Big shifts are landing across Australia’s retail and hospitality training packages, and we’re breaking down what actually matters for RTOs, trainers, and learners. Angela sits with returning guest Lauren Hollows to dig into what’s changing in SIR and SIT, why this reform cycle feels different, and the practical steps you can take now to protect funding, simplify assessment, and improve outcomes. The core story is transparency: using the Markup platform, anyone can see and respond to unit-level feedback in real time, creating a visible trail of what gets accepted, what doesn’t, and why. That’s a big win for industry voice and a chance to cut duplication, update outdated terminology, and design assessments that reflect real kitchens, real stores, and real budgets.

We walk through the nuts and bolts that keep leaders up at night. For hospitality, repetitive unit design drives cost and confusion; we outline ways to streamline demonstrations without watering down standards. For retail, we challenge rigid prerequisites that shut out experienced supervisors, and offer sane alternatives grounded in current work roles. Then we get tactical: how to use draft releases as an 80–90 percent guide, plan dual delivery across staggered state timelines, choose between dual tools and gap assessments, and keep a crisp communication plan that reassures students, employers, and staff from day one.

You’ll also hear how to request apprenticeship extensions, set up governance rhythms that produce compliance evidence, and plug into essential alerts on training.gov.au. And if SIT, SIR, SHB, or CUA sit on your scope, don’t miss the SAXA national roadshow for direct consultation in every major city. Bring your top five unit pain points and leave with clearer options for 2025 delivery. If you’re ready to move from reacting to leading, this conversati

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

A glossy promise, a long wait, and an audit that collapsed in four and a half hours—this cautionary tale shows how fast things unravel when a consultant says “we’ll take care of everything.” We walk through a real CRICOS case where outdated policies and false confidence met the hard edge of the 2025 standards, and the regulator made it clear: capability sits with the CEO and PEO, not the consultant on the call.

We dig into the mindset shift that turns compliance from a paperwork chore into a leadership habit. That means reading your policies, sitting in on validation, understanding your training and assessment strategies, and being able to evidence implementation across student support, trainer competence, and records. We talk timelines that actually work, why 30-day miracles backfire, and how to build a weekly rhythm that creates audit-ready evidence without burning out your team.

Choosing help is the hinge point. We share a practical checklist for hiring the right consultant: recent audit experience under current standards, clear scope (initial registration, re-registration, or AAT), verifiable referees on training.gov.au, and a plan that upskills you rather than replaces your function. We call out red flags—blanket “we’ll do it all” offers, expensive retainers without education, and advice that downplays policy currency or implementation. Along the way, we broaden the lens beyond VET: your RTO is a business with WHS, HR, finance, privacy, and insurance obligations that demand the same disciplined approach.

If you want sustainable compliance, build capability, not dependency. Press play to learn the questions to ask, the evidence to prepare, and the habits that make audit rooms calm instead of combative. If this helped you rethink your approach, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a colleague wh

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

The vocational education landscape is experiencing a seismic shift as artificial intelligence transforms everything from assessment design to compliance management. This thought-provoking conversation with AI expert Lauren explores the practical implications of this revolution for RTOs.

We dive deep into how AI is already reshaping assessment validation processes, with Lauren sharing how her organisation has redesigned hundreds of assessments to incorporate live video components. This critical adaptation allows trainers to validate a student's written submissions against their verbal capabilities—helping to identify potential AI-generated work when written language significantly outpaces verbal expression.

The discussion takes a cautionary turn as we explore the vital questions RTOs should ask before adopting any AI solution. Where is your data being stored? What security protocols protect it? Most importantly, do the people behind AI compliance tools actually understand RTO operations and regulatory requirements? Lauren emphasizes that no matter how impressive the technology, the human expertise behind it remains essential.

For RTOs yet to begin their AI journey, we offer practical starting points based on your scope of registration. Those in business, finance or IT sectors face the stark reality that students are already using AI extensively. Rather than futile resistance, we suggest strategies for incorporating AI authentically into assessments while maintaining academic integrity.

