Registered training organisations  >  Vocational Education and Training  >  VET Framework and stakeholders

VET Framework and stakeholders

Education is one of Northern Territorys best strategies to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability. Vocational Education and Training (VET) provides skills and knowledge for work, enhances employability and assists learning throughout life.

In Australia, the VETs foundation was laid in the mid to late nineteenth century, when mechanical institutes, schools of technical and mines and working men's colleges were established to develop the skills of Australias working population. For almost 100 years, training was largely for males working full time in traditional trade related industries.

Today, VET is offered not only in the public system, but is also available through private and community training providers and in secondary schools. They are equally taken up by both males and females. It can link to university study options, and provides up to six levels of nationally recognised qualifications in most industries, including high growth, new economy industries.

Australian, state and territory governments agreed in 1992 to have a national training system, replacing the separate state and territory systems.  A cooperative VET system with strategic input from industry was put in place.

A new National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development was signed by the Australian Government and all States and Territories in late 2008. This agreement identifies the long-term objectives of the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments in the areas of skills and workforce development.

The objectives are:

  • All working aged Australians have the opportunity to develop the skills and qualifications needed, including through a responsive training system, to enable them to be effective participants in and contributors to the modern labour market.
  • Individuals are assisted to overcome barriers to education, training and employment, and are motivated to acquire and utilise new skills.
  • Australian industry and businesses develop, harness and utilise the skills and abilities of the workforce.

The expected outcomes are that:

  • The working age population has gaps in foundation skills levels reduced to enable effective education, labour market and social participation.
  • The working age population has the depth and breadth of skills and capabilities required for the 21st century labour market.
  • The supply of skills provided by the national training system responds to meet changing labour market demand.
  • Skills are used effectively to increase labour market efficiency, productivity, innovation, and ensure increased utilisation of human capital.

The Australian vocational education and training (VET) system is recognised as among the most sophisticated in the world because it is:

  • Industry led - employers and industry representatives define what outcome is required from training.
  • National the system is jointly managed by State, Territory and Australian governments.
  • Client focused it is flexible and relevant and responsive to client needs.

The fundamental elements of the system are:

The Australian Qualifications Framework

The AQF defines all nationally recognised qualifications. It provides a single framework for all qualifications from Senior Secondary Certification to PhD. Within the VET sector the following qualifications can be issued:

  • Certificate I
  • Certificate II
  • Certificate III
  • Certificate IV
  • Diploma
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Vocational Graduate Certificate
  • Vocational Graduate Diploma

Under the AQF, the achievement of a group of competencies leads to the attainment of a VET qualification. Only Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) can issue AQF qualifications and deliver accredited training and assessment. All training organisations must recognise AQF qualifications issued by other RTOs. This enhances mobility in the labour market.

Training packages

Training Packages provide the central architecture of the VET system. Training Packages are sets of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing peoples skills. In industry areas where there are not yet Training Packages, accredited courses are used instead.

Who pays?

Governments provide around half the funds for the national training system, the other half comes from employers and learners themselves.

VET stakeholders

Registered Training Organisations
Registering authorities in each State and Territory are responsible for registering and monitoring training organisations and ensuring they comply with Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) standards. They also accredit VET courses and approve training organisations delivery of VET to overseas students.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Visit the DEEWR website for more information.

State and Territory Training Authorities (STAs)
Each State and Territory government has a training authority that administers vocational education and training (VET), allocating funds, registering training organisations and accrediting courses.

The State and Territory training authorities (STAs) are accountable to their minister who is a member of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE).

It is the responsibility of each STA to:

  • plan and report on VET strategies
  • purchase training on behalf of their government
  • administer apprenticeships/traineeships and VET in schools
  • administer funding and financial incentives for VET within the state/territory
  • support training organisations, employers and the community on VET issues
  • accredit courses and register training providers within the AQTF.

National Training Information Service (NTIS)
The National Training Information Service (NTIS) is a database on vocational education and training in Australia. It contains detailed information on courses, qualifications, training packages, competency standards and training organisations.

Industry Skills Councils
Find out more about Industry Skills Councils.