VET Talks: Future-Proof Your RTO - Embracing the 2025 Standards with Confidence

In this insightful episode of VETtalks, join Scott Rogers (CEO of eSkilled) and Angela Connell (CEO of Vivacity RTO Consulting) for a focused Q&A on navigating the upcoming 2025 Standards for RTOs.

With major reforms now on the horizon, this episode dives into why it’s critical to start preparing now—not later. You’ll hear expert insights into the compliance risks of delay, the key operational and strategic adjustments required, and how to begin aligning your RTO with the new regulatory framework.

Angela also shares behind-the-scenes lessons from Vivacity’s current work updating policies and procedures, including real-world challenges, common pitfalls, and practical opportunities for improvement.

Whether you're overseeing compliance, managing daily operations, or leading long-term strategy, this discussion will equip you with the clarity and confidence to future-proof your RTO for 2025 and beyond.

✅ Don’t miss this essential episode—your roadmap to readiness starts here.

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.

Discover ComplyHub—Vivacity’s AI-powered compliance management system. Designed to streamline operations and give you peace of mind. Book your demo 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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this episode of the RTO Superhero Podcast, Angela Connell-Richards and co-host Maciek Fibrich unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of the 2025 Standards for RTOs—Standard 2.2, with a laser focus on assessing Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) skills prior to enrolment.

There’s been growing confusion in the VET sector:
🌀 Do RTOs need to buy expensive LLN and digital skills tools?
🌀 Does every course require digital assessments?
🌀 What’s the difference between a review and a formal assessment?

Angela and Maciek cut through the noise with practical insights, examples, and real-world discussion. They compare two very different units—HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) and BSBINS501 (Implement Information and Knowledge Management Systems)—to explore how LLND requirements change based on the training product and delivery mode.

✅ What you'll learn:

• How to interpret Standard 2.2 and align it with your enrolment process
• When digital literacy must be assessed—and when it’s not necessary
• Why First Aid is not the same as a Diploma unit (and how ASQA will likely treat them differently)
• How to tailor your LLND review to the training product, learner cohort, and delivery mode
• What your RTO must document to stay compliant
• Whether ChatGPT can help (spoiler: yes—but only if you know how to guide it!)

🎁 Bonus: Download your free LLND Suitability Planning Checklist from the show notes—Angela’s must-have tool to help you write your own LLND review process.

🎧 Listen now

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.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this urgent episode of the RTO Superhero Podcast, Angela Connell-Richards takes you inside a growing crisis in Australia’s vocational education sector. Private RTOs—who deliver over 70% of the nation’s training—are being hit with devastating funding cuts, unfunded compliance reforms, and a wave of closures that threaten access, jobs, and student outcomes.

Angela shares real frontline stories, the latest NCVER data, and what government isn’t telling you about the Fee-Free TAFE agenda. She also unveils her Open Letter to the Prime Minister and Ministers, backed by hundreds of RTO professionals calling for fair, performance-based funding and immediate action.

✅ Why private RTOs are closing their doors in record numbers
✅ The true cost of excluding independent providers from policy reform
✅ How you can join the campaign to #SavePrivateRTOs
✅ Behind-the-scenes of the 2025 Standards overhaul—and what it means for your RTO
✅ What we’re demanding from government—and how you can help us get heard

🎯 This episode isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to action.

📢 Read and share the open letter: www.vivacity.com.au/open-letter
🖊️ Sign the petition: 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.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this thought-provoking episode, Angela Connell-Richards challenges the common assumption that simply updating your policies and procedures means your RTO is compliant. She explores the deeper truth behind the new Standards: implementation, understanding, and continuous review are what really matter now.