Perhaps most concerning is Lauren's prediction about the future of compliance challenges. While ASQA has recently cancelled thousands of qualifications due to insufficient evidence, tomorrow's challenge won't be lack of evidence—it will be determining authenticity as AI tools become sophisticated enough to generate convinc

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

Ever wondered what your first audit under Australia's new RTO standards might look like? In this revealing conversation, Angela Connell-Richards and Lauren Hollows share candid insights from their recent experiences guiding RTOs through audits under the updated regulatory framework.

The landscape has shifted noticeably. Auditors now place substantial emphasis on governance structures, risk management processes, and inclusivity practices. Both initial registrations and re-registrations reveal a regulatory approach that's evolving but increasingly data-driven. Lauren describes how auditors are spending significant time explaining their quality assurance processes to RTOs, creating greater transparency about how compliance determinations are made.

One striking development is the focus on RTO leadership taking genuine ownership of compliance rather than outsourcing responsibility to consultants. Auditors are directly questioning how providers select their consultants and whether they verify consultants' qualifications – a clear signal that the "RTO in a box" approach is under scrutiny. Meanwhile, for CRICOS providers, PRISMS data management has become a critical audit focus, with regulators examining everything from the timing of non-commencement notifications to deferral processing timeframes.

The good news? RTOs who come prepared can still expect reasonable outcomes. Both Angela and Lauren share examples where providers who could quickly furnish additional documentation when requested demonstrated their readiness to operate compliantly. The key differentiator appears to be responsiveness and preparedness – having compliant assessment tools, well-developed policies, and competent staff already in place before the audit begins.

Whether you're facing initial registration, re-registration, or simply maintaining ongoing compliance, this episode offers valuable perspective on what to expect and how to prepare. Listen now and discover how to position your RTO for succes

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

Navigating the re-registration process doesn't have to be stressful. This enlightening conversation between Angela Connell-Richards and compliance expert Maycheck reveals crucial strategies for approaching RTO re-registration with confidence under the 2025 Standards.

Did you know you can submit your re-registration application up to 12 months before your expiry date? This proactive approach not only demonstrates organisation to ASQA but gives you valuable time to address any compliance issues. While there's no guarantee whether your RTO will undergo an audit during re-registration, understanding ASQA's risk-based approach helps you prepare effectively regardless of the outcome.

The podcast dismantles the fear surrounding compliance audits, emphasizing that regulators aren't looking for perfect RTOs but rather those demonstrating an understanding of their obligations and a commitment to addressing identified issues. Maycheck and Angela stress the importance of honest self-assessment, recommending RTOs implement monthly compliance reviews rather than annual internal audits to create a genuine culture of compliance.

For those navigating the transition to the 2025 Standards, approximately 70-80% remains aligned with previous requirements in principle. Key areas requiring attention include student support mechanisms (Outcome Standard 2), workforce management, and risk management (Outcome Standard 4.2). The standards now place greater emphasis on successful completion as a measure of quality, encouraging RTOs to work backwards from this goal when designing processes.

Whether you're facing re-registration soon or preparing for the future, this episode provides invaluable insights to help your RTO approach compliance as an ongoing operational commitment rather than a dreaded hurdle. Subscribe to the RTO Superhero podcast for more expert guidance on thriving in the regulated VET sector.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

The training sector has witnessed significant regulatory changes with the introduction of the 2025 standards, leaving many RTOs uncertain about what to expect during their ASQA audits. This episode cuts through the noise to deliver practical insights from two practitioners who've recently navigated the new audit landscape.

Drawing from their combined experience with seven initial registration audits under the new standards, Angela and Maycheck reveal a fundamental shift in ASQA's approach. Auditors are now prioritising the "tell and show" method – they want to hear RTOs explain their implementation strategies rather than simply reviewing documentation. This represents a move toward outcome-focused assessment, where your understanding of compliance obligations carries more weight than perfectly crafted policies.

The conversation explores several critical aspects of audit preparation, from ensuring comprehensive resource readiness to establishing clear accountability structures. Particularly valuable is their discussion of how auditors are comparing verbal explanations against submitted documentation to identify discrepancies. Both hosts stress the importance of thorough preparation: contextualising any purchased materials, testing assessment tools, and ensuring all team members have a solid grasp of compliance requirements.

