Why is it Free? The Story Behind Our Monthly Professional Development Webinars

It is a question we hear almost every month:

“What’s the catch?” “Why are you giving this away for free?” “How can an RTO afford to host industry-leading guests without charging a ticket price?”

It’s a fair question. “Free webinar” is usually just code for a 20-minute presentation followed by a 20-minute sales pitch so the skepticism is understandable.

But if you’ve ever attended one of our monthly professional development (PD) sessions, you already know we do things a bit differently.

There are no thinly veiled sales pitches and no obligation to buy anything. It’s just genuine, quality VET sector professional development.

So why do we do it? To answer that, we have to look back at how this all started.

From Graduate Perk to Open Door Policy

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) specialising in the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, our relationship with our students doesn’t end when they receive their qualification.

Once you become a qualified trainer and assessor, the real work begins. And so does the requirement to maintain industry currency and Vocational Education and Training (VET) professional development.

Years ago, we started hosting monthly webinars as an exclusive value-add for our graduates. We wanted to support them in their careers, help them meet their compliance requirements, and keep our community connected.

Then, something fantastic happened.

Our graduates started asking if they could bring a colleague. Then a friend. Then an entire training department. By 2021, the demand was clear so we made a defining decision to open the doors to everyone. Whether you trained with us, trained elsewhere, or are just curious about the VET sector, you are welcome.

What Goes Into a Session?

We don’t take the easy route with these sessions. We regularly source and sponsor industry-leading special guests to share their expertise, alongside Accellier’s own TAE specialists.

Every month, up to 500 participants log in from across Australia and the globe, including training managers, compliance experts, and workforce development leaders from major organisations.

The Logistics Behind the Scenes

To keep these sessions meaningful, we hold ourselves (and our attendees) to a high standard:

• The 80% Rule. To maintain the integrity of the professional development, we issue a formal Certificate of Attendance to anyone who participates in at least 80% of the live session.
• Tech. Behind the scenes, we’ve built custom tools to track attendance logs and generate and distribute thousands of PD certificates each year.
• Free Recordings. If you can’t make a live session, we publish the recordings for free (minus the certificate) whenever our guest speakers permit it.

Is it a massive logistical exercise? Absolutely. But seeing the influx of heartfelt thank-you messages from trainers who feel supported in their roles makes the effort entirely worth it.

The Real “Why”

To be completely transparent we know this puts our brand out there. When organisations see the calibre of the PD we provide for free, we become the natural choice when they look to upskill their people with the TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. It proves we know our stuff.

But beyond marketing, there is a simpler reason we keep doing this: It’s the right thing to do.

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” By raising the standard of capability across the entire VET sector, everyone wins; trainers, RTOs, and most importantly, the students we all teach.

We just chose to show leadership by giving back to the VET community that supports us.

So, the next time you join us for a session, you can leave your wallet at home. We’re just glad to have you in the room.

Want to join our next live session? Keep an eye on our professional development events page or subscribe to our newsletter below.