How to allow your RTO to thrive
You are passionate about your industry, you want to help people. So you decided to have an RTO. You knew that by becoming an RTO
5 Invisible forces holding you back
When you share your truth, growth happens. When you are STUCK your growth STOPS. Highly-competent leaders have an ability to turn stumbling blocks into stepping
Key strategies from the science of learning for your RTO
Helping other people to learn is a challenge we continually face in RTO’s. During your TAE training you would (well should) have learned many theories
The Best Way To Set Your RTO Business Up For Financial Success
Whether your RTO is a new business, or you are in your business’s growth stage, you want to be sure that your RTO is set
Why listening is your greatest gift as an RTO leader
Providing leadership can sometimes be a stress full thing. Maybe that is why some people stop doing it even though it is needed. RTO’s need
5 RTO ideas to do right now
Normally I would ask for a breakdown of the next 90 days, yet at this point in time, I think that is too far ahead. 90 days can overwhelm you, so let’s break it down, and commence with 30 days.
So set a plan for what you wish to accomplish within the business, and for you.
💜💜 Purpose – know your why for doing what you intend – have a number 1 goal.
💜💜 Plan – plan your actions, remove the panic. Be clear on what it is to move forward.
💜💜 Passion – have passion, drive or energy. Be energised to conquer the way forward.
Focus on what’s your #1 goal for the next 30 days. Personally and professionally.
Here are 5 more things to help you along the way to your RTO success:
4 Ideas for RTOs in 2022
The RTO sector needs to be flexible and nimble enough to keep up with the rapid change happening in our sector So all of this got me thinking about how you can be supported to move forward with a successful RTO. Here are my ideas to help you.
RTO Marketing strategies
MARKETING YOUR RTO – MEETING COMPLIANCE The Standards for Registered Training organisations (2015) require that RTOs complying with advertising and marketing standards when marketing and advertising of AQF qualifications to prospective clients is ethical, accurate and consistent with its scope of registration. This is regardless if you use a third party or you undertake your marketing yourself.
RTO Systems for success
To successfully develop a serious business you need specific information that has been put into systems. To successfully develop a serious RTO business you need systems; a process, a practice by which to obtain that information and once obtained, a method with which to put that information to use in your business productively.
RTO Business Planning
For your RTO to succeed, it is important to fully understand what it takes to start, run and grow. Planning helps to establish how you will stand out from the crowd. This preparation is not only needed for your planning but also for your initial audit through a business plan complete with financial plans/projections.
The power of being curious in your business
So how does curiosity affect the bottom line? Planning your business is all about being curious about what could happen if we… It’s about looking at where you want to go, reflecting upon what has happened, and then becoming curious. Using your curiosity skills in your business will enhance: Your awareness (what truly is happening here) Your planning ability (what if I did this…)
Does your RTO have an outstanding Human Resource management process?
The key to retaining good staff is to make sure that you encourage their professional development and training. Looking after your staff has so many more benefits than ticking off the RTO Standards. When your employees can see ways to improve themselves, or improve their position, or salary whilst in employment with you, they are likely to have high job satisfaction.
3 tips to help you increase your RTO
Your RTO Success depends on you constantly looking at your business. Working on your business, managing the numbers and reviewing the metrics. Your RTO Success relies on you looking at the following: Maintain your Focus for the Long Term.
Should I start an RTO business from scratch, or buy an existing one?
There are so many considerations, however I would like to provide you with a guide that may make the decision easier. The best way to do this is to consider all of the possible advantages and disadvantages of buying an RTO before making a decision.
Good Practice in RTO Assessment
It is not mandatory that you map to the unit of competence. It is however mandatory that you demonstrate how you will meet the unit of competence. Therefore most RTOs undertake mapping.
Writing your RTO Business Plan
Research is vital in developing a clear picture of your customers’ needs and contributes to the development of your business plan.
