TAC Talks

Welcome to TAC Talks, this 12-minute podcast dives into the dynamic realm of industry, employer, and community engagement in vocational education and training. In this episode, we focus specifically on Outcome Standard 1.2 from the 2025 standards. Siobhan Gallagher, an experienced auditor and former RTO owner, discusses the value of stakeholder engagement and its impact on enhancing training and a...

In this 8-minute episode of TAC Talks, Russell Docking explores how the 2025 Registration Standards—particularly Outcome Standard 1.8—emphasizes the importance of fit-for-purpose, safe, accessible, and sufficient training environments. Learn how RTOs can align their training delivery with real-world workplace conditions, manage third-party provisions, and mitigate risks associated with work-integr...

This is the final episode of TAC Talk series on Amplifying Excellence in WA VET Through Award Winner Stories where spotlight people who are making significant strides in vocational training. In this episode, we speak to Amy Hunt, a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated sphere who emerged as the winner of both the WA and Australian Apprentice of the Year awards. Her experience as a woman in...

This is the third episode of the TAC Talk series on Amplifying Excellence in WA VET Through Award Winner Stories where we spotlight people making significant strides in vocational education and training (VET). This episode features Anthony Nelson-Burns, a remarkable individual who triumphed as the WA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year and reached the finals of the National T...

This episode is part of a series dedicated to amplifying excellence in WA VET through award winner stories. In this instalment, we are speaking with Anthony Georgeff, finalist for the Australian Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award at the Australian Training Awards. Anthony shares his experiences engaging students and encourages listeners to consider literacy and language s...

This episode is part of a series dedicated to amplifying excellence in WA VET through award winner stories. In this instalment, we have the privilege of speaking with Holly Gudsell, WA and Australian VET Teacher/Trainer of the year. Holly speaks to us about her pivotal role in shaping the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer (AIEO) program. This program is founded upon several k...

Fraudulent certificates can affect the reputation of your RTO and undermine the quality of the VET sector. This 6-minute episode provides information on safeguarding your qualifications and mitigating this risk by boosting certificate security and verifying incoming certificates. Reporting any encountered fraud to the affected RTO, police, and TAC (if applicable) further strengthens your defence....

This short 5 minute podcast provides information on Clauses 8.5 and 8.6 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015. The Standards for RTOs state that RTOs must comply with Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation and regulatory requirements relevant to its operations; and that staff and clients need to be informed of these regulatory requirements and any changes that a...

Nobody likes complaints and for many RTOs, receiving a complaint from a learner or other stakeholder may be confronting. However responding to complaints can be a useful and important process.  This short 4 minute podcast provides information around Standard 6 of the Standards for RTOs on complaints and how they can provide an understanding of an RTOs clients’ expectations and experiences.  More i...

This podcast provides further information on Standards 4 and 5 of the Standards for RTOs, which require RTOs to provide accurate and accessible information about themselves, their services, and their performance. It also requires RTOs to ensure that each prospective and current learner is properly informed. The podcast explores the concept of providing prospective students with the information the...

This podcast navigates the complex topic of equivalence in the VET environment, including how it applies to awarding credit. Equivalence is often misunderstood in the VET sector, and when used incorrectly, it can have significant implications for the integrity of training and assessment. This podcast provides clarity on the specific meanings of equivalence in the VET sector, and how to use it as i...

TAC Talk Shorts provide succinct information on relevant topics with tips on where to find further guidance. This short 4 minute podcast provides information on RTO's requirements on reporting their Third Party arrangements to TAC.  More information on this topic is available in the: TAC Fact Sheet: Third Party Arrangements ; TAC Fact Sheet: Third Party Arrangements for the Third Party ; and Users...

TAC Talk Shorts provide succinct information on relevant topics with tips on where to find further guidance.   This short 4 minute podcast provides information on what RTOs needs to retain to meet their obligations for managing information.   More information on this topic is available in the: TAC Fact Sheet: Records Management ; and Users’ Guide to the Standards for RTOs uploaded 19 July 2023

It's hard to think of an industry area where there are not some specific requirements to work in a job in that industry.  The details of those requirements range depending on what industry thinks is critical so that the job is done safely and well. These details sit on a spectrum, ranging from industry taking unskilled workers and training them on the job, through to specific qualification require...

Clause 1.26 and 1.27 of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 outlines the transition and teach out arrangements for RTOs when a training product has been superseded or removed or deleted.  Because the arrangements are different for when products are superseded vs removed or deleted, we do have some confusion in the sector.  This confusion also happens regarding enrolment...

Vocational education and training (VET) enables the skilling of people for industry and the workplace. This means that the training and assessment delivered by registered training organisations (RTO) should accurately reflect workplace requirements. Effective industry engagement enables RTOs to reflect the needs of industry and current workplace requirements. This podcast examines Clauses 1.5, 1.6...

TAC frequently receives questions on the requirements for trainers and assessors in the VET sector. Common questions include - Why am I not qualified to train or assess in the VET sector when I have a Bachelor of Education, or higher level qualification in adult education, and previous teaching experience? Why are these qualifications or former experience not considered ‘sufficient’? What vocation...

The Training Accreditation Council is Western Australia's Vocational Education and Training (VET) Regulator responsible for the quality assurance and recognition of VET services in WA. Join both the Chairperson of the Council, Anne Driscoll and A/Director Training Regulation, Lisa Barron for this podcast that discusses the role of the Council and its guiding principles, why WA has a State based VE...

Every learner is unique, they have had different experiences, undergone different learning, have different learning styles, different ambitions and motivations, and have different challenges. The RTO therefore, should develop responsive training and assessment strategies that reflect their understanding of varying learner needs. This podcast unpacks the requirements in Clauses 1.1, 1.2 and 1.7, St...

The term "Amount of Training" refers to the time a learner is to be formally engaged with the RTO in structured learning activities. The amount of training determined must be sufficient to enable the learner to meet the requirements of the nationally recognised Training Product in which they are enrolled, whether that is a single unit of competency, a skill set or a qualification. This podcast unp...

The quality of training and assessment in the TAE Training and Education Training Package and specifically in the TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is pivotal to the quality of delivery in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector overall. This podcast examines Clauses 1.22 – 1.25 of the Standards for RTOs that detail specific requirements for RTOs that deliver training p...

More information on this topic is available in the  Users Guide to the Standards for RTOs. This podcast unpacks Clause 7.3 of the Standards for RTOs in relation to fee protection where learner fees are collected in advance.  uploaded 30 July 2021

This podcast explores the topic of how units fit into the Australian Qualifications Framework. More information on this topic is available in the: TAC Fact Sheet:  The Australian Qualifications Framework and Units of Competency The Users Guide to the Standards for RTOs uploaded 4 June 2021