Australian Centre for Advanced Studies

Standard 2. The operations of the RTO are quality assured.

Standard Comments

2.1. The RTO ensures it complies with these Standards at all times, including where services are being delivered on its behalf. This applies to all operations of an RTO within its scope of registration.

Note the contadiction; the standard refers to quality assurance, but this paragraph only requires compliance.

2.2. The RTO:

a) systematically monitors the RTO’s training and assessment strategies and practices to ensure ongoing compliance with Standard 1; and

The RTO can choose its own system to monitor training and assessment. The word "monitor" is not defined, although 2.1 leans toward the interpretation of "ensure compliance." This can include doing internal audits and requiring correction of any non-compliances.

b) systematically evaluates and uses the outcomes of the evaluations to continually improve the RTO’s training and assessment strategies and practices. Evaluation information includes but is not limited to quality/performance indicator data collected under Clause 7.5, validation outcomes, client, trainer and assessor feedback and complaints and appeals.

This secton is crucial as it mentions continual improvement, which is more than compliance. (Some compliant programs are very weak.)
The SRTO does not define "continual improvement" but it normally means:
• an evaluation of the program (e.g. identifying problems, identifying risks, considering validation results, processing feedback or comments from students and trainer comments)
• planning an improved program
• implementing improvements.

In an audit, the evidence of implmentation is usually the changes themselves, not just promises to implement. It is seldom likely that all improvements will be made, and it is likely that some unplanned improvements will be made.

2.3. The RTO ensures that where services are provided on its behalf by a third party the provision of those services is the subject of a written agreement.

Obvious. Although not mentioned here, ASQA wants to see a set of responsibilities that are very clearly delineated between RTO and auspicee.

2.4. The RTO has sufficient strategies and resources to systematically monitor any services delivered on its behalf, and uses these to ensure that the services delivered comply with these Standards at all times.
In ACAS, this refers a system of internal auditing to the standards, although internal auditing is only one kind of monitoring.
Most auditing standards allow sampling and do not require that all standards are always audited.
ASQA does not determine a particular system of "monitoring."
"Strategies and resources" means a plan and the people, procedures and documentation systems to implement it.
Monitoring practices must ensure compliance.
One auditor interpreted "ensure compliance" as meaning that the RTO cannot trust what the auspicee says, but must independently check it. This assertion has two facets:
• To some extent, an auditee statement during an audit is no different from self-ascriptive evidence (i.e. what the auditor believes about themselves).
• Good auditing practices should seek corroborative evidence.

Standard	Comments
2.1. The RTO ensures it complies with these Standards at all times, including where services are being delivered on its behalf. This applies to all operations of an RTO within its scope of registration.	Note the contadiction; the standard refers to quality assurance, but this paragraph only requires compliance.
2.2. The RTO:
a) systematically monitors the RTO’s training and assessment strategies and practices to ensure ongoing compliance with Standard 1; and	The RTO can choose its own system to monitor training and assessment. The word "monitor" is not defined, although 2.1 leans toward the interpretation of "ensure compliance." This can include doing internal audits and requiring correction of any non-compliances.
b) systematically evaluates and uses the outcomes of the evaluations to continually improve the RTO’s training and assessment strategies and practices. Evaluation information includes but is not limited to quality/performance indicator data collected under Clause 7.5, validation outcomes, client, trainer and assessor feedback and complaints and appeals.	This secton is crucial as it mentions continual improvement, which is more than compliance. (Some compliant programs are very weak.) The SRTO does not define "continual improvement" but it normally means: • an evaluation of the program (e.g. identifying problems, identifying risks, considering validation results, processing feedback or comments from students and trainer comments) • planning an improved program • implementing improvements. In an audit, the evidence of implmentation is usually the changes themselves, not just promises to implement. It is seldom likely that all improvements will be made, and it is likely that some unplanned improvements will be made.
2.3. The RTO ensures that where services are provided on its behalf by a third party the provision of those services is the subject of a written agreement.	Obvious. Although not mentioned here, ASQA wants to see a set of responsibilities that are very clearly delineated between RTO and auspicee.
2.4. The RTO has sufficient strategies and resources to systematically monitor any services delivered on its behalf, and uses these to ensure that the services delivered comply with these Standards at all times.	In ACAS, this refers a system of internal auditing to the standards, although internal auditing is only one kind of monitoring. Most auditing standards allow sampling and do not require that all standards are always audited. ASQA does not determine a particular system of "monitoring." "Strategies and resources" means a plan and the people, procedures and documentation systems to implement it. Monitoring practices must ensure compliance. One auditor interpreted "ensure compliance" as meaning that the RTO cannot trust what the auspicee says, but must independently check it. This assertion has two facets: • To some extent, an auditee statement during an audit is no different from self-ascriptive evidence (i.e. what the auditor believes about themselves). • Good auditing practices should seek corroborative evidence.