How Studying with a RTO Can Benefit You

If you’re someone who prefers practical, hands-on roles, then a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course might be the perfect choice for you!

What is an RTO?

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are educational providers that have been approved by ASQA, the Australian Skills Quality Authority, to teach VET courses. If you’ve ever heard of TAFE (Technical and Further Education), they’re essentially very similar. Both offer accredited - or in other words, nationally recognised - VET qualifications.

There’s a plethora of reasons and circumstances why people choose to pursue VET courses. Maybe you’re still in school and feel that Uni isn’t really for you; maybe you’re already working and want to try something completely different. Whatever your motive, gaining a VET qualification could be a viable option for you - wherever you are in life.

RTOs vs. TAFEs: What’s the Difference?

The main difference is that TAFEs are owned, financed and operated by each state and territory's respective government, whereas RTOs are privately and independently owned. What you might often find as a result of this is that RTOs typically have smaller class sizes and specialise in a handful of industries, whereas TAFES tend to cover a broader range of studies and disciplines, with larger classes (a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” kind of situation, if you will).

So, you might be wondering, what makes RTOs special?

How could studying at a RTO benefit me?

RTOs speciality in a select group of industries enables them to excel within their chosen field. Many people prefer the smaller class size as it means more individual focus and attention paid to them by the educator, which can play a big role in one’s ability to learn. Both TAFEs and RTOs offer nationally-recognised qualifications at the:

• Certificate I, II, III and IV

• Diploma

• Advanced Diploma

• Vocational Graduation Certificate

• Vocational Graduate Diploma levels.

Additionally, RTOs work with employers and industry associations and bodies to ensure students have the relevant skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen industry - resulting in workforce-ready graduates. RTOs are regulated by ASQA, who regulate 90% of the country’s RTOs, as well as by two other groups: the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, which regulates RTOs in Victoria, and the Training Accreditation Council of Western Australia, which - you guessed it! - regulates RTOs in WA. ASQA also regulates the RTOs in Victoria and WA that offer courses to international students.

Regardless of the type of institution you are looking at enrolling with, what matters most is the quality of the course itself. All accredited VET courses and the RTOs that offer them are registered and listed on Australia’s national register, training.gov.au.

How do I know if the course or RTO I want to enrol in is good?

With over 5,000 RTOs across Australia, we understand it can be tedious to sort through and compare the seemingly endless amounts of information available. You’ll probably find yourself wondering:

• Am I eligible for funding?

• Can I take this course if I’m an international student?

• How much will it cost?

• How long does the course take to complete?

• Can I study part-time?

• Will it be conducted online, given COVID?

• Will I be able to get an immediate start in my chosen career with this qualification?

That’s why Fresh Futures is dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision possible by taking into consideration your own personal circumstances and interests. We’ve streamlined the process by partnering with only the highest quality institutions in Melbourne. We’d love to hear from you to discuss your educational needs, so please feel free to reach out to us!