The Circle Builder: Lead with Purpose, Build with Soul
HERE'S WHAT I KNOW
Becoming an RTO isn't just about ticking compliance boxes.
It's about understanding the regulatory landscape, building governance structures that actually function, and creating a foundation that won't crumble the first time you're audited.
And if you're already an RTO? You know the pressure. Compliance requirements shift. Systems need updating. Internal processes need tightening. And you need someone who's been in the trenches—not just read the standards manual.
I've spent 30 years in this space. I've helped new organisations navigate the full application process from start to registration. I've stepped into established RTOs to review compliance, implement systems, and get things back on track. And I've built internal learning programs for organisations who want to develop their people before they even think about becoming an RTO.
This is what I do. This is where I thrive.
The Numbers That Matter
30 years in the education sector
5 organisations successfully achieved RTO status since 2023 (full application to registration)
Multiple RTOs owned and managed personally
10 RTOs supported through compliance reviews and system implementation (last 2-3 years)
Thousands of online programs developed and authored
Numerous Certificate I-IV and Diploma qualifications created across career
This isn't volume work—it's deep, complex, high-stakes expertise.
Each new RTO application is a major project.
Each compliance review is intensive work.
And I've done this consistently, across regulatory changes and organisational challenges, for three decades.
30+
YEARS
Experience in Education
1,000
Online programs Developed
10 RTOs
Compliance Supported
100's
Cert 1 to Diploma Quals developed
I’VE INSPIRED HUNDREDS OF ENTREPRENEURS!
SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
Too many organisations build compliance structures that look good on paper but require constant firefighting to maintain.
I help you create governance and learning systems that actually work—sustainable, defensible, and built to support growth instead of strangling it.
STRATEGIC CLARITY
When everything feels urgent—audits, applications, regulatory changes—nothing gets built with real purpose.
I create space for strategic thinking so your RTO structures and learning programs come from clarity and alignment, not panic and patchwork solutions.
CIRCLES, NOT LADDERS
I don't believe in climbing over people or competing for position.
I believe in building circles—collaborative partnerships where your organisational vision meets my regulatory expertise, and where the outcome serves everyone involved. This is invitation-based work, not aggressive pursuit.
DEEP EXPERTISE
So many organisations navigate RTO compliance in isolation—quietly carrying the regulatory weight without expert support.
I bring 30 years of lived experience, thousands of programs authored, and a track record of successful applications and compliance reviews. You don't have to figure this out alone.
WHO THIS IS FOR
You're Building Toward RTO Status
You're an established organisation ready to become a Registered Training Organisation, but you're not sure where to start.
The application process feels overwhelming, the governance documentation seems endless, and you need someone who can walk you through the entire project—from scoping to registration.
You're an Existing RTO Navigating Compliance
You've got your RTO status, but compliance is weighing you down.
Maybe you're preparing for audit.
Maybe your systems need updating.
Maybe you're implementing compliance structures into your software and you need someone who actually understands both the regulatory requirements AND how to make systems work in the real world.
You're an Organisation Building Internal Capability
You're not ready to become an RTO yet, but you need to develop your people. You want internal learning programs that build culture, strengthen onboarding, and create real capability across your team.
You might be thinking about RTO status down the track—or you might just want better internal systems now.
You're an Established Professional Exploring Scale Strategies
You're a coach, speaker, or author who's built your reputation through your unique approach.
You're considering how to scale beyond one-to-one delivery, and you're wondering: how do I build an online program that still brings the essence of me?
Not a generic course template that strips out what makes my work valuable—but a learning experience that actually delivers the transformation people hire me for.
... WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE
Full RTO Application Support
I can walk you through the entire process of becoming an RTO.
I have the full suite of governance documents, the project management experience to keep things moving, and the knowledge to navigate the regulatory requirements without drowning in bureaucracy.
Full RTO Application Support
I can walk you through the entire process of becoming an RTO.
I have the full suite of governance documents, the project management experience to keep things moving, and the knowledge to navigate the regulatory requirements without drowning in bureaucracy.
Compliance Review & System Implementation
If you're an existing RTO,
I can step in to review your compliance structures, help you implement systems into your software, and make sure you're not just meeting standards on paper—you're actually operating in a way that's sustainable and defensible.
Internal Learning Program Development
I know how to build learning programs that people actually complete. Whether it's culture-building, onboarding, or internal capability development,
I design learning experiences that work for real humans—not just compliance checklists.
