78% of RTOs Identified Non-Compliance in Initial RTO internal Audits — Are You One of Them?
When they’re found by ASQA, they’re expensive.
Why This Statistic Matters to Your RTO
- gaps exist long before audits
- issues build quietly over time
- non-compliance is rarely intentional — just undetected
The danger isn’t having gaps.
The Real Pain RTOs Feel (But Don’t Always Say)
- uncertainty
- responsibility
- regulatory risk
- ASQA audits arriving unexpectedly
- discovering issues too late
- spending weeks fixing problems under pressure
- the impact on staff, students, and reputation
And most importantly:
2026 Reality: ASQA Is Auditing Differently Now
Auditors now focus on:
- how your RTO operates in practice
- how decisions are made
- how risks are managed
- what evidence proves this
They ask:
- How do you ensure assessment integrity?
- How do you manage AI, plagiarism, and collusion?
- How do you know trainers are current and competent?
- Show us where this is recorded.
Having a policy is not enough. You must show process, practice, and proof.
The Cost of Not Doing an Internal
❌ existing non-compliance going undetected
❌ small issues becoming systemic problems
❌ rushed rectification under regulatory pressure
❌ significant time, cost, and staff stress
❌ registration risk increasing
Most serious compliance action could have been avoided with early, independent review.
What RTOs Actually Want
✔ clarity
✔ confidence
✔ early warning
✔ control
✔ peace of mind
A strong internal audit gives your RTO the space to grow without fear.
2026 Reality: ASQA Is Auditing Differently Now
Current State
Assumptions, partial visibility, uncertainty
Internal Audit / Health Check
Independent, practice-based review
Clear Findings
What matters vs what doesn’t
Targeted Fixes
Prioritised, calm, controlled improvements
Audit Confidence
Peace of mind and focus on growth
Based on current audit behaviour and industry reviews, these are the highest-risk areas:
Student Assessment Evidence
AI use, plagiarism, collusion, authenticity, assessor judgement
Trainer & Assessor Files
TAE credentials, vocational competence, currency, supervision
Training & Assessment Resources
Fit-for-purpose resources, practical assessment, simulation integrity
Pre-Validation & Post-Validation
Assessment quality assurance before and after delivery
Industry Consultation
Current, relevant, applied — not generic or outdated
Marketing & Accuracy of Information
Claims vs actual delivery, duration, outcomes
These six areas account for the majority of serious audit findings we see.
Built for SRTOs 2025 and How ASQA Audits in 2026
We provide independent, practice-based RTO internal audits that assess:
We don’t just review documents.
We review real practice and real evidence.
how you do it?
how you prove it?
How the Internal Audit Works
01
Understand Your RTO
Scope, delivery model, growth, risk profile
02
Assessment samples, trainer files, validation, consultation, marketing
03
What’s written vs what actually happens
04
Identify Gaps & Risks
Non-compliance, emerging risk, improvement opportunities
05
Plain English. No jargon. No panic.
06
Practical Actions
Prioritised steps you can realistically implement
Why RTOs Trust Us
- 70+ years of combined experience supporting RTOs
- 16+ years navigating ASQA audits and rectifications
- Deep expertise in assessment, validation, and governance
- Calm, practical compliance advice
- Focus on prevention, not firefighting
What RTOs Say
Free Resource: Top 6 Non-Compliance Risk Areas RTOs Must Address in 2026
A plain-English guide to the risk areas ASQA is focusing on right now.
This is not a sales pitch.
It’s a clarity session to:
- understand your current risk
- discuss how ASQA is auditing now
- identify what matters most for your RTO
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
An RTO internal audit (also called a compliance health check) is an independent, structured review of how your RTO operates in practice against current regulatory expectations.
It focuses on:
how systems are actually implemented
how evidence is generated and retained
where compliance risk exists
whether your RTO would stand up to an ASQA audit
It is designed to help you identify and manage issues early, before they become regulatory problems.
Internal Audit
- proactive
- confidential
- controlled by the RTO
- improvement-focused
- conducted in a calm, structured way
ASQA Audit
- reactive
- regulator-controlled
- time-pressured
- enforcement-focused
- high consequence
An internal audit allows you to fix issues on your terms, not ASQA’s.
Internal audits are not explicitly mandated.
However, under Standards for RTOs 2025, ASQA expects RTOs to demonstrate:
- proactive risk management
- effective governance
- evidence-based decision-making
- continuous improvement
RTO Internal audits are one of the strongest and most practical ways to demonstrate these expectations.
Because ASQA is now auditing practice and evidence, not just documentation.
Auditors will ask:
- How do you do this in practice?
- Who is responsible?
- How do you know it’s working?
- Show us the evidence.
RTOs relying on older, document-only compliance approaches are far more exposed under SRTOs 2025.
An internal audit typically reviews high-risk operational areas, including:
- student assessment evidence (AI, plagiarism, authenticity)
- trainer and assessor credentials and currency
- training and assessment resources
- pre-validation and post-validation processes
- industry consultation
- marketing and public information accuracy
- governance, systems, and record-keeping
The focus is always on what actually happens in delivery, not just what’s written.
Possibly — and that’s a positive outcome.
Identifying issues internally means:
- you control the timing
- you control the response
- you can fix issues calmly and strategically
ASQA expects RTOs to identify and manage issues proactively.
Not identifying any issues at all is often less credible than identifying and addressing them properly.
No.
Internal audits are a risk-management tool, not a regulatory action.
Registration risk increases when:
- issues are not identified
- problems are discovered for the first time during an ASQA audit
- rectification is rushed under pressure
Early identification gives you control and protection.
Best practice is to conduct an internal audit:
- at least annually
- after major changes (scope, systems, delivery model)
- before an ASQA audit
- before adding to scope
- when compliance confidence is low
High-risk areas such as assessment and trainer compliance should be monitored continuously.
Internal audits can be conducted internally if staff have:
- appropriate compliance expertise
- sufficient independence
- time and capacity
Many RTOs choose external or independent audits because they:
- reduce blind spots
- increase objectivity
- strengthen audit defensibility
- provide current regulatory insight
A hybrid approach is also common.
We aim to minimise disruption.
Typically, we require:
- access to selected records and evidence
- sample assessment materials
- trainer and assessor files
- brief discussions with key staff
You do not need to “prepare for audit” — the goal is to review real practice.
Timeframes vary depending on:
- size and complexity of the RTO
- scope of registration
- delivery model
- availability of evidence
Rather than providing generic timeframes, we discuss this with you after understanding your RTO.
📞 Call VET Resources on 1800 959 958 to discuss your situation.
Costs depend on:
- scope and complexity
- number of qualifications
- delivery modes
- current compliance maturity
For this reason, we do not publish fixed prices online.
The best way to understand cost is to speak with us so we can:
- understand your RTO
- scope the audit appropriately
- recommend a proportionate approach
📞 Call VET Resources on 1800 959 958 to discuss options.
Because fixed pricing often leads to:
- shallow checklist audits
- missed risk areas
- audits that don’t reflect real operations
We believe meaningful audits should be tailored, risk-based, and fit for purpose.
No.
Internal audits and health checks are:
- confidential
- independent
- improvement-focused
The purpose is to support your RTO — not the regulator.
This service is ideal for RTOs that:
- want clarity and control
- value proactive compliance
- want to stay registered long-term
- understand that compliance is ongoing
It may not suit RTOs looking for:
- shortcuts
- last-minute fixes
- guaranteed outcomes
The first step is a Free 30-Minute Internal Audit Strategy Call.
During this call, we:
- understand your RTO
- discuss current risk areas
- explain how an internal audit would work
- outline practical next steps
📞 Call VET Resources on 1800 959 958