The Small Training Provider of the Year Award recognises small registered training organisations (RTOs) that offer a range of training products and services and that demonstrate excellence and high-level performance in all aspects of vocational education and training.
2024 state or territory Award winners of this category are nominated to enter a short-listing process to the Australian Training Awards. The original application of the winners already address the award criteria below and are automatically submitted to the Australian Training Awards by the state or territory training awards.
Eligibility criteria for the Australian Training Awards
Organisations must be registered in Australia, with an Australian Business Number.
Nominees must:- meet the Australian Training Awards Conditions of Entry requirements
- have fewer than 500 students enrolled at the time of nomination, as reported by RTOs in the most recent annual National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) data collection period*
- be an RTO for which the delivery of vocational education and training is their core business
- nominate in the state or territory where the majority of their training is being delivered **, and
- have won the aligned category at the relevant state or territory training awards in 2024.
* If this criteria is not met, nominees may be eligible to apply for the Large Training Provider of the Year Award.
** Organisations may only nominate for this category in a single state or territory. Only one nomination will be accepted per RTO code. Note: Applicants to the Small Training Provider of the Year Award will be subject to quality assurance checks by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and/or the applicable regulatory authority in Victoria and Western Australia. The checks will inform the selection process of applicants to this award category.
Section A: Overview
The information in Section A will not be considered or used for judging purposes, but it may be used as a summary of your organisation throughout the Awards process.
Organisation Details
| Number of currently enrolled students* | |
| Number of narrow ASCED fields of education that you offer** | |
| Number of qualifications listed on your scope of registration currently being delivered | |
| Number of units of competency listed on your scope of registration currently being delivered | |
| Number of skill sets listed on your scope of registration currently being delivered | |
| Number of accredited courses listed on your scope of registration currently being delivered | |
| Completion rate for qualifications (in the year previous to this award) | % |
| Completion rate for units of competency (in the year previous to this award) | % |
| Completion rate for skill sets (in the year previous to this award) | % |
| Completion rate for accredited courses (in the year previous to this award) | % |
| Number of full-time equivalent staff | |
| Number of part time staff | |
| Number of casual staff | |
| Number of contracting staff | |
| Length of time in operation (years) | |
| Percentage of annual turnover attributed to Australian Government funding | % |
| Percentage of annual turnover attributed to state/territory government funding | % |
| Percentage of annual turnover attributed to fee-for-service funding | % |
*Please attach evidence of the breakdown of your enrolled student numbers in each state and territory (as provided to NCVER in the most recent annual data collection period). Note that this attachment is not counted towards the attachment limit.
**Qualifications and accredited courses are each assigned a 4-digit Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) ‘narrow’ field of education code. There are 71 narrow fields of education, and they identify the subject matter relating to a program of study.
Business Summary
Provide a brief description of your organisation, including the reasons why you are applying for this award.
(Limit: 500 words)Section B: Selection Criteria
This information will be considered and used for short listing and judging purposes.
Criterion 1: High quality and leading practice in vocational education and training
How do you provide high quality vocational education and training? For example, you may consider:- how you demonstrate excellence and high level performance in nationally accredited training arrangements
- how you provide creative and innovative solutions to emerging training needs
- the systems you have in place to manage, evaluate and enhance your VET products and services
- how you implement and keep up with best practice
- how your training influences best practice
- how you measure success (e.g. outcome and completion data, satisfaction surveys, independent validations and evaluations, industry recognition, business outcomes from training activity)
- how you undertake continuous improvement and apply quality controls within your organisation.
Criterion 2: Meeting student needs
How do you support students and meet their needs in vocational education and training? For example, you may consider:- how you encourage access to your VET products and services
- what support services you provide to students during their training
- the systems you have in place to be able to reach different cohorts (e.g. online training)
- how you are inclusive of different students’ needs
- how you provide students with the skills they need to be successful in the workplace
- how satisfied students are with their training
- the success you have achieved in meeting the needs of equity groups.
Criterion 3: Meeting industry needs
How do you monitor industry and market needs? For example, you may consider:- how you build new, innovative and effective partnerships with industry in the local or wider community
- how you collect data on and understand Industry/business needs and expectations
- your capacity and flexibility to meet changing training needs and new training markets
- how your training reflects changing industry requirements and expectations.
Criterion 4: High quality business management
How do you manage your business to ensure it is operating at a high quality? For example, you may consider:- the strategies you have in place to identify local/regional issues (e.g. social, economic, industrial or environmental issues) and how you incorporate these into your service delivery
- the systems you have in place for planning and communicating your purpose, vision, goals, values and core business strategies (and for creating alignment across your whole organisation)
- how you develop the capability and capacity of your workforce
- the strategies you have in place to build a positive workplace culture
- how you support employee wellbeing and positive mental health
- how you incorporate inclusion and diversity into running your business
- how you identify and attract new clients and new markets, and how you address these without impacting the sustainability of your operations
- how you enrol, train and report on online learners
- how you ensure the sustainability of your operations, including your understanding of risk and risk management.
Criterion 5: Innovation and excellence in design and delivery of training
How you demonstrate innovation in your approach to the design and delivery of training for students? For example, you may consider:- details of creativity, innovation and excellence in the design, development and delivery of training
- how you demonstrate creativity and innovation in the design and development of your processes and techniques (operational or educational)
- innovative methods that you use to create positive relationships or partnerships with others to enhance the effectiveness of your training
- innovative approaches that you use to encourage access to training for your students (e.g. mentoring, e-learning, collaborative learning).
For further information visit your relevant state or territory training awards website.