Why Industry Currency Still Matters – And What RTOs Must Do to Stay Compliant

Why Industry Currency Still Matters – And What RTOs Must Do to Stay Compliant

Standard 3.3 of the 2025 RTO Standards reinforces something the best RTOs already know: Great training comes from people who’ve walked the walk — and kept walking.

While the concept of industry currency isn’t new, the 2025 Standards give it renewed focus. They clarify what needs to be demonstrated, what “current” actually means, and how RTOs must document it. It's no longer enough to assume your team is up to date. Now you need to prove it — and show your systems for keeping them there.

What Does Standard 3.3 Require?

At its core, this Standard requires that all trainers and assessors:

• Have industry competencies and knowledge that are current and relevant to the training product they deliver

• Maintain a working understanding of current industry practice

• Can demonstrate their current skills — not just claim them

If you're using industry experts, they must:

• Be engaged with intent (not out of convenience)

• Hold relevant, current expertise

• Work under the direction of a qualified trainer or assessor

• Only contribute to assessment when working alongside an appropriately credentialed trainer or assessor

This isn’t about adding red tape. It’s about protecting training quality — and learning outcomes.

What Does This Look Like in Practice?

Let’s say your trainer Sam is delivering BSBAUD512 Lead quality audits, part of the Diploma of Quality Auditing. It’s not enough that they hold the qualification.

To be compliant with Standard 3.3, Sam must show they have recent experience or active engagement in:

• Leading the development of an audit plan, including defining scope and objectives (PC 1.1–1.3)

• Identifying sources of information according to the audit plan (PC 2.1)

• Supervising the activities of the audit team members (PC 3.1–3.3)

• Finalising audit results and following up on non-conformance (PC 4.1–4.3)

Delivering this unit without current capability in all elements would not meet the Standard — no matter how qualified or experienced someone was in the past.

What Counts as Industry Currency?

This is one of the most common pain points — especially for RTOs with long-serving trainers.

But here’s the good news: industry currency doesn’t mean working full time in the industry.

It means your trainer or assessor is engaged with current practice in meaningful ways. That could include:

• Consulting, mentoring, or project work in the industry

• Job shadowing or industry secondment

• Attending PD or conferences specific to the industry they're training

• Networking, committee roles, or involvement with peak bodies in the industry they're training

• Regular engagement with employers or clients

• Completing refresher training or micro-credentials relevant to the unit or qualification

Currency is contextual. What matters is that it’s current, relevant, and documented.

Under the Hood: What the 2025 Standards Say

Under the 2025 RTO Standards, effective 1 July 2025, the baseline requirements for trainers and assessors are:

• Training qualification: TAE40122 or equivalent (e.g. TAE40116 + required units like TAELLN411, TAEASS502)

• Vocational competency: At or above the AQF level being delivered, in the relevant field

• Industry currency: Demonstrated recent and relevant engagement in the field

• VET knowledge: Ongoing development in training/assessment skills and pedagogy

• Professional development: Documented evidence of continuous PD across VET and industry areas

Trainer and Assessor Compliance Checklist

Here’s a simple framework your RTO can use to check and document trainer compliance with Standard 3.3:

🔍 Currency is Compliance:

Standard 3.3 makes it official: If your trainers aren’t current, your RTO isn’t compliant. From 1 July 2025, you’ll need systems — not assumptions — to prove it.

A System, Not a Guess

Standard 3.3 expects RTOs to move beyond good intentions and into structured systems. That means:

• Annual reviews of industry currency and PD

• Clear documentation processes

• A culture that values relevance — not just compliance

Even small RTOs can meet these expectations with a thoughtful approach. The key is consistency and clarity — not complexity.

Final Thoughts

Industry currency isn’t an audit headache — it’s your competitive edge. It ensures your trainers are teaching what actually works. It gives learners real-world skills, and it strengthens employer trust in your graduates.

Standard 3.3 gives us the opportunity — and the responsibility — to stay compliant, stay real, and stay relevant.

And that’s what the best RTOs do best.