Useful contacts and resources

State and Territory Government Training Departments

ACT – Skills Canberra – https://www.skills.act.gov.au/

NSW – Training Services NSW – https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/employers/

NT – Workforce NT – https://vet.nt.gov.au/workplaces

QLD – Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training –
https://desbt.qld.gov.au/

SA – Skills SA – https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/business

TAS – Skills Tasmania – https://www.skills.tas.gov.au/home

VIC – Department of Education and Training – https://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/

WA – Department of Training and Workforce Development – https://www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/

Finding training courses and training providers

MySkills – https://www.myskills.gov.au/

National Training Register – https://www.training.gov.au

NSW – https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw

NT – https://vet.nt.gov.au/workplaces

QLD – http://www.skillsgateway.training.qld.gov.au/

SA – https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/business

TAS – https://www.skills.tas.gov.au/employers_and_industry

VIC – https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/

WA – https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/

Training for language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills

The national Reading Writing Hotline
https://www.readingwritinghotline.edu.au/workplace-literacy/

Foundation Skills for your Future program –
https://www.dese.gov.au/foundation-skills-your-future-program/foundation-skills-employers

Making complaints and resolving conflict

State and Territory consumer protection agencies and training ombudsman –
https://www.asqa.gov.au/complaints/more-support

