Welcome to the August TAC Update
It has now been more than six months since the 2025 Standards came fully into effect in Western Australia, and many providers are well beyond preparation and are now focusing on demonstrating quality outcomes.
A significant challenge emerging among RTOs at audit is their ability to provide clear evidence that they are meeting the Standards. In this edition, we explore what good evidence looks like under the 2025 Standards and why outcomes, continuous improvement and effective implementation are vital to quality.
This month, the Council provides a timely reminder about the processes related to renewal of registration applications, including practical steps to help RTOs manage renewal requirements and avoid compliance risks.
You'll also find updates about membership of the Training Accreditation Council and information on recently updated TAC policies and Service Standards.
And finally, please join the Council in congratulating the finalists in the 2026 WA Training Awards, with the winners to be announced during the Presentation Ceremony at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on 10 September.
Welcome Dr Sharon Ivey to the Council
The Training Accreditation Council (TAC) welcomes a new appointment to the Council, Dr Sharon Ivey, and acknowledges the ongoing contribution of Ms Barbara-Anne Brown, whose tenure has been renewed for a further term.
Ms Brown has made a significant contribution during a period of considerable change across the VET sector, including the TAC's preparation for and transition to the Registration Standards 2025.
Dr Ivey brings extensive legal, governance and strategic expertise, with more than 25 years' experience advising on regulatory, commercial and contractual matters.
Throughout her legal career, she practised as a commercial disputes resolution lawyer with national and Western Australian law firms and has also served for many years as a ministerial appointee to state-level professional associations.
Dr Ivey has a strong interest in education, governance and consumer protection. Her experience spans university teaching and assessment, stakeholder engagement and regulatory oversight.
Her expertise in law, governance and regulation will be a valuable asset as the Council continues to assure the quality and integrity of vocational education and training in Western Australia.
The Council congratulates Ms Brown on her reappointment and welcomes Dr Ivey.
Meet the WA Trainer of the Year finalists
The TAC is proud to sponsor the WA Trainer of the Year category in the 2026 Western Australian Training Awards, recognising trainers who demonstrate outstanding commitment to vocational education and training and who make a lasting impact on learners, industry and the broader community.
The WA Training Awards are Western Australia's premier recognition program for excellence in Vocational Education and Training (VET), celebrating the achievements of students, apprentices and trainees, practitioners, training providers, and organisations that contribute to building a skilled workforce.
This year's awards attracted outstanding nominations from across the State, with 41 finalists selected across individual and organisational award categories.
The Council congratulates the four finalists for the 2026 WA Trainer of the Year Award:
• Katie Clune
• Rebecca Neumann
• Timothy Rowberry
• Yvette Vos
Finalists demonstrated professionalism, innovation and commitment and their achievements showcase the important contribution Trainers make to quality vocational education and training and serve as an inspiration to VET practitioners, students and organisations throughout Western Australia.
The winners of the 2026 WA Training Awards will be announced at the presentation ceremony on 10 September 2026 at PCEC.
What good evidence looks like in the 2025 Standards
A key focus of the Registration Standards 2025 (2025 Standards) is on outcomes rather than compliance with prescriptive processes: think quality rather than a tick-box approach.
The question for RTOs is no longer simply, "do we have a policy?" but rather, "how do we know our systems are achieving quality outcomes for learners, industry and employers?”
The 2025 Standards require RTOs to demonstrate quality through evidence of practice, outcomes and continuous improvement. This approach is particularly reflected in Outcome Standard 4.4 Continuous Improvement, which requires providers to systematically monitor and evaluate their services to support quality delivery and continuous improvement. As RTOs continue to embed the 2025 Standards, many are asking what evidence best demonstrates that outcomes are being achieved.
While there is no single template or prescribed set of documents, strong evidence typically shows not only what an RTO intends to do, but how those intentions translate into practice and improved outcomes.
What does strong evidence look like?
