Marketing vs Misleading – Staying Compliant in How You Promote Training

In this essential episode, Angela Connell-Richards tackles one of the most overlooked audit risks for RTOs—non-compliant marketing. With the 2025 Standards now in full effect, your course flyers, website, and social media content are all under ASQA’s lens. Angela explores how a single misleading phrase can trigger an audit—and what you can do to stay on the safe side.

Key points discussed:
 ✅ What the 2025 Standards say about marketing compliance
 ✅ The top marketing mistakes that RTOs are still making
 ✅ How to correctly use the NRT logo and represent your scope
 ✅ Tips for writing clear, compliant, and compelling course promotions

Angela breaks down the compliance expectations around marketing and provides practical advice that your team—especially your marketers—need to hear.

Listen now and download Angela’s free Marketing & Advertising Compliance Checklist at Vivacity to ensure your promotional material is audit-ready.

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 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. 

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Episode Transcript

Angela Connell-Richards (00:02):
Welcome back to the RTO Superhero
Podcast.
I'm Angela Connell-Richards,your compliance coach, marketing
strategist and sometimes yourmuch-needed wake-up call.
If you're a regular listener,you know we've been in countdown
mode at Vivasity to the new RTOstandards, and the 1 July 2025

(00:23):
deadline is now just around thecorner.
Today we're tackling somethingthat's often overlooked but
frequently lands RTOs in hotwater Marketing, that's right.
Your website, your courseflyers, your social media
captions Are they compliant orcould they be considered

(00:43):
misleading under the newstandards?
Grab a cuppa team, because thisepisode could save your RTO
from a serious audit trigger.
Let's be honest when we thinkcompliance, we think policies,
assessment, validation, trainer,credentials.

(01:03):
But marketing that's a job forthe sales team, right Wrong.
Under the new 2025 standardsand also under the NRT logo,
conditions of use policy andcompliance requirements, all
marketing and promotionalmaterial is now squarely under
ASQA's microscope.

(01:24):
And promotional materials nowsquarely under ASQA's microscope
.
If your course flyer makesunsubstantiated claims, doesn't
include your RTO ID, promisesemployment outcomes, misuses the
NRT logo, it could beconsidered misleading or
deceptive conduct.

(01:45):
That's not just a slap on thewrist.
That's audit territory.
Let's go through some examplesI've seen in the past week from
real RTOs Names withheld, ofcourse.
Mistake number one 100% jobguarantee, unless you're

(02:05):
literally employing the students.
This is a massive red flag.
Even saying strong employmentoutcomes without evidence is
risky.
Mistake number two the NRT logowithout an RTO code.
Out an RTO code.

(02:30):
Every ad, every page, everyflyer must include your RTO ID
when advertising a nationallyrecognised course.
Mistake number three misusingthe NRT logo.
You can't put it next to anon-accredited course, alter its
colour or size ratio.
Use it as your business logo orwith your business logo only.

(02:51):
Use it in line with officialconditions of use for the policy
, which we've linked in the shownotes.
Mistake number four forgettingscope.
Promoting a course that's noton your scope of registration is
a big no-no, even if you'reabout to add it onto your scope

(03:12):
of registration.
The 2025 standards are veryclear under Standard 2.1 and 2.2
.
You must provide accurate andfactual information in all
public facing communications.
Let me quote directly marketingand advertising of training and

(03:33):
assessment services must not befalse, misleading or deceptive,
and it's not just what you say,but how you say it.
If you imply a shortcut, aguaranteed outcome or a benefit
you can't verify, you've crossedthe line.
So if your Instagram says startyour career as a nurse today,

(03:58):
but you're deliveringCertificate III in individual
support and not actually placingthem into a nursing role.
That's problematic.
What you must include in everycourse flyer or promotion.
Let's make this actionable.
Here's your must-have checklistfor every piece of promotional

(04:19):
content.
Number one your RTO ID or yourcode, everywhere the course is
mentioned.
Course title as it appears ontraininggovau.
Course title as it appears ontraininggovau.
Accreditation statement ie thiscourse is nationally recognised
.
Training delivered by ABC RTOand your code.

(04:44):
Duration and delivery mode.
Entry requirements andprerequisites.
Fees and funding eligibility ora clear statement of fees.
No misleading employment claimsor outcomes.
You can download our marketingand advertising compliance

(05:05):
checklist at vivacitycomau orcheck the show notes.
Let's talk website audits.
Now let's chat about yourwebsite.
When was the last time you dida full site review for
compliance?
Here's what to check Everytraining page includes your RTO
code.
Your only advertising courseson your current scope of

(05:28):
registration.
Any claims of outcomes areevidence-based.
You link to funding terms.
If promoting subsidised courses, you've updated old 2023 or
2024 or 2015 reference points.
Your website is often the firstplace that Askable will visit

(05:49):
when investigating a complaintor preparing for an audit, so
don't let outdated contentbecome your downfall.
Compliance versus connection.
How to be clear and compelling.
Now I get it.
You want your marketing to bemotivating.
You want to inspire enrollments, not bore people with fine

(06:11):
print.
So how do you stay compliantwithout losing your voice?
Well, here's how.
Lead with outcomes, but qualifythem.
Instead of start your dreamcareer as a childcare worker,
try.
This course provides the skillsfor entry-level roles in early
education and care.

(06:32):
Be transparent about effort,say, this course requires 120
hours of placement and fullattendance to meet assessment
requirements.
Use testimonials, but only ifthey're real and don't promise
guaranteed outcomes.
And remember clear iscompelling.

(06:55):
Students want to trust you, notto be sold to Download the
checklist and what is coming upnext.
So there it is your wake-up callon marketing compliance under
the 2025 standards.
Download your free flyerchecklist at vivacity.
com.
au or check the show notes.

(07:18):
Share it with your marketingteam, your admin staff, your
graphic designer, heck, evenyour CEO.
Next week, on the RTO SuperheroPodcast, we're digging into the
hidden audit triggers you mightnot even know exist, like scope
changes, high-risk trainingproducts and complaints.
Because if you think you'resafe post-July, think again.

(07:42):
Thanks for listening andremember compliance isn't a
burden, it's your superpower.
Catch you next week.