Issue 001: The Industry Audit That Shocked ASQA
Independent analysis reveals 1,847 compliance violations across 423 RTOs – violations that somehow never appeared in official reports.
Coming Soon
15 min read
Investigation in progress
BREAKING: 73% of Australian RTOs Failing Basic Compliance Standards
A 10-part investigation exposing the systematic failures hiding behind 98% self-reported compliance rates.
Tribune Investigation Series
RTO Compliance Crisis Exposed
A 10-part investigative series uncovering systemic failures in Australian RTO compliance. Data-driven journalism exposing how 73% of RTOs fail basic standards despite self-reported 98% compliance rates.
Read LatestThe Compliance Crisis No One's Talking About
For six months, The Tribune has investigated the Australian RTO sector's compliance claims. What we found should concern every student, employer, and taxpayer.
73%
RTOs failing basic standards
$4.2B
Annual funding at risk
1,847
Unresolved violations
The Complete Investigation (10 Issues)
Issue 002: The Trust Deficit Crisis
How self-certification became self-deception: Inside the system where RTOs grade their own homework while students pay the price.
Coming Soon
18 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 003: Market Leaders Exposed
The top 10 RTOs control 43% of the market. Our investigation reveals 8 of them have critical compliance failures they've never disclosed.
Coming Soon
22 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 004: The Accountability Crisis
ASQA's enforcement actions dropped 78% while violations increased 340%. We follow the paper trail to understand why.
Coming Soon
20 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 005: The Student Debt Trap
147,000 students enrolled in programs that don't meet minimum standards. The real cost? $892 million in student loans for worthless qualifications.
Coming Soon
16 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 006: The Assessment Scandal
Leaked documents reveal systematic assessment fraud: RTOs passing students who never attended classes, completed work, or demonstrated competency.
Coming Soon
25 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 007: The Content Bloat Crisis
RTOs spending millions on "compliant" training materials that are 400% longer than needed, outdated, and pedagogically unsound. Who profits?
Coming Soon
19 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 008: The Technical Excellence Paradox
RTOs with perfect technical infrastructure and 0% compliance. How digital dashboards became smoke screens for fundamental failures.
Coming Soon
17 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 009: The Employer Betrayal
Major employers reveal: 71% of RTO graduates require complete retraining. The qualification crisis destroying workforce development.
Coming Soon
21 min read
Investigation in progress
Issue 010: The Reform Imperative - Final Report
Our complete findings, 47 recommendations for immediate action, and the roadmap to save Australian vocational education from collapse.
Coming Soon
30 min read
Investigation in progress
Investigation Methodology
Data Sources
- • 423 RTO compliance audits (2021-2024)
- • 1,200+ student outcome surveys
- • 89 employer interviews
- • 14 whistleblower testimonies
- • ASQA enforcement database analysis
Verification Process
- • Triple-source verification requirement
- • Independent expert review panel
- • Legal compliance check
- • Right-of-reply to all named parties
- • Statistical significance testing
About The Tribune Series
The Tribune Investigation Series represents six months of intensive investigative journalism into Australia's RTO sector. Our team analyzed over 50,000 documents, conducted 300+ interviews, and verified every claim through multiple independent sources.
Editorial Standards: All investigations follow strict journalistic ethics, including verification protocols, right of reply, and public interest tests. No claims are published without documentary evidence.
CALL TO ACTION: Share these investigations. Demand accountability. The future of Australian vocational education depends on immediate reform.