Edition 94
The VET Sector Magazine
VET news, analysis and ideas for training providers.
About this edition All editionsAustralia-wide · Six countries · Since 1999
RTO, CRICOS and ELICOS consultants across Australia and internationally.
CAQA supports education and training providers in Australia and internationally with RTO, CRICOS and ELICOS registration, audits, validation, rectification, quality systems and ongoing compliance, alongside higher education and ANMAC accreditation support.
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Services
Compliance and training services
Every service is delivered by senior consultants against a written scope, with clear deliverables and agreed timeframes.
Consultants
Working with RTO consultants at CAQA
CAQA's RTO consultants work with registered training organisations and applicants on registration, internal and mock audits, rectification of audit findings, validation, resource development, quality systems and ongoing compliance. Each engagement is delivered against a written scope with clear deliverables and agreed timeframes.
When you compare RTO consultants, ask how the scope is agreed, who will do the work and what you will receive at the end. Before work starts we confirm the consultant, any remote or on site arrangements, the scope, fees and timeframes. You can meet the team on Our consultants, see published prices on Pricing and read case studies that describe the type of work involved.
CAQA is an independent consulting business, not a regulator or government body. Registration and regulatory decisions remain with the relevant authorities. If your organisation delivers in more than one state, online or to international students, raise this in the first discussion so the right regulator pathway is considered. For a fuller checklist, read How to choose an RTO consultant.
Questions
Questions about working with us
What happens in a first consultation?
The first consultation is free, confidential and carries no obligation. We talk through your situation, the risks you face and a recommended path, then you decide whether to go further. Request a time through the booking page and our team will contact you to arrange it.
Do you work remotely or on site?
Most of our work can be done remotely. Where a site visit would help, we agree it in the scope before work starts, together with who your consultant will be.
How are the scope and fees agreed?
Every service is delivered against a written scope with clear deliverables and agreed timeframes. We confirm the scope, fees and timeframes with you before any work begins, so nothing is added without your agreement.
What should we bring to the first conversation?
Bring your registration details, your delivery locations, any notices you have received and the outcome you need. Please do not send confidential learner records with an initial enquiry.
Do you work with providers registered by VRQA or TAC as well as ASQA?
Yes. ASQA is the national VET regulator, while VRQA registers some providers in Victoria and TAC registers some providers in Western Australia. Tell us which regulator registers you, so our advice and your evidence refer to the framework that applies to you.
Will working with a consultant mean our application or audit is approved?
No. CAQA is an independent consultancy, and decisions remain with the relevant regulator. Our role is to help you prepare clear evidence and a sound response.
- 2,500+organisations supported
- 28,600+resources validated
- 24,400+units gap-filled
- 600+qualifications
- 6countriesAustralia, New Zealand, India, UAE, Singapore, United Kingdom
- 27+years since 1999CAQA name in use since 1999
Standards for RTOs 2025
What changed on 1 July 2025, in one sentence each.
Legislative instrument
Outcome Standards
Four Quality Areas replace the clause-by-clause 2015 Standards: training and assessment, VET student support, VET workforce, and governance.
Legislative instrument
Compliance Requirements
Registration, fit and proper person, financial viability and data obligations sit in their own compliance instrument, checked separately from outcomes.
Effective 1 July 2025
Credential Policy
Trainer and assessor credentials are set by a policy instrument, with new pathways and industry currency expectations.
ASQA
Self-assurance
Providers must evidence how they monitor and improve their own performance, not just show compliance on the day of the audit.
Case studies
View all case studiesMultiple training providers1,000+Units in repeated large-scale projects
Large-Scale Validation of 1,000+ Units Across Multiple Providers
Repeated validation projects involving more than 1,000 units, with coordinated specialist teams and documented findings for multiple providers.
Read the case studyRTOSupportRegistration reinstatement processRTO Registration Reinstatement Support
Consultancy support to strengthen an RTO’s governance, systems and evidence during a registration reinstatement process.
