The language of vocational education and training (VET) can be complicated. The aim of the My Skills glossary is provide definitions of the VET-related terminology used on the My Skills website to help you better understand VET.
You can either browse this page or use the search box below to locate glossary terms and definitions.
Most nationally endorsed training is covered in current training packages; however, sometimes all the skill requirements for industry, enterprises and the community are not covered in the training packages and additional training is required. This additional training is covered in accredited courses. Like training package qualifications, accredited courses are nationally recognised and only a registered training organisation (RTO) can issue a nationally recognised qualification or Statement of Attainment following its full or partial completion. Accredited courses may be:
A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.
A person who is:
Covers all Australian apprenticeships and traineeships. Australian apprenticeships:
The Australian Qualifications Framework is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.
A national regulatory body for the vocational education and training (VET) sector. ASQA are responsible for course accreditation and the regulation of registered training organisations.
Two state-based regulatory bodies also exist, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), and Western Australian Training Accreditation Council (WA TAC).
A qualification showing that a student has achieved learning outcomes as described in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
There are four levels of certificates; they range from Certificate I (basic fundamental knowledge and understanding in a narrow area of work and learning) to Certificate IV (broad factual, technical and theoretical knowledge in a specialised field of work and learning).
A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Most or all of the cost of this training is borne by the student or a person or organisation on behalf of the student.
A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
A qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
The name by which a registered training organisation is legally known. This name may differ from the trading name.
Collects, analyses, evaluates and communicates research and statistics about vocational education and training (VET).
The National Register for vocational education and training (VET) is a record of all training organisations formally approved to deliver VET services by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (or, in some cases, a state regulator).
The registered training organisation’s (RTO) registration is recorded, and details are made publicly available, on the authoritative National Register of VET in Australia, training.gov.au.
Formal certification awarded in recognition of the successful completion of an educational program. Vocational education and training (VET) qualifications are awarded when a person has satisfied all requirements of the units of competency or modules that comprise an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification.
Recognition of prior learning identifies your skills, knowledge and experiences no matter where, when or how you gained them. It offers the opportunity to have these attributes count towards a formal qualification. Your skills and knowledge are matched to current industry qualifications so you can gain that formal recognition.
Recognition of prior learning is ideal for people with industry relevant work skills or knowledge acquired through paid or unpaid work experience, life experience or community work.
All the training providers listed on My Skills are registered training organisations (RTOs). This means they meet the registration requirements to deliver training and can issue you with a nationally-recognised qualification. RTOs can include TAFEs, private training providers, schools and some industry associations and companies.
RTOs are registered in accordance with vocational education and training (VET) legislation to deliver and/or assess nationally recognised training in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework, and are listed on the National Register, training.gov.au.
A nationally unique code a registered training organisation (RTO) has been allocated to use for an identified period of time. An organisation's RTO code on My Skills is the same as on the National Register, training.gov.au.
The units of competency, qualifications and accredited courses that a registered training organisation (RTO) is registered to deliver and/or assess. An RTO’s scope on My Skills is the same as on the National Register, training.gov.au. The RTO may not be currently delivering every item on its scope. Please contact the relevant RTO to check if it is currently being delivered.
Formal certification provided by a registered training organisation, confirming that the person has achieved:
Money or other financial incentives paid by a government to help in the delivery and participation of students in training courses.
Technical and further education institution; a registered training organisation owned and operated by a state government, or public provider of training.
The particular name by which a registered training organisation is publicly known.
A training organisation’s approach to providing education and training. An organisation’s training options dictates the training delivery modes available to students. Face-to-face is the more traditional training delivery mode, whilst flexible service delivery models may involve distance education, mixed-mode delivery, online learning, self-paced learning, self-directed learning, or combinations of these.
A training package is a set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills in a specific industry, industry sector or enterprise.
Despite the name, a training package does not describe how people should be trained, nor does it refer to a package of training or qualification that can be delivered or attained. Rather, training packages provide the nationally endorsed industry standards against which training can be developed and flexibly delivered to meet particular local, individual, industry and enterprise requirements.
Training packages complete a quality assurance process and are then endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC). The training packages are reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to meet the needs of industry, students and the community.
The national register of information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations (RTOs).
Units of competency are the building blocks of a qualification. Each unit of competency identifies a distinct workplace requirement or skill needed to perform the task effectively in the workplace. This can include work knowledge and skills, language, literacy and numeracy, or occupational health and safety requirements.
Legislation makes it a requirement that each unit of competency be listed on the National Register, training.gov.au. Units of competency must be adhered to in training and assessment to ensure consistency of outcomes.
A vocational education and training (VET) course is defined by the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011, s.3 as:
The VET Student Loans program is an Australian Government income contingent loan program that helps eligible students enrolled in approved courses at the diploma or above level, at approved course providers pay their tuition fees. For further information about VET Student Loans, please read the VET Student Loans Information Booklet available at https://www.dese.gov.au/vet-student-loans/resources/vet-student-loans-information-booklet.
Vocational education and training (VET) is training in technical, job-related skills. All of the training on the My Skills website is VET. It provides students with specific skills to help them in the workplace, and enables them to gain qualifications for all types of employment.