Continuous Improvement Policy

Continual improvement is an essential part of Strategix’s management system with the aim of ensuring compliance, preventing problems and identifying ways to continually improve the standard of delivery of training and the organisational structures supporting the delivery of training and assessment.

Strategix uses a systematic approach to gather both qualitative and quantitative feedback as the basis for identifying and prioritising improvement opportunities. A continual improvement approach is used by Strategix to address the requirements of RTO Standards for Registration.

Strategix collects, analyses, and acts on relevant data for continuous improvement of training and assessment. Strategix’ continual improvement process applies across all sections of the organisation’s operations.

Continuous improvement is the responsibility of the Managing Director who will:

• Promote awareness and encourage all staff to have a commitment to continuous improvement across all areas of the business operation including all training and assessment services and the administrative support behind those services

• Provide mechanisms for input and involvement of all staff and clients in identifying and implementing opportunities for improvement

• Act on information gathered both formally and informally.

Data Collection

Strategix uses the following data and strategies to identify continuous improvement opportunities and feed those into the process:

• Completion of Learner Surveys by all VET Students

• Completion of Employer Questionnaires

• Student and Employer Feedback forms

• Trainer/assessor validation and assessment moderation meetings

• Internal and external audits

• Feedback from industry - used during industry consultation

• Industry/enterprise organisations newsletters, journals, papers and/or PD workshops/training

• Management reviews

• Staff performance appraisal and exit interviews

• Unsolicited feedback

• Staff meetings

• Records of risk identification and assessment

• Record of complaints.

Data Analysis

Data analysis will inform:

• Quality indicators reporting

• Improvements to training and assessment services

• Training venues, work placement sites, workplaces and their facilities for training and assessment

• Staff recruitment, induction, performance appraisal and professional development

• Budget allocations and expenditure.

Continuous Improvement

Strategix will use a systematic approach to address continuous improvement opportunities by following a Continuous Improvement Cycle. Continuous improvement focus areas include:

• Training and assessment services

• Teaching and learning materials

• Assessment processes, tasks and tools

• Facilities and resources

• Organisational planning, policies, systems, capital infrastructure and financial management

• Staff performance and professional development

• Interaction with industry, the VET Sector and other RTOs.

Continuous Improvement Cycle

Continuous improvement aims to improve organisational performance over time. The continuous improvement cycle on which the Strategix continual improvement process is based has four interrelated phases, often referred to as the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle:

• PLAN - Establish the goals and actions necessary to implement the actions needed to address the opportunity for improvement - Conduct a risk assessment on the planned actions to determine if the actions will result in an Acceptable Level of Risk

• DO - Implement planned processes and allocate the appropriate resources

• CHECK - Monitor, measure and report on the effectiveness of results - Conduct a risk assessment on the completed actions to determine if the actions resulted in an Acceptable Level of Risk

• ACT - If there is an Acceptable Level of Risk continue with improvements, if not start again.

Continuous Improvement Procedure

When a continuous improvement opportunity is identified the following process should be followed:

1. Provide feedback, verbal or written, about the improvement recommendation to the relevant Department Manager

2. The Department Manager will then add this recommendation to the fortnightly Senior Management meeting agenda

3. The Senior Management Team will consider the implications for other management systems and consults with relevant staff about the improvement

4. A risk analysis approach will be undertaken to determine the urgency of the improvement

5. Management responsibility for further action will be allocated depending on the level of risk assigned to each report

6. All staff are informed of the change by email and the changed policy, procedure, teaching and/or assessment resource is added to the website

7. The improvement is trialled and reported back to the Senior Management Team within the agreed timeline

8. The trial outcome is reviewed for effectiveness and if necessary the process is amended and re-trialled.

• OFI Register