Welcome to the February Update
The Training Accreditation Council (the Council) is committed to supporting RTOs to deliver high‑quality, student‑centred training across Western Australia.
As part of this commitment, the Council will commence the 2026 TAC Regional Roadshows with sessions in Albany on 18 February and Geraldton on 23 February. Further workshops will be held in Kalgoorlie, Broome, South Hedland and Bunbury over the coming months.
The TAC Regional Roadshows provide an opportunity for RTOs to engage in person, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the Registration Standards 2025 (2025 Standards). Each free event includes three workshops focused on key areas of quality delivery:
- Delivering Quality Training that Supports Student Progression
- Reasonable Adjustment vs Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
The regional program is designed to support RTOs in strengthening capability and applying the 2025 Standards in a practical, consistent manner. Further information, including registration details, is available later in this newsletter.
2025 AVETMISS Reporting
The collection window for RTO’s 2025 annual fee-for-service activity opened on 1 January 2026 and will close on 28 February 2026. Plan ahead and validate your data early, submitting on time helps you avoid last-minute stress and ensures compliance.
Non-publicly funded data
RTOs are required to collect and submit full AVETMISS data on all nationally recognised training where there is a responsibility for issuing a statement of attainment or qualification. The AVETMISS VET provider collection specifications, data element definitions, and the RTO Reporting Requirements section on the TAC website provide more information on what is expected to be collected and reported.
Publicly funded data
All publicly funded data reporting is submitted directly to the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD), the State Training Authority (STA) in WA via current Training Allocation Management System (TAMS) reporting requirements.
RTOs accessing state funding should contact DTWD via training.markets@dtwd.wa.gov.au with further enquiries regarding submission of AVETMISS data, as the requirements differ for training delivered under funding agreements.
TAC Education Program
Upcoming Events:
Register now for our upcoming event. You can also be alerted to new events by following Event Page on Humanitix.
TAC 2026 Roadshows:
TAC is heading out on a statewide regional roadshow, bringing tailored support and practical insights directly to RTOs registered with TAC.
Registrations have now closed for Albany on 18 February.
Register Now for:
- 📆 GERALDTON - 23 February
- 📆 KALGOORLIE - 29 April
- 📆 BROOME - 22 May
- 📆 SOUTH HEDLAND - 12 June
- 📆 BUNBURY - 15 July
Webinar Recordings:
View the TAC Education Program to access professional development opportunities, support and guidance materials and access previous webinar recordings and resources.
Focus on Quality Article - Feedback, Complaints and Appeals
Supporting Quality and Continuous Improvement
Effective feedback, complaints and appeals processes are essential to delivering a fair, transparent and high‑quality training experience across Western Australia’s VET sector. These processes ensure students, clients and stakeholders are supported throughout their training journey and that RTOs continually strengthen their practices.
Understanding Feedback, Complaints and Appeals
- Feedback includes any information, positive or negative, relating to training materials, assessment processes, facilities, staff performance or general student experience. Feedback is a valuable mechanism for continuous improvement and should be actively gathered and used to enhance training quality.
- Complaints involve allegations regarding the conduct of an RTO, its staff, a third-party delivering services on its behalf, or other students.
- Appeals are requests for a review of decisions made by the RTO, including assessment outcomes or access to support services.
In all circumstances, the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness must be upheld to ensure decisions are fair, evidence‑based and transparent.
Common Challenges and the Importance of Clear Processes
Raising a complaint or appeal can feel daunting for students, and RTOs may face challenges managing these concerns effectively. Issues can often arise when policies are complicated, inaccessible or inconsistently applied, creating barriers for individuals seeking fair review. Clear, publicly available processes are essential to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be heard and to access relevant information.
Good Practice in Managing Feedback, Complaints and Appeals
Strategies to support effective and equitable management could include:
- Clear, accessible communication about rights, responsibilities and procedures;
- Timely acknowledgement and resolution, consistent with Outcome Standards 2.7 and 2.8;
- Commitment to continuous improvement, supported by Outcome Standard 4.4; and
- Structured, fair processes, from early resolution to formal review when required.
Supporting a Quality‑Driven VET Sector
By embedding effective feedback, complaints and appeals processes, RTOs not only meet compliance obligations but also foster trust, responsiveness and accountability. These processes play a vital role in strengthening training quality and ensuring positive outcomes for students across Western Australia.
For more information, including detailed guidance and examples of good practice, is available in the Feedback, Complaints and Appeals Fact Sheet.
Ensuring Integrity: Protecting VET Quality from Unregistered Entities
The VET sector is crucial in developing skilled professionals across diverse industries. During periods of skill shortages and high training demand, some individuals or organisations may exploit the market by falsely claiming to be RTOs without proper registration with the Council or another VET regulator. Individuals that purport to be an RTO or provide certification for a VET qualification*, undermine the VET system's credibility, leading to substandard education and the issuance of fraudulent certificates or statements of attainment.
Every legitimate RTO has a unique RTO code, which can be verified on training.gov.au. RTOs must display their code on marketing materials for easy identification, and any third parties must clearly identify their associated RTO. This added scrutiny helps stakeholders distinguish genuine RTOs from fraudulent ones.
The Council reminds RTOs and stakeholders that they can report suspected cases of purporting through the Council's complaints process. This process is designed to be accessible and straightforward. Upon receiving complaints, an investigation is conducted to verify the authenticity of the individuals or organisations. If complaints about purporting are substantiated, actions will be taken to protect the interests of students and the broader VET sector.
General information related to verified complaints may be published to further educate the sector on this issue, fostering transparency and awareness.
(*Note: Under the Vocational Education and Training Act (1996), 'purporting' refers to organisations or individuals that claim to be RTOs without proper registration with a VET regulator or those registered but not authorised to confer the course or qualification.)
Other Important Updates
Free copyright webinars for publicly funded private RTOs in WA
Registrations for the Department of Training and Workforce Development’s (DTWD) semester 1 copyright webinars are now open. These free webinars provide the tools and information to enable private RTOs in WA to meet their copyright obligations under the Copyright Act 1968.
Click on the links below to secure your registration.
- Copy Right: An introduction to copyright for private RTOs – Tuesday 24 Feb, 12-1pm. Introduces the basics of copyright for training, including identifying third-party content, RTO copyright, and an overview of exceptions, licences and non-infringing materials. Register here
Essential copyright for private RTOs – Thursday 19 Mar, 12-1pm.
This session provides a more in-depth focus on the copyright essentials private RTOs need to successfully create and deliver training in WA, including how to obtain and use crucial copyright licences. Includes a special guest from Copyright Agency. Register here
Copyright: Finding and using free resources for training – Tuesday 5 May, 12-1pm
Finding new resources doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. This webinar will assist RTOs to successfully find, use and manage a large range of free materials for training. Register here
Copyright compliance online: Best practices for the digital classroom – Thursday 11 Jun, 12-1pm
Provides tools and knowledge for private RTOs to create and use copyright-compliant resources in a digital classroom. Topics include determining the copyright status of online content, using AI-generated materials and protecting your RTO’s digital content. Register here
Any questions, please contact sectorcapability.ip@dtwd.wa.gov.au.
Changes to the ESOS Act
The Fact Sheet Changes to requirements around education agents and commissions has been developed by the Australian Government Department of Education (DOE) as a plain language guide to the changes made to the ESOS Act regarding education agents and education agent commissions.
Further information on the ESOS Act is available on the DOE website.
Jobs and Skills Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the following:
Consultations:
Reports:
Latest NCVER Reports
NCVER has released the following new report:
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