - and therefore the correct component of the legislative instrument and/or Policy - is referenced and embedded into operations.


Any RTO that has pre-emptively purchased products and/or applied changes based on the draft Policy documents should review these against the final version of the new Standards to ensure all necessary changes and updates are applied.



ASQA-regulated RTOs can expect 1 July 2025 as the deadline for when the new requirements come into full regulatory effect
ASQA-regulated RTOs can expect 1 July 2025 as the deadline for when the new requirements come into full regulatory effect

Timeline

Although release of the enacted Standards is behind schedule, the previously advertised deadline of 1 July 2025 for full regulatory effect appears firm.


Note: This applies to ASQA-regulated RTOs


RTOs under the jurisdiction of the Training Accreditation Council Western Australia (TAC WA) or the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) have different conditions and must refer to their regulator for requirements. 


DEWR have noted that TAC-regulated RTOs may expect full regulatory effect "July 2025" (i.e. not necessarily on 1 July 2025).


For ASQA-regulated RTOs, until changeover on 1 July 2025, the Standards for RTOs 2015 will continue to apply.


Auditing will be against the Standards in place at the time of the audit.


Information Sessions

The first information session will be held early next week for Education Matters members to:

  • Run through the:

    • New documents

    • Changes

    • Potential implications

    • Suggested next steps

  • Disseminate the first of the resources/guides to support transition to the new requirements



What else?

No doubt in the coming days and weeks we will see ASQA finalise their Draft Practice Guides and DEWR provide other content about the changes.

You might like to refer to their websites for more:


To read short articles about some of the concepts that underpin the new Standards, see our other blog entries that unpack quality considerations.


There is a substantial body of work ahead to effectively analyse and implement the requirements to transition to the updated Standards, and we look forward to supporting you along the way!


See the tools available to support understanding and implementation.


 


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