Read the case studyRTOReadinessIndependent practice auditRe-Registration Mock Audit and Gap Analysis
A practice audit and gap analysis to help an RTO prepare its systems and evidence for re-registration assessment.
Read the case studyRTOs nationally2025Standards transition and self-assurance systemStandards for RTOs 2025 Transition and Self-Assurance System
Systems and documentation support for hundreds of RTOs preparing for the Standards for RTOs 2025.
Read the case studyBuyerDue diligencefor a prospective acquisitionRTO Due Diligence Audit for Prospective Acquisition
Due diligence experience across hundreds of RTO acquisition and ownership-change engagements.
Read the case studyHigher education applicantTEQSAprovider application supportedHigher Education Provider Application Support
Application preparation and supporting evidence for an organisation seeking higher education provider registration.
Read the case studyPricing
Consulting fees
All prices in Australian dollars. GST is stated on every line.
Casual consultation$185per hour, plus GST
No minimum commitment. Pay only for the hours you use. Ideal for one-off advice.
Retainer, 16 hours per month$2,640per month, plus GST
Everything in the 10-hour retainer. More hours for busy periods. Audit-season headroom.
Package 2$3,720per month, plus GST
24 consultancy hours over three months. One internal audit per year. Three-month minimum.
Fixed-scope projects are quoted as a fixed fee against an agreed scope. Deliverables and pricing are agreed in writing before we start; if the scope changes, the fee is re-agreed, never assumed.
Meet our team
Meet the people behind CAQA
Michelle Newman
Managing Director
- ISO auditor
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Anna Haranas
Former General Manager, LLND Expert & Quality Assurance Consultant
View profile
Raj Kiran Kaur
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
- Operations and financial governance across CAQA Groups
Stuart Newman
Director of Strategic Growth and Partnerships
- 30+ years of senior customer and operations leadership
Sukh Sandhu
Founder and Executive Director
- ISO 9001 lead auditor
- Thousands of audits
Nadia Spain
Senior Principal Consultant and RTO Manager (CAQA RTO 45459)
- ASQA and TEQSA standards into practical quality systems
Rishabh Arora
Senior Compliance Officer and Team Leader
- Gap analysis, internal audit, TAS review, audit readiness
Arit Mangal
Quality Assurance and Compliance Expert
- Audits, rectifications and the 2025 Standards
Our wider team supports clients across audit, validation, instructional design, LLND, RPL, finance and technology.
Quality guarantee
If our work returns a non-compliant audit outcome, we rectify it free of charge.
Should any of our products receive a non-compliant outcome from an audit conducted by a registering body, we make the required rectifications at no additional cost, with a minimum of 15 business days' notice.
Regulatory, funding, accreditation, audit, legal, financial, certification or approval outcomes are determined by the relevant authority and cannot be guaranteed.
LearnX Awards 2023Five Gold awardsOpenLearning Awards 2023Best Learning Experience DesignAustralian Achiever Awards 2023Highly RecommendedHume Business AwardsFinalist, Professional ServicesIndustry Outlook AwardsLeader in compliant training and assessment solutionsForttuna Global Excellence Awards 2025Education Company of the YearAsia Business OutlookMost trusted brands in education, training, assessment resources, risk management and complianceEducation 2.0 Conference 2024Outstanding Leadership Award
What our clients say
In their own words, from training providers and organisations we work with across the CAQA family. Rated 5.0 out of 5.0.
The course was very well structured, efficiently conducted, and built using a blend of core and customised content that we had requested. Being new to running an RTO this has filled in all my gaps, ones I knew, and those I did not know I had. I found Sukh and Michelle incredibly knowledgeable, constantly providing real-life examples for us to learning from. It is an added benefit to have two people who remain as active consultants in the space bringing us the most recent examples to share in the learning. I would suggest any person new to leading an RTO invest in this training, I wish I had done this earlier, it will help you make more informed decisions as you get your RTO up and running.
The facilitators are very knowledgeable and customised the training based on the needs of our organisation. Practical case study examples were shared throughout which helped to contextualise our learnings. The training was delivered online with regular breaks, which helped to maintain focus and sustain concentration levels. I highly recommend the CEO Awareness training to any person who is responsible for a Registered Training Organisation.
