🎙 In this episode of the RTO Superhero Podcast, Angela Connell-Richards and co-host Lauren Hollows tackle a confronting reality in Australia’s VET sector—how arbitrary funding decisions are crippling high-performing private RTOs.

Despite delivering 80% of Australia’s training, private RTOs receive just 30% of government funding. Even worse? RTOs with exceptional outcomes are being denied funding simply because their success happened in the “wrong” state.

🚨 What’s happening behind the scenes:

• 📉 Outstanding RTOs excluded from funding programs due to postcode politics
• 📊 “Mom and pop” RTOs pushed out by skyrocketing compliance costs
• 📈 One RTO slashed unit completion times from 400 to 84 days—just by using their own data better

Angela and Lauren unpack how this imbalance is reshaping Australia’s training landscape—and why it’s time to stop pitting TAFE vs. private RTOs and start building collaborative solutions.

✅ What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The real cost of underfunding private RTOs—and who’s paying for it
• Why compliance pressure is forcing quality providers out of the sector
• How data-driven management can dramatically improve performance
• What it will take to create a sustainable, student-focused training system

🎧 Tune in to hear what’s really happening—and how you can help fix it.

✍️ Support the cause: change.org/save_private_rtos

Send us a text

 Join host Angela Connell-Richards as she opens each episode with a burst of insight and inspiration. Discover why compliance is your launchpad to success, not a limitation. 

Connect with fellow RTO professionals in our free Facebook groups: the RTO Community and RTO Job Board. Visit rtosuperhero.au/groups to join today. 

 Ready to elevate your RTO? Join our Superhero Membership community and gain access to expert resources, training, and personalised support to help you thrive. 

Wrap up with gratitude and guidance. Subscribe, leave a review, and join our community as we continue supporting your compliance journey in vocational education. 

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Thank you for tuning in to the RTO Superhero Podcast!

We’re excited to have you join us as we focus on the Revised Standards for RTOs in 2025. Together, we’ll explore key changes, compliance strategies, and actionable insights to help your RTO thrive under the new standards.

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