Designing A TAS That Proves Outcomes Under QA1

Stop treating your TAS like a file and start using it like a strategy. Angela Connell Richards walks through how QA1 reframes the Training and Assessment Strategy from a plan on paper to a living guide that proves learner outcomes, aligns with industry needs, and equips trainers to deliver with confidence.

We dig into the essentials of a compliant TAS: clear delivery modes that match your resources and cohorts, assessment mapped to units and validated with recent evidence, and consultation that documents who you spoke to, when, and what changed. Angela breaks down common pitfalls—generic templates, intent language without practice, missing trainer mapping—and shows how auditors look for alignment between your TAS and what actually happens in the classroom and workplace. You’ll hear a practical case study of a provider who used the Vivacity Compliance System, TAS template, and strategic planner to realign delivery, clarify roles, and turn a stressful audit into a smooth, defensible process.

From LLN checks and digital access to workplace agreements and hybrid facilitation logs, we show how to connect learner support and delivery evidence in plain terms. You’ll get a simple quarterly review cycle that brings trainers, compliance, and support together to test alignment across units, industry, delivery, assessment, and support, with version control and shared updates that keep the TAS current. If you’re ready to shift from promises to proof—and from risk to resilience—this guide gives you the prompts, checklists, and mindset to make your TAS drive real outcomes.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:46):
Welcome to the RTO Superhero Podcast with me,
Angela Connell Richards.
Today we dive into the Center ofQuality Area One.
We talk about your training andassessment strategy, the TAS.
Many RTOS still treat the TAS asa file to update once a year
that habit weakens delivery andexposes risk.

(01:09):
Under the outcome standards, theTAS becomes a strategic
document.
It guides design, delivery,support, assessment, and
improvement.
Today you will hear how the TAShas evolved, what QA1 demands,
where RTOS slip, and how to usethe QA1 strategic TAS planner to

(01:30):
build a TAS that drives realoutcomes.
Let us start with why the TASmatters.
QA1 shifts focus from planneddelivery to proven outcomes.
It asks how your design supportsyour learners.
It asks how you align withindustry.
It asks how your team uses theTAS.

(01:52):
The standard says training mustmatch industry needs and suit
the learner cohort.
This means your TAS must reflectyour context.
It must match your deliverymode.
It must link assessment to theunit.
It must include current industryinput.
It must guide your trainers.

(02:14):
It must show how support shapesdelivery.
The TAS becomes a map forquality.
Now let us describe a compliantTAS.
It must show clear deliverymodes.
It must explain why the modesuits the course and the
learners.
It must show which resourcessupport that mode.

(02:34):
It must show contextualizedassessment.
This means tools mapped to theunit, validation records, and
real tasks linked to theworkplace.
It must show industryconsultation.
You must list who you spokewith, what they said, and what
you changed.
It must show learner supportstrategies.

(02:57):
You must show LLN support,digital access, and support for
diverse cohorts.
These supports must link todelivery.
It must show trainer alignment.
You must show who delivers eachunit, their competency, their
currency, and their PD.
Let us look at common mistakes.

(03:18):
Many RTOS still use generictemplates across multiple
programs.
Many use language that describesintent instead of practice.
Many list processes that theycannot evidence.
Many ignore learner profiles.
These gaps weaken the TAS.
They signal risk.
The regulator looks foralignment between the TAS and

(03:41):
actual delivery.
If they do not match, the auditbecomes difficult.
Now let us bring in the QA1strategic TAS Planner.
This tool breaks the TAS intoclear parts.
It gives prompts for eachsection.
It gives checklists forassessment alignment, learner

(04:02):
support and trainer mapping.
It gives a consultation log.
It gives a version controlregister.
It gives reflection questionsthat link design to outcomes.
Use it to build a TAS thatsupports practice, not a TAS
that sits in storage.
Let us explore a real example.

(04:23):
A provider planned to add newprograms.
Their TAS looked current, butmany parts had drifted.
Trainer mapping was missing.
Delivery modes were outdated.
Assessment methods lacked recentvalidation.
Industry input was missing.
They joined the VivacityCompliance System.

(04:44):
They used the TAS template andthe planner.
Their team received onlinetraining and live guidance.
Each step aligned their TAS withdelivery and support.
Staff used the TAS in meetings.
Trainers understood their roles.
Their audit became clear andsmooth.
The auditor called their TAS amodel of intent.

(05:06):
The provider gained confidenceand stability.
Now let us outline what leadersmust ask.
If you use an old template, iftrainer lists are not mapped, if
statements are generic, then youmust check if your TAS shows
your real delivery.
A TAS must reflect how youteach, how you assess and how

(05:28):
you support learners.
It must also reflect who youserve.
It must support each part ofQA1.
Let us add more detail.
Delivery modes must match yourresources.
If you claim hybrid delivery,you must show tools, guidance
and logs.
If you claim workplace delivery,you must show agreements and

(05:51):
supervision.
If you claim online delivery,you must show access checks, LLN
adjustments, and digitalsupport.
All modes must link to yourcohort.
Assessment practices must beclear.
You must show mapping anddesign.
You must show how tasks reflectreal work.

(06:14):
You must show that tools matchthe unit.
You must show evidence of recentvalidation.
You must show how feedbackchanged your tools.
Industry input must be current.
You must show names, dates, andmethods.
You must show how feedbackshaped your design.
You must avoid genericstatements.

(06:37):
You must demonstrate real linksto the sector.
Learner support must bepractical.
You must show how LLN checksshape delivery.
You must show how digital accessis handled.
You must show how you supportdiverse groups.
You must show how supportrecords link to outcomes.

(06:58):
Trainer alignment must be clear.
You must show mapping.
You must show currency logs.
You must show PD.
You must show how each trainerfits the unit demands.
The TAS must also guide dailywork.
Staff must use it.
Meetings must refer to it.

(07:18):
Program updates must align withit.
Delivery must follow it.
Support must connect to it.
Validation must test it.
The TAS must stay current.
Let us go deeper.
A strong TAS includes clearlearner profiles.
These profiles shape pacing,resources, and support.

(07:40):
A strong TAS includes resourcelists linked to delivery.
A strong TAS includes a deliveryschedule that matches the plan.
A strong TAS includes riskpoints and response notes.
A strong TAS includes evidencesources.
Each part builds consistency.
Industry expects learners tobecome job ready.

(08:02):
The TAS must show how tasksreflect this expectation.
You must show workplace links.
You must show current examples.
You must show how trainers bringindustry practice into sessions.
Risk also sits inside the TAS.
Missing mapping, outdated modesor generic templates raise risk.

(08:24):
Gaps in consultation raise risk.
Poor alignment between the TASand assessments raises risk.
Weak trainer mapping raisesrisk.
Leaders must review the TASoften to reduce risk.
Continuous improvement shapesthe TAS.
When issues arise, update theTAS.
When learner needs change,update the TAS.

(08:48):
When delivery shifts, update theTAS.
When assessments change, updatethe TAS.
You must track these updates.
Now let us outline a simplereview cycle.
Check your TAS each quarter.
Bring your trainers.
Bring your compliance team.
Bring your support team.
Check each section.

(09:09):
Check alignment to the unit.
Check alignment to industry.
Check alignment to delivery.
Check alignment to assessment.
Check alignment to supportupdate the file.
Track changes.
Then share the updates.
The TAS must be a livingdocument.
It must shape action.
It must reflect reality.

(09:31):
It must align to QA1.
Use the planner to guide eachstep.
Thank you for joining me today.
Stay strategic, stay studentfocused, and stay compliant.