High-Completion Online Program Design
I've authored thousands of online programs across my career. I understand what makes people finish versus abandon.
If you're an established professional looking to scale your expertise, I can help you build learning experiences that maintain your essence while delivering real value—not generic course templates.
Circles, Not Ladders
IMy entire philosophy is built around collaboration over competition. I don't believe in climbing over people to get somewhere.
I believe in building circles—where we work together, where your vision meets my experience in making it real, and where the outcome serves everyone involved.
TESTIMONIALS
Siobhan Walley
Joanne’s guidance helped me step into my authentic leadership style with confidence. Through the tailored coaching and practical strategies, she provided, I gained the clarity I needed to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose. I no longer just manage—I lead with intention, vision, and a clear understanding of how to scale my business while staying true to my values.
Cathie Wilson
Jo was dazzling in her achievements, yet completely relatable — exactly who I needed at one of the most pivotal moments in my life. If I can have even half the impact on others that Jo has had on me, I’ll know I’ve been a success.
Cheryl Gray
Joanne is my go-to person for advice and support. Everything she has learned through scaling she shares her heartfelt leadership advice.
A brilliant communicator, connector and mentor, Joanne is someone you should have on speed dial!
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
Invitation-Based Partnership
I work through invitation, not pursuit.
When there's genuine alignment between what you need and what I bring, the work flows naturally. I'm not interested in chasing projects or forcing fit. I'm interested in meaningful partnerships where we're both all in.
SPACE to Build Properly
I'm an Emotional Projector in Human Design, which means I need space to process and clarity to create.
I bring that same principle to how we work together—we don't rush the important stuff. We create space to think through what you're building, why it matters, and how to structure it so it's sustainable.
Systems That Actually Work
I'm not interested in building governance structures that look good on paper but fall apart in practice.
We create systems that work for real people in real organisations—sustainable, functional, and built to last.
... Scaling Established Expertise
If you're a well-established coach, speaker, professional or author exploring how to scale your expertise through online programs, I can help you build learning experiences that maintain what makes your work valuable while reaching more people.
What this includes:
- Online program strategy and structure
- High-completion learning design
- Maintaining your unique approach at scale
- Moving beyond one-to-one delivery without losing quality
This is for professionals who've proven their expertise and have the business foundation to support strategic growth.
Not solopreneurs just starting out—established businesses ready for the next phase.
... A BIT ABOUT ME
I'm Joanne—known as "The Circle Builder" because I believe in collaboration over competition, circles over ladders, and building businesses and systems that breathe rather than suffocate.
I've spent 30 years in the education sector, with deep expertise in Registered Training Organisations. I've helped new organisations achieve RTO status, stepped into existing RTOs to strengthen compliance, and built internal learning programs for organisations at every stage of development.
I've owned and managed multiple RTOs personally, so when I talk about what works and what doesn't, I'm speaking from lived experience—not theory.
Before this work, I scaled a business to $30 million and have founded multiple ventures across industries. I've also experienced liquidation, which taught me more about sustainable business than any success ever did.
I've authored thousands of online programs and created numerous Certificate I-IV and Diploma qualifications across my career. I know what makes learning experiences stick versus what gets abandoned halfway through.
I'm an Emotional Projector with a 1/3 profile in Human Design, which means I work best through invitation, I need space to process, and I'm built for collaboration, not demand generation.
My philosophy? Circles, not ladders. Collaboration, not competition. And creating space for work that actually matters.
International Note: While my deep expertise is in the Australian RTO framework, compliance is compliance—I understand regulatory navigation and governance structures across education systems. If you're an international education provider exploring similar challenges, let's talk.
READY TO EXPLORE?
Whether you're building toward RTO status, navigating compliance in an existing RTO, developing internal learning capability, or exploring how to scale your established expertise, let's talk.
I work through invitation—when the fit is right, the work flows.
About Joanne RTO expert and business consultant with 30 years in the education sector. Joanne helps organisations navigate the full RTO lifecycle—from application to compliance—and builds internal learning programs designed for real capability development.
Founder of Navig8 Circle and Her Transformation. Navigator for Ducere Global Business School.
Services New RTO Applications | RTO Compliance & Systems | Organizational Learning Programs | Scaling Established Expertise | Ducere Navigator | Her Transformation | The Circle
In the spirit of reconciliation, Navig8 Biz acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