CAQA resources has been the backbone of our RTO for resources. Our Audit was cleared without any rectification even when the Training Package was on High risk. Highly recommend CAQA resources. Sukh and Michelle are always there to assist even on their day off. Thank you.
These are by far the best I have seen in my search so far. Really good visually and lots of real workplace examples and drawings.
We found your staff very approachable and always willing to help others.
I have been very fortunate to have Sukh Sandhu as my manager of the VET Programs I delivered at UIT. His wealth of knowledge and experience in this sector, ESOS and quality management, facilitated the smooth running of the programs and team I was involved with. Sukh was supportive in all aspects of my work and approachable whenever I needed assistance. His understanding of leadership in terms of both trainers and students coupled with his business and commercial acumen were outstanding.
If you want to deal with absolutely the best professionals in the business there is NO other option ! Thank you guys for amazing work and ongoing support throughout. You are the best !!
The most qualified individuals in the industry for ASQA compliance, Validation Standards, and High-Quality Training.
The best resources currently in the industry.
We are really impressed on Sukh and his team's experience in dealing with different compliance issues and governing bodies with exceptional outlook on identifying gaps within a short period of time. His high level of professionalism, commitment and dedication in getting our RTO Registration was very sublime. His strong attention to detail and guidance throughout the audit process helped us to understand clearly the key requirements for our initial registration. We highly recommend Sukh and his team for their skilled services to ensure compliance quality systems are in place.
It was nice to meet you and thank you for all the support and consulting services that you provided to us during our audit. With great pleasure, I have no hesitation to recommend your resources and services to anyone who may be willing to purchase from you. Your support and guidance and friendly service during audit was parallel to none. Your company has provided very professional, honest, dependable services to us. Hopefully, we will be in touch sometime soon for other services that you provide which we have not utilised yet.
There is no one in Australia who can match the standard of CAQA Resources' assessment and learner resources. We have been buying all of our resources from them without problem for the past two years. CAQA Resources' customer service is excellent, and we highly recommend them.
CAQA Resources has always been extremely professional, supportive, and prompt in providing resources. There resources were compliant and easy to use. I highly recommend CAQA Resources for their great support and assistance. I tried the others and have now decided to be with the best! Fully customizable resources, and let me tell you that you will not be disappointed if you use their resources and tools correctly. We are very pleased with the product's quality.
The CAQA team is always responsive and professional to respond to our requests, and their products are of excellent quality. Their website is simple to use, and materials are delivered quickly. We continue to use them for the majority of our courses because their support and resources are excellent.
CAQA resources are well customized as per the student's need with the simulated business environment that gives the student the actual workplace experience. These resources engages the students all time by providing class activity books and self-study guides.
I highly recommend using CAQA as their service is outstanding. The team is very supportive, helpful and knowledgeable in all aspects of training compliance. I especially would like to thank Suhk Sandu for all of his assistance and dedication. He helped our school when we had major problems and without his help we may have lost our school.
We had a great experience working with Michelle and Sukh at CAQA through our addition to scope and audit process. They made the whole…
stumbled across these resources and have been talking about changing our whole self paced learner and assessment system so got a couple of units…
With CAQA it is quick and easy to get quality editable learning and assessment resources that are ready for customisation to client groups
Great trade and building and construction resources, and exceptional service.
We highly recommend CAQA for their exceptional support and expertise. After encountering significant challenges with our RTO registration, their team played a pivotal role…
Sukh and his team were engaged in a compliance project. Through working closely with him, it became patently clear that Sukh is a professional…
We were thoroughly impressed by the expertise and experience demonstrated by Sukh, Michelle, Patrick, and their team in managing compliance and effectively engaging with…
CAQA Resources are fully compliant RTO resources, offering a superior standard of quality and reliability. While we have sourced materials from various other providers…
Partnering with CAQA has been one of the best decisions we've made for our RTO. Over the past year, they have consistently delivered high-quality…
Highly recommended!! All resources of CAQA are of very high standard and meet all the ASQA requirements. Sukh and his team is highly professional…
As a busy Training professional, I'm always looking for ways to save time and improve the quality of my training programs. CAQA Resources has…
I can't recommend CAQA Resources highly enough! Their meticulously crafted VET assessment and learning resources have transformed our approach to training. The depth of…
Excellent Education materials and learning resources for VET sector. strongly recommended
CAQA truly exceeded our expectations! Their professionalism and expertise were evident from the get-go, and they tailored their resources perfectly to our requirements. I…
We had worked with CAQA and were thoroughly impressed by their professionalism and expertise. We received exceptional advice from Sukh, Michelle, and Patrick, whose…
We had the pleasure of working with Sukh, Michelle, Patrick, from Career Counselling, and I must say, their assistance was absolutely invaluable. We approached…
Just excellent. The material produced was some of the best VET learning material I've ever seen. No 'T' uncrossed, and the learning designer knew…
CAQA resources are developed by the team of Industry experts who have wealth of knowledge and expertise in ensuring quality assurance.
CAQA Resources has been an essential asset in our journey towards maintaining compliance and excellence in our RTO operations. Their resources are comprehensive, well-structured,…
Sukh is a thorough professional with extensive experience and knowledge about ASQA audit and compliance requirements. Had an insightful learning experience working with him…
I am thrilled to share my experience with CAQA Resources, a company that has truly redefined the way we approach training and assessment. As…
I Highly recommend All resources of CAQA. Their resources are excellent and up to high industry standards.and Sukh and his team is very professional,…
Easy to Navigate Cost effective and of a High Quality
Scroll sideways to read every testimonial.
Insights
Insights for education and training
Standards 2025 · 24 Aug 202657 Per Cent of the VET Workforce, 22 Per Cent of the CEOs: The Leadership Gap the Sector Needs to Confront
Sukh Sandhu
Standards 2025 · 24 Aug 2026Australia's Leadership Imbalance: What the 2026 Data Means for a VET Sector Built on a Female Workforce
Sukh Sandhu
Standards 2025 · 24 Aug 2026The Question the Sector Has Been Avoiding: What AI Compliance Looks Like Under the 2025 Standards for RTOs
Sukh Sandhu
The reading room
A fresh perspective.
Your next read.
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The CAQA Connect - Digital News
People, professional development and news from the CAQA community.
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Edition 26
Compliance & Regulations Blueprint
Practical reading on compliance and quality assurance.
About this edition All editionsProfessional development
Make time for
your next step.
Practical learning for trainers, assessors and RTO leaders. Choose a recording to watch in your own time or join an upcoming webinar.
Standards 2025: Students – Quality Area 2
Quality Area 2 dedicates specific requirements to student support, giving it greater prominence. Examine new obligations for engagement, progress monitoring, and support provision. Implement compliant systems documenting support activities.
Session details and inclusionsStandards 2025: Training & Assessment – Quality Area 1
Quality Area 1 covers the core business of RTOs. Detailed guidance on enhanced requirements for training delivery, assessment design, and validation. Develop compliant TAS, design valid tools, and implement robust validation systems.
Session details and inclusionsStandards 2025: Compliance – Quality Area Overview
Comprehensive examination of all regulatory requirements under Standards for RTOs 2025. Learn how each Quality Area translates into operational practice. Gain clarity on legal responsibilities, reporting obligations, and documentation requirements.
Session details and inclusionsPrefer to join a live session?
See upcoming dates and book with CAQA Skills.
CAQA Resources
Find resources for
the way you teach.
Search by qualification, unit code or subject. Browse product information here and purchase through CAQA Resources.
Browse products from CAQA Resources.
Product details and current prices are supplied by CAQA Resources. Purchase terms, availability and checkout are confirmed on its website.
Talk to our team about your compliance needs
RTO consultants supporting providers across Australia
Discuss your organisation’s needs with our national team. We agree on remote and any on-site arrangements, scope and fees before work begins.