Strong evidence is generally:
- Relevant to the outcome being demonstrated
- Current and reflective of actual practice
- Consistently applied across the organisation
- Supported by multiple sources of information
- Used to inform continuous improvement.
Effective evidence will include a combination of:
- Policies and procedures that establish expectations
- Records demonstrating implementation in practice
- Feedback from learners, employers, industry or staff
- Assessment, validation or review activities
- Improvement actions that have been taken in response to identified issues or opportunities.
Common pitfalls
When reviewing evidence, RTOs should be cautious of several common pitfalls:
- Relying solely on policies and procedures
- Collecting information but not analysing it
- Gathering evidence that is disconnected from outcomes
- Keeping records that demonstrate activity but not effectiveness
- Failing to document actions taken following feedback or review.
Under the 2025 Standards, the emphasis is increasingly on demonstrating how systems contribute to quality outcomes for learners and industry, rather than simply proving that a process exists.
What happens next?
Over six months ago, when the 2025 Standards took full effect in WA, the question was, "are we ready?" Today, the question is “how are RTOs demonstrating quality outcomes?”.
Further information is available in the TAC Registration Standards 2025 Hub.
Don't let your RTO renewal become a compliance risk
For RTOs with registrations approaching expiry, monitoring your renewal timeframes and ensuring applications are submitted well before the registration ends are extremely important. Renewal of registration applications lodged close to expiry can place registration continuity at risk, particularly where additional evidence or corrective action is required during assessment.
With all renewal of registration applications now assessed against the 2025 Standards, RTOs should review their renewal obligations and confirm their registration expiry dates as a priority.
How to kick-start your renewal
To begin the renewal process:
- check your registration expiry date and renewal eligibility
- review the renewal of registration application requirements
- conduct a self-assessment against the 2025 Standards
- identify any compliance gaps and areas requiring improvement
- start gathering the evidence needed to support your application
- lodge your renewal of registration application at least four months before your expiry date.
What happens next?
Once your renewal of registration application is lodged, the TAC will assess your application against the 2025 Standards. This may include reviewing your evidence, seeking additional information or clarification and conducting further assessment activities where required.
Submitting a complete application with sufficient supporting evidence can help minimise delays and support a more efficient assessment process.
Lodging your application at least four months before your registration expiry date is essential for maintaining continuity of registration.
What evidence may be required?
The evidence needed to support a renewal of registration application will vary depending on the scope of an RTO's registration and operations. However, RTOs should provide evidence that demonstrates how they are meeting the requirements of the 2025 Standards in practice. This will include evidence relating to:
- governance and quality assurance arrangements
- training and assessment practices
- trainer and assessor competency and professional development
- learner support and engagement
- industry engagement and training product management
- monitoring, review and continuous improvement activities
- systems, policies and records that demonstrate compliance with the 2025 Standards.
RTOs should review the renewal of registration application guidance materials and self-assessment tools available on the TAC website to understand the evidence required for their particular circumstances.
Important Updates
Updated TAC policies and TAC Service Standards available now
The TAC has updated a number of key documents to support the implementation of the 2025 Standards and strengthen regulatory oversight of the VET sector:
- Fit and Proper Person Policy
- Compliance Monitoring Audit Policy
- Management of Critical Non-Compliance Risks of Injury or Death Policy
- TAC Service Standards.
RTOs should review these updates to understand changes to regulatory requirements, compliance expectations and the TAC’s approach to service delivery.
Familiarity with the TAC’s policies will help providers ensure their governance, compliance and operational practices remain aligned with current regulatory requirements.
These updated policies and guidelines are available on the TAC website.
Jobs and Skills Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released the following reports:
- Internet Vacancy Index (monthly count of online job advertisements) - 22 July
- Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey - June 2026.
Latest NCVER Reports
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released the following new reports:
- VET in Schools - 30 July
- Apprentice and trainee completion rates 2025 - 28 July
- Total VET students and courses 2025 - 22 July.
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