Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) often have policies and agreements that look solid on paper.
But when a student is injured during placement, regulators don’t just look at the host employer — they look at what the RTO did to coordinate safety.
If there’s no record of consultation, it can be treated as if no system existed at all.
What the Law Says
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth), duty holders must work together to manage risk. Section 46 states that each party must consult, cooperate and coordinate with others who share a safety duty.
Similar duties apply across states:
Commonwealth – s46 | SA – s46 | VIC – s35
These obligations exist even when the RTO doesn’t control the host site or employ the student.
Consultation must happen — and it must be proven.
Why This Matters
Once learners are placed at external sites, safety becomes a shared duty. If something goes wrong, investigators will ask:
“What consultation occurred between the RTO and the host employer?”
Without communication records or risk coordination, RTOs can still be found non-compliant.
In one South Australian case, a provider was fined $120,000 for failing to consult on site safety.
How to Stay Ahead
Keep written evidence of how safety was discussed, agreed and reviewed with host employers. That includes pre-placement checks, shared risk controls and follow-up actions.
Those records protect both learners and your organisation.
In Summary
Mydox helps RTOs coordinate and evidence WHS compliance across every placement.
It provides a single platform to manage and share safety materials such as pre-starts, SOPs, SWMS and induction templates, ensuring everyone works from the same standards. These core tools are available to RTOs at no cost, helping you stay compliant, organised and audit-ready.
Complimentary RTO Safety Consultation
Want to see how Mydox can help your RTO simplify placement safety?
We’re offering RTOs a complimentary consultation, with access to the core tools that keep safety processes consistent and compliant.
Complete the enquiry form and our team will contact you to arrange your complimentary setup.
Because safer placements start with shared responsibility.