Perhaps most refreshingly, Maycheck and Angela dismantle the fear narrative surrounding ASQA and the new standards. They emphasise that while the standards require interpretation based on your RTO's unique context, they're not designed to be impossibly complex. Their parting advice? Read the standards thoroughly, understand your obligations, and don't hesitate to seek guidance when needed. With proper preparation and the right mindset, your next audit can be an opportunity to demonstrate excellence rather than a source of anxiety.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this powerful follow-up episode, Angela Connell-Richards revisits the policy topic with a reality check: even after updates, many RTO policies still fail to meet the new 2025 Standards. Why? Because they lack implementation, contextualisation, or evidence.

Key points discussed:
 ✅ Why many “new” policies are still non-compliant
 ✅ The missing links between documentation and delivery
 ✅ How to embed your policies into team culture and student experience
 ✅ Simple tools to review and update effectively

Angela challenges you to go beyond cosmetic updates and build policies that drive quality, not just paperwork.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Post-July Policy Audit Guide to bring your documentation in line with real-world compliance.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this special reflection episode, Angela Connell-Richards shares an honest and insightful look at what the first month under the new 2025 Standards has really been like. From wins and breakthroughs to unexpected challenges, Angela takes you behind the scenes of her work with RTOs over the past month—revealing what’s working, what’s still settling, and what everyone should be paying attention to as the sector adjusts.

Key points discussed:
✅ How RTOs are adapting to the 2025 Standards in practice
✅ The biggest lessons learned (so far) from the first month
✅ Surprising trends and common roadblocks emerging across the sector
✅ What Angela and the Vivacity team have changed in their approach after working with clients under the new framework

Angela’s candid reflections will help you benchmark your own progress and get ahead of potential pitfalls. Whether you’re feeling confident or still finding your feet, this episode offers reassurance, clarity, and guidance for staying strong in the months ahead.

🎧 Call to action: Listen now and join Angela’s free online session, One Month On: Your RTO Check-In, at Vivacity to connect, reflect, and map out your next steps.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this crucial episode, Angela Connell-Richards sheds light on one of the fastest-growing audit triggers under the 2025 Standards: complaints. Even one unresolved student complaint can lead to a full ASQA investigation—so how you respond matters more than ever.

Key points discussed:
 ✅ How ASQA uses complaints to trigger audits
 ✅ What makes a compliant, defensible response process
 ✅ How to train your team to handle feedback and escalation
 ✅ What documentation you must retain to protect your RTO

Angela provides a framework to turn complaints into opportunities for improvement—and a shield against unexpected audits.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Complaint Response Template to strengthen your process today.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this high-stakes episode, Angela Connell-Richards breaks down the reality of delivering high-risk training products in the VET sector. From early childhood to cookery, some qualifications are magnets for ASQA scrutiny—and Angela shows you how to stay protected.

Key points discussed:
 ✅ What defines a “high-risk” qualification or unit
 ✅ How to assess and strengthen your delivery of risky products
 ✅ Common pitfalls in assessment, placement, and validation
 ✅ Evidence strategies to demonstrate quality and improvement

Angela gives you the tools to handle high-risk delivery areas with confidence and audit-readiness.

Listen now and download Angela’s free High-Risk Product Watchlist to assess and manage your most vulnerable qualifications.

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. 

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

Support the show

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.

Stay connected with the RTO Community:

• RTO Job Board Facebook
• RTO Job Board LinkedIn
• RTO Community Facebook

📌 Don’t forget to:
✔ Subscribe to the RTO Superhero Podcast so you never miss an episode!
✔ Share this episode with your RTO network—compliance is a team effort!

🎙 Listen now and get ahead of the compliance changes before it’s too late!

📢 Want even more compliance insights? Subscribe to our EduStream YouTube Channel for our FAQ series on the New Standards for RTOs 2025! 🎥

🔗 Subscribe now: EduStream by Vivacity Coaching

✉️ Email us at [email protected]
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au