Key points discussed:
✅ Why policy updates alone won’t satisfy ASQA
✅ How to identify gaps between policy and practice
✅ The 4-question self-audit method to review your documentation
✅ How to embed policies into your team culture and systems

Angela shares actionable strategies and a real client case study that reveal how to shift from paper-based compliance to genuine self-assurance.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Policy Audit Checklist at Vivacity to make sure your documentation isn’t just updated—it’s effective.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

As we race towards the 1 July 2025 implementation of the Revised Standards for RTOs, one uncomfortable truth is becoming clear: many RTOs are more prepared than the national regulator itself.

In this unfiltered and empowering bonus episode of the RTO Superhero Podcast, Angela Connell-Richards takes you behind the scenes of what’s really happening with ASQA—and what that means for your compliance strategy. Drawing on over 30 years of experience (including the last major reform in 2011), Angela shares first-hand stories, current client scenarios, and actionable strategies to help RTO leaders confidently take the reins.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Why waiting for ASQA to "catch up" could leave your RTO exposed
✅ How Vivacity is helping clients prepare for both the 2015 and 2025 Standards
✅ How to lead your compliance journey with confidence, clarity, and evidence
✅ Why the transition to a micro-credential framework is already shaping legislative change
✅ Six must-do actions to ensure you're audit-ready—before the regulator is

Angela doesn’t hold back as she reveals how ASQA is still requiring outdated forms, provides conflicting advice, and admits their own auditors are unsure how to assess the new requirements. But rather than complain, she offers a clear blueprint for RTOs to stay ahead: build your own benchmarks, train your team, document everything, and take the lead—no matter what’s happening at the top.

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.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this timely episode, Angela Connell-Richards tackles the most common mistakes RTOs are making as they scramble to prepare for the 1 July 2025 Standards deadline. Drawing on her work with dozens of RTOs in recent months, Angela shines a light on the blind spots, oversights, and shortcuts that could cost you dearly—and, most importantly, explains how to fix them before it’s too late.

Key points discussed:
✅ The top 5 compliance mistakes RTOs are still making right now
✅ Why these issues keep popping up (even in experienced organisations)
✅ Practical, step-by-step fixes to get your RTO back on track
✅ How to embed a proactive compliance mindset across your team

Angela’s no-nonsense advice will help you move from last-minute patchwork to confident, audit-ready operations. If you want to avoid the risks and set your RTO up for success under the new Standards, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Call to action: Listen now and grab Angela’s free Top 5 Mistakes Fix-It Checklist at Vivacity to safeguard your compliance before 1 July.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this insight-packed episode, Angela Connell-Richards uncovers the silent risks that could land your RTO in an ASQA audit—even if you’ve already met the 1 July deadline. From additions to scope, to complaints, to the delivery of high-risk qualifications, Angela shows how audit triggers have changed—and what RTOs must now do to stay audit-ready.

Key points discussed:
✅ How scope changes can trigger a full audit
✅ Why even one student complaint could launch an investigation
✅ The list of training products ASQA considers “high risk”
✅ Tools to assess and reduce your audit exposure

Angela offers clear guidance on what you can do this week to identify and address your biggest hidden risks.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Audit Trigger Checklist at Vivacity to safeguard your RTO from unexpected compliance breaches.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au

In this essential episode, Angela Connell-Richards tackles one of the most overlooked audit risks for RTOs—non-compliant marketing. With the 2025 Standards now in full effect, your course flyers, website, and social media content are all under ASQA’s lens. Angela explores how a single misleading phrase can trigger an audit—and what you can do to stay on the safe side.

Key points discussed:
✅ What the 2025 Standards say about marketing compliance
✅ The top marketing mistakes that RTOs are still making
✅ How to correctly use the NRT logo and represent your scope
✅ Tips for writing clear, compliant, and compelling course promotions

Angela breaks down the compliance expectations around marketing and provides practical advice that your team—especially your marketers—need to hear.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Marketing & Advertising Compliance Checklist at Vivacity to ensure your promotional material is audit-ready.

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 hello@vivacity.com.au
📞 Call us on 1300 729 455
🖥️ Visit us at vivacity.com.au