What is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)?
A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is a provider and assessor of nationally recognised training. It will have current registration with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) or the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). Only RTOs can issue nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. These qualifications, or statements of attainment, are recognised and accepted by industry and other educational institutions
throughout Australia.
RTOs include TAFE colleges or institutes, private providers, adult and community education providers, community groups, and schools. There are approximately 5,000 RTOs that currently exist within Australia, and all registered RTOs in Australia are listed at https://training.gov.au
The Australian Apprenticeships Support Network provider (AASN) you sign up with will be able to assist you in choosing an RTO if you haven’t already selected one.
Who chooses the RTO for your apprentice or trainee?
The employer has the right to choose the RTO with whom they wish to work. When deciding which RTO to select, employers should consider reputation, flexibility about the content of the training and how it is delivered, location and associated costs. It is important to remember that the employer is the customer in this relationship. If an RTO is not able to meet an employer’s requirements they are welcome to look around for alternative RTOs.
The apprentice or trainee will need to enrol with the RTO for formal training, which will occur soon after signing of the training contract. The RTO will construct a training plan with the employer and employee that will outline what aspects of the training are delivered by the RTO and what aspects the employer will need to focus on in the workplace.
There will probably be an enrolment fee connected to the Australian Apprenticeship training. Some awards stipulate that this is the responsibility of the employer, and there may also be State or Territory based policies relating to fees. It’s important to check employer responsibilities in this area either with an RTO or Fair Work.