11 tips to make your training stick
It is always a good idea to go out and do your own research and come to your own well evidenced conclusion! Ultimately, mapping should be just one way you are ensuring that your training and assessment are meeting the required standards and ensuring high quality outcomes for your RTO and more importantly, your students! Quality training and assessment leads to quality outcomes.
Are you considering setting up an RTO?
Setting up an RTO starts with planning. The foundation of a successful RTO service is really understanding the demographics that the service appeals to. Who are the people you will attract into your RTO? Where do they live, who do they interact with; are they old, young, men, women; do they enjoy certain activities?
RTO industry consultation made easy
It’s not just the TAS that needs to reflect the RTO Industry consultation.
RTOs also need to have their resources for training and assessment validated through consultation with industry.
How Setting up an RTO Is Like A Game Of Footy
To win the game, you need to analyse your opposition, know the rules of the game, and develop a strategy to win the contest. The same principles apply in setting up your RTO business.
Simple 1% improvements for your RTO success
When it comes to streamlining work and reducing waste in a business, the continuous improvement business strategy is lauded for its effectiveness. So I’ve put together some ideas for you to consider how it can be applied to your business.
How to Handle Difficult Conversations in your RTO Business with Grace
Managing an RTO business comes with many areas of expertise; you’ve got staffing, business strategy and compliance to be concerned about. All of these aspects involve the need to communicate.
7 ways to have your RTO Employees Perform to your standards
Running an efficient training organisation means providing quality training and assessment as well as handling employee issues when they surface. And when we look at it, managing employees can be one of the most difficult aspects of running your RTO.
Initial RTO Registration
Tips to help you with registering your RTO. Ways to move forward in your journey.
4 out of 5 people don’t pass their initial RTO registration audit when doing it all themselves, here’s how to avoid being one of them.
When you decide to become an RTO there is allot for you to consider. RTO set up is no longer an easy process where you decide to have an RTO, apply the next day, become registered in a few months, and start your business.
The Challenge for RTO Business Owners
Planning for the next 90 days, or even 30 days is critical in your RTO, here are tips on planning how to stay sane when having your own business.
Super exciting news for you & your RTO
Fees and charges relief for RTOs.
ASQA will waive or reimburse some fees and charges for VET providers and accredited course owners.
Seeking connection from a distance
We are all seeking connection and we need leadership in the crisis. We care to care, have compassion, and not buy into the limiting beliefs of others.
Find your passion – your True North
Sometimes that something is a loss of passion. Often we don’t even know what it is, we might say “we’ve lost our mojo, desire or whatever”.
It’s time to rise up as RTO leaders.
RTO Leaders must lead with transparency, consistency, take action to create stability within the business and continue to deliver quality services despite the level of disruptive change.
Speaking for our sector
It is my belief that skills-based training should be given a higher funding priority, to turbocharge its development to catch up with the current needs of industry.
Changes to USI need to record student consent.
The new RTO Privacy Notice no longer requires Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to collect and keep a record of student consent. RTOs are still required to provide the RTO Privacy Notice to all students at enrolment. The new format removes the need to record and report student consent, making the enrolment process simpler.
Don’t risk your RTO registration
Your RTO registration is reliant on 5 key steps. See how ASQA supports you with their checklist.
ASQA has provided a printable checklist to ensure RTO providers can stay current with key 2019 dates.
Is the VET sector in crisis? Where to from here?
My philosophy is to mentor and coach people so they can run there RTO without calling me every week. Therefore I will coach you through the process, and not do the process.
Are you frustrated just like me?
The industry is changing rapidly, some would complain and argue about it, others are grateful of the changes. The fact is we need to be on a continuous learning journey. All of us, VET consultants as well.
What is the future for RTOs in 2019 and beyond?
The training function within the RTO must be at the centre of this evolution, with skilled learning professionals leading the way. We are the experts, and we need to show everyone else how things are done.
Best Practices is to have an RTO Internal Audit regulary
A RTO internal audit is essential for any quality management system, and RTOs especially need to see they are every bit as important as external audits.
The comment areas of non-compliance from recent RTO internal audits
Continuous improvement of RTO systems is an area that RTO’s often fall down in according to my conversations with accrediting bodies. It is about taking a really hard look at your practices and relating them back to the RTO Standards.
Feedback, coaching and learning in your RTO
Giving feedback is just as beneficial as receiving feedback, because it makes us think, reflect, and consider other views as well. How do you use feedback?
Are you reflective? Or do you dismiss it as someone having a bad day?
Here Merinda considers ways for you to use it to your advantage.
Recommending someone can be awkward
Today I want to rave about some of the fantastic RTOs I have been visiting recently. YES rave – they are really trying to offer their participants something that can assist them going forward. It is these RTOs that help keep the great name for training in Australia.
Your health is pivotal to your own business
As an RTO owner you know only too well that your health impacts the business, the people, and operations. People say one of the hardest things you can do is run your own business. There is no time to get sick. Here are tips that you can implement immediately to support you and your team.
RTO Initial Registration result
What others say about working with RTO Mentor over the years. Words from people who achieved RTO Inital registration using RTO Mentor, who have had internal audits, and had coaching with Merinda. See them here.
Set up an RTO – magical explanations
When you intend to set up an RTO you are faced with many decisions. Often we find that these decisions require magical explainations.
Assessment Validation – is your RTO plan stacking up?
Assessment validation is a quality review process – one that is needed within your RTO. It involves a person or a team of people evaluating assessment tools and the ensuing student evidence.
An internal audit can do more than let you know your RTO is compliant
An internal audit can help guide you to understand the areas you are most at risk. Risk is very much the focus for all organisations nowadays and RTOs are not excluded. So how do you know if you are ticking all the right boxes and reducing your risk?
Collecting your assessment evidence (Updated April 2021)
This post looks at your assessment systems, tools and evidnce to be collected. All important aspects of your RTO compliance. It has been updated in April 2021, and is current to the auditng needs.
Your Assessment system needs a variety of assessment evidence
Assessment systems are incremental in your RTO. There should be method in your madness when developing them. Meaning you should consider the student, the length of the course and any other factors that need to be considered for your learners. When collecting assessment evidence is isn’t just to show the end result.
RTO mentor made sense of all the RTO jargon and gave it meaning in the real world
For me I really needed that direction and having been on one of your courses and now had you facilitate got the trainers in that workshop – I would have to say you are a pro at tailoring your approach the for your audience.
Using an RTO Consultant
Have you been searching for an RTO consultant?
This morning I heard another similar story to 3 others I heard in the past 2 days. Where the person had paid a large amount of money to an RTO consultant and had got a raw deal.
Training and Assessment strategies – getting them right (Updated Mar2021)
Your TAS document that you present says nothing in particular and was put together just to meet and audit many moons ago. The big thing is, it is NOT compliant now. It hasn’t been updated and this means during your next audit it wont pass. You need to make changes to it right now.
Training and assessment resources (Updated April 2021)
Training and assessment resources are sometimes the biggest investment you will make within your RTO. They take time and often money to get them right.
This journey as an RTO is a joint journey – you can’t just sit back and watch it happen
Your RTO Success comes from the effort of you and your team. Recently I was reading an article written by a fellow consultant about the new Trainer and Assessor TAE requirements.
Complaints are not the worst thing that can happen in your RTO.
RTO complaints in your RTO are not the worst thing that can happen. Sometimes you could consider them as negative and unwelcome, and they certainly can create stress a bad feeling. Consider you complaints as an opportunity to put things right and learn for the future too. It is the way you look at them that counts.
Is fear putting you off setting up your RTO?
Lets face it setting up your RTO is a huge commitment. Fear in starting the process to set up your RTO is normal. When everything is aligned some of us step right up get going straight away.
Time to update your TAE qualification
TAE qualification requirements for trainers and assessors effective from 1 April 2019.
