Validation & Pre-Validation Support for RTOs
If you’re an experienced RTO, you already know this:
- Audits don’t fail because of one missing document.
- They fail because assessment issues build up quietly over time.
The Real Reason Validation Becomes a Compliance Problem
After 16 years working with RTOs, one pattern shows up again and again:
Most RTO’s don’t put enough focus on validation.
Not because validation isn’t important —
but because it’s harder, more technical, and require real assessment expertise.
This is one of the most common root causes of compliance gaps – and most RTOs don’t realise it until they are already under pressure.
Assessment validation is inconsistent
validation is rushed
assessors aren’t aligned
issues aren’t identified early
problems only surface at audit time
What RTOs Actually Want From Assessment Validation
When we speak to RTO owners and compliance managers, the goal is always the same:
Confidence that assessment decisions are sound
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Consistency across trainers and assessors
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Evidence that makes sense to ASQA
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Fewer surprises at audit
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Smoother day-to-day operations
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Good validation doesn’t just meet a requirement — it stabilises your RTO.
How assessment tools are checked before use
How assessment decisions are reviewed after delivery
How issues are identified early and corrected properly
How decisions and improvements are documented
Our Validation & Pre-Validation Support
We support RTOs across two critical validation activities, with clarity about what matters and how to evidence it properly.
Validation Under SRTOs 2025: Why It Matters More Than Ever
SRTOs 2025 shifts compliance away from paperwork and towards outcomes and assurance.
Review assessment tools against unit requirements.
check coverage of performance and knowledge evidence
identify gaps, risks, or unclear areas
provide clear guidance on what needs improvement
This reduces
Re-work
Inconsistent decisions
Downstream validation issues
And Increases
Confidence
Consistency
Assessment integrity
Validation after delivery confirms that:
- Assessors are making consistent judgements
- Evidence collected is sufficient and appropriate
- Assessment outcomes align with training package requirements
We help RTOs to:
- Understand validation requirements in plain English
- Plan validation properly (not randomly)
- Select the right units and student samples
- Involve the right people in the process
- Document decisions and improvement actions clearly
- Retain evidence that stands up at audit
This is where audit confidence is built
Why RTOs Trust Us With Validation
Experienced validation team members
Units validated using real
student evidence
Years combined VET & compliance experience
Units supported through pre-validation activities
We’re not learning on your RTO.
We know what ASQA looks for — and how to evidence it properly
Free Pre-Validation Form Template
To support RTOs, we provide a Free Pre-Validation Form Template aligned to unit and training package requirements.
Structure validation activities clearly
Create records that are easier to explain at audit
Document decisions in a logical way
Capture key information consistently
Many RTOs use this as their first step towards a stronger, more confident validation process.
We don’t treat validation as:
A tick-the-box exercise
Paperwork to rush before an audit
Something separate from real delivery
We treat validation as:
A quality safeguard
A risk-reduction tool
A way to make your RTO run smoother
What RTOs Say
Validation meetings are calmer
Assessors are more aligned
Compliance discussions feel less reactive
Audits feel more manageable
That’s not luck. That’s what happens when validation is done properly, consistently, and with confidence.
Ready to Make Validation One Less Thing to Worry About?
You need:
Clarity
Structure
Confidence
Validation that actually works
Let’s make validation something that supports your RTO – not something you dread.
You don’t need more documents.
You don’t need more confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Validation is the process of checking that:
- assessment tools are fit for purpose, and
- assessment decisions made by assessors are consistent, valid, and based on sufficient evidence.
Under SRTOs 2025, validation is a key mechanism for demonstrating assessment integrity and quality assurance.
Pre-validation is the review of assessment tools before they are used with learners.
Its purpose is to:
- identify gaps or risks early
- confirm alignment with unit and training package requirements
- reduce the risk of invalid or inconsistent assessment decisions
Pre-validation supports prevention rather than correction.
SRTOs 2025 shifts compliance from documentation to outcomes and assurance.
ASQA is now more focused on:
- how assessment quality is assured
- how risks are identified early
- how decisions are checked and improved over time
Validation and pre-validation are central to demonstrating this.
Yes — validation can be conducted internally, provided the RTO can demonstrate that the people involved collectively have:
- current vocational competence relevant to the unit being validated, and
- current assessment expertise.
Internal validation must also be:
- objective
- well-planned
- well-documented
- defensible at audit
However, internal validation is not always the lowest-risk option.
Yes.
For some training products — particularly the TAE Training Package — ASQA has consistently applied higher expectations around independence.
While the Standards do not explicitly state “external validation”, in practice:
- internal-only validation for TAE is high risk
- independence is strongly expected
lack of independence is commonly challenged at audit
TAE units and qualifications directly relate to:
- assessment practice
- assessor competence
- training and assessment quality across the VET system
Because of this, ASQA applies greater scrutiny and expects:
- clear separation between delivery and validation
- strong objectivity
- evidence of independent review
This position has been consistent for many years and continues under SRTOs 2025.
No — if anything, it has strengthened it.
SRTOs 2025 places increased emphasis on:
- assessment integrity
- independence of judgement
- proactive quality assurance
This reinforces the expectation that TAE validation must be highly defensible and independent.
No.
For many non-TAE units, internal validation may be appropriate if:
- the correct expertise is involved
- independence can be demonstrated
- the process is well planned and documented
The decision should be risk-based, not convenience-based.
External or independent validation is strongly recommended when:
- validating TAE units or qualifications
- the same staff delivered and assessed the training
- internal validation expertise is limited
- independence could reasonably be questioned
- stronger audit defensibility is required
Validation using student work checks whether:
- assessors made consistent judgements
- evidence collected was sufficient
- assessment requirements were met
- decisions aligned with unit requirements
Validation does not involve re-assessing students.
There is no fixed frequency.
Validation should be:
- planned
- systematic
- risk-based
- aligned to scope, delivery volume, and assessment risk
SRTOs 2025 expects RTOs to demonstrate a considered and ongoing approach, not ad-hoc activity.
That is an expected and appropriate outcome.
ASQA expects RTOs to:
- document findings
- implement reasonable improvement actions
- monitor outcomes
Identifying issues through validation is a positive compliance indicator, not a failure.
ASQA typically expects evidence showing:
- a validation plan or schedule
- who was involved and why
- what was reviewed
- decisions made
- actions taken
Clarity and logic matter more than volume.
We support RTOs to:
- understand validation and pre-validation requirements in plain English
- determine when internal validation is appropriate
- identify when independence is required
- review assessment tools as part of pre-validation (paid support)
- validate assessment decisions using student evidence
- document outcomes and improvement actions clearly
Validation always remains owned by the RTO.
The Free Validation Form Template is a structured template aligned to unit and training package requirements that helps RTOs:
- record validation activities consistently
- capture key decisions clearly
- improve the quality of validation documentation
Many RTOs use it as a starting point to strengthen their validation process.
No.
Compliance depends on:
- who conducts the validation
- how decisions are made
- how findings are addressed
- how evidence is retained
The template supports structure — not judgement or expertise.
Validation must always be owned by the RTO.
We can:
- support
- guide
- co-validate
- provide independent expertise
This ensures validation is meaningful, defensible, and aligned with SRTOs 2025 expectations.
Based on 16 years of consulting experience, weak validation often leads to:
- undetected assessment gaps
- inconsistent assessor decisions
- issues only emerging during audits
Strong validation reduces these risks before they escalate.