One Month Into the New Standards – Our Journey, Lessons, and Surprises

In this special reflection episode, Angela Connell-Richards shares an honest and insightful look at what the first month under the new 2025 Standards has really been like. From wins and breakthroughs to unexpected challenges, Angela takes you behind the scenes of her work with RTOs over the past month—revealing what’s working, what’s still settling, and what everyone should be paying attention to as the sector adjusts.

Key points discussed:
✅ How RTOs are adapting to the 2025 Standards in practice
✅ The biggest lessons learned (so far) from the first month
✅ Surprising trends and common roadblocks emerging across the sector
✅ What Angela and the Vivacity team have changed in their approach after working with clients under the new framework

Angela’s candid reflections will help you benchmark your own progress and get ahead of potential pitfalls. Whether you’re feeling confident or still finding your feet, this episode offers reassurance, clarity, and guidance for staying strong in the months ahead.

🎧 Call to action: Listen now and join Angela’s free online session, One Month On: Your RTO Check-In, at Vivacity to connect, reflect, and map out your next steps.

 Join host Angela Connell-Richards as she opens each episode with a burst of insight and inspiration. Discover why compliance is your launchpad to success, not a limitation. 

Wrap up with gratitude and guidance. Subscribe, leave a review, and join our community as we continue supporting your compliance journey in vocational education. 

Chapters

• 0:44 One Month Milestone Reflection
• 1:26 The Reality Check
• 3:05 Four Key Lessons Learned
• 5:01 Surprises and Challenges
• 5:59 Recommendations Moving Forward
• 7:00 Closing Thoughts and Invitation

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:23

Today we're reflecting on a huge milestone we are officially one month into the new 2025 Standards for RTOs. This episode is all about sharing what the past month has looked like, not just from a compliance perspective, but from a human, organisational and strategic view. I'll cover the biggest lessons we've learnt, the surprises that popped up, the challenges we're still navigating and where we're heading next. So, whether you're feeling confident or still a bit wobbly, stick with me for the next half hour and I promise you'll walk away with fresh ideas and insights, and also renewed energy. The first month a reality check. Let's start with the reality check. One month ago, on 1 July, the sector officially transitioned to the revised standards and wow, what a month it's been. Here's what we've observed.

Speaker 1: 1:23

Some RTOs were audit ready on day one. They had been working for months aligning systems, updating policies and running, team training and embedding new practices. For these RTOs, the first month has mostly been about fine-tuning and dealing with small teething issues. Others were caught off guard. Even though the new standards were announced well in advance, some teams underestimated how much work was involved in truly aligning, not just ticking the box. For them, the past month has been a scramble to catch up, particularly if they were called up for an audit. And then there's the middle ground RTOs that did a decent job preparing but are now realising some gaps, particularly in areas like data reporting, student support and trainer currency records. What I want you to hear is this you are not alone. No one got everything perfect. The first month has been a sector-wide period of adjustment and learning. Let's begin and take a dive into the biggest lessons we've taken from working closely with RTOs this month.

Speaker 1: 2:44

Lesson one policies mean nothing without practice. Many organisations updated their documents but didn't fully embed the changes operationally. For example, student support procedures look beautiful on paper, but staff weren't yet clear on how to apply them in real time. This is a reminder that compliance isn't a paperwork exercise, it's a living practice. Lesson two self-assurance is a muscle. The new standards push us towards a self-assurance model where continuous improvement is part of the culture, but you can't flip the switch overnight. It takes leadership, commitment, regular review processes and team involvement to build that muscle over time.

Speaker 1: 3:35

Lesson three the quality areas are deeply interconnected. We've seen RTOs treating areas like governance, workforce and student support as separate silos, but the reality is they are interwoven. For example, decisions about workforce qualifications directly impact governance, risk and student outcomes. The most successful organisations are the ones that are taking a holistic view. Lesson four teams need space to adapt. This is a big one. Many managers underestimated the emotional and mental load on their teams. People need to learn, adjust and gain confidence under a new compliance framework. A rushed stress team is more likely to make mistakes, so leadership must balance urgency with realistic capacity, urgency with realistic capacity.

Speaker 1: 4:40

Surprises and challenges Of course, there were surprises this month too. One big surprise the amount of audit activity already starting. We've heard from several RTOs who were selected for audit right out of the gate, which tells us the regulators are moving fast to check early implementation. Another challenge technology gaps. Some organisations discovered their student management systems, hr database or compliance tools weren't fully capturing the data needed under the new reporting requirements. It's a good reminder to check not just your human processes but your tech stack as well. And lastly, the emotional challenge.

Speaker 1: 5:18

For some RTO owners and managers, this month has been a moment of realising we need more help, whether it's consulting support, additional team training or bed assistance. It's okay to acknowledge you can't do this all alone, so where do you go next? Here's what I recommend for every RTO, no matter where you're sitting right now. Run a one-month review. Take stock of what's working, what's not and where you need to adjust. Bring your team into the conversation. Prioritise continuous improvement, even if you feel behind. Remember it's not about perfection, it's about progress. Pick one to two key areas to focus on over the next quarter. Invest in your people, whether it's more professional development, coaching or team workshops. Your people are the heart of your compliance success.

Speaker 1: 6:21

Lean into community. You are not in this alone. Join industry forums, attend webinars and connect with peers. Share lessons, challenges and wins. It makes a difference. Share lessons, challenges and wins it makes a difference. Join the rto community on facebook or join the rto community on linkedin. Thank you very much for joining me today on the rto superhero podcast. This episode was all about reflecting honestly on our first month under the new standards and I hope it's given you both reassurance and direction. Remember, compliance isn't just a deadline, it's a journey. One month in, we're all still learning, adjusting and growing, and that's okay. If you want to take the next step, I invite you to join my free online session One Month On your RTO Check-In, where we'll take a deep dive into those lessons, share insights and map out practical next steps for your organisation. Visit Vivacity to register and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Until next time, stay compliant, stay confident and keep making a difference through education.