--- title: "VR training for RTOs: simulated learning and assessment" description: "For RTO program heads and assessors: what the Standards for RTOs and ASQA ask of simulated assessment, and how learners practise hard client moments." canonical: https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/education/rto-simulated-learning --- [Our Work](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work) / [Industries](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries) / [Education](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/education) # Simulated assessment for the moments placement cannot guarantee Rehearse, repeat and assess the response to a distressed or aggressive client. The moment ## Three weeks of placement, and no evidence yet A learner on a disability support placement is asked whether she has responded to a client in distress. She has not. The house has been calm for three weeks, which is good news for everyone except her evidence. A home visit, before placement brings one. A withdrawn client, and a choice of replies. A client in distress, rehearsed in safety. The rules ## What the Standards for RTOs ask Two of the [Outcome Standards for RTOs](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/latest/text) bear directly on simulation, and [ASQA](https://www.asqa.gov.au/for-providers/guidance-and-resources-providers/online-learning/online-training-assessment) explains when a simulated environment can be used. The same assessment task for every learner. ### Standard 1.4, assessment The [Outcome Standards](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/latest/text) require that “The assessment system ensures assessment is conducted in a way that is fair and appropriate and enables accurate assessment judgement of VET student competency.” Among its principles, validity means “assessment includes practical application components”. A student raises a hand during class. ### Standard 1.8, facilities, resources and equipment The same [Standards](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/latest/text) require that “Facilities, resources and equipment for each training product are fit-for-purpose, safe, accessible and sufficient.” An assessor observes the task at the bay. ### ASQA on simulated environments [ASQA’s guidance](https://www.asqa.gov.au/for-providers/guidance-and-resources-providers/online-learning/online-training-assessment) says that if a training package allows, “you could use a simulated work environment to assess your students”, and that “Simulated assessment needs to meet the assessment conditions of your training package”. How practice meets it ## The same situation for every learner A simulation gives every learner the same situation, as many times as it takes, with each response recorded. A learner rehearses while assessors observe. ### Consistency and evidence The familiar alternatives are a role-play with a classmate that both find awkward, a written question about what the learner would do, or waiting for the moment to arrive while an assessor is watching. Simulation adds practice and evidence where a unit’s assessment conditions allow it, alongside any workplace hours the unit requires. See how [VR de-escalation training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/vr-de-escalation-training) runs a scenario. How it runs ## In the training room, or online Learners rehearse in a [VR headset](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/virtual-reality) in the training room, or with an [AI roleplay partner](https://peopletechrevolution.com/ai/ai-roleplay-practice) in a browser for online and blended delivery. Choosing a reply in the headset. The same scenario for online learners. A debrief once the attempt ends. Who uses it ## Programs where the hardest competency is a conversation Program heads, trainers and assessors, and the compliance managers who answer to the regulator. A childcare learner rehearses with a mentor. ### Care, community services and health Qualifications where the hardest competencies are conversations, and the workplace cannot schedule them. The same moments appear on the [disability support training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/disability) and [aged care training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/aged-care-disability) pages. ### Trainers, assessors and compliance The same scenario for every learner, and a record an auditor can read: which scenarios, which learners, how many attempts. A kitchen apprentice, the instructor watching. ### Customer-facing and safety-critical programs Retail, hospitality, security and transport programs where de-escalation is part of the job. See [customer aggression training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/customer-aggression-training). PTR’s education work ## Clinical education, built with educators The nearest published work is clinical education with two hospitals. The method carries across to vocational programs. Inside a hospital training build. ### Mater Education At Mater Education the pilot became a program the hospital took across its campuses, and Mater’s own facilitators were trained to run the technology themselves. Read the [Mater case study](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/case-studies/mater-speaking-with-good-judgement). A clinical conversation, rehearsed in a headset. ### Mayo Clinic Virtual reality training for nurse leaders at Mayo Clinic, with its evaluation in the [Mayo Clinic nurse leader study](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/research-evidence/vr-nursing-leaders-mayo-clinic). The rest of the work is on the [education training page](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/education). Questions ## What RTOs ask first Short answers for program heads, assessors and compliance managers. Placement feedback, practised before it happens. ### Does simulation make our assessment compliant? An RTO decides that against the [Outcome Standards](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/latest/text) and its training package. A simulation supplies a consistent assessment environment and a record of what each learner did. A research student at a laboratory bench. ### Can it count towards workplace hours? Where a unit requires workplace hours, they remain. Simulation adds practice and evidence where the assessment conditions allow it. A librarian and a student talk across the counter. ### Do learners need headsets? The same scenario runs in a browser, which suits online and blended delivery. An engineering student examines a part in the workshop. ### Can we build scenarios for our own units? Scenarios are written from a unit’s performance evidence and from situations your trainers describe. A student speaks beside a facilitator. ### What does an auditor see? The scenario, the learner’s responses, the number of attempts and the assessor’s judgement, in one record. - [Does VR training work?](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/does-vr-training-work) - [Psychosocial hazards training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/psychosocial-hazards) - [Research and evidence](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/research-evidence) - [Talk to us about your programs](https://peopletechrevolution.com/talk-to-us) Running an RTO? [Open the contact form](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/education/rto-simulated-learning#contact) Ask Simon’s Digital Twin a question ## Sources Each rule in full, on the regulator’s own site. ### [Standards for RTOs](https://www.asqa.gov.au/standards) Australian Skills Quality Authority The Standards for RTOs now in force. ### [Outcome Standards for Registered Training Organisations Instrument 2025](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00354/latest/text) Federal Register of Legislation, F2025L00354 Standard 1.4 on assessment and Standard 1.8 on facilities, resources and equipment. ### [Online training and assessment](https://www.asqa.gov.au/for-providers/guidance-and-resources-providers/online-learning/online-training-assessment) Australian Skills Quality Authority When a simulated work environment may be used, and the assessment conditions it has to meet. ### [About ASQA](https://www.asqa.gov.au/about-us) Australian Skills Quality Authority The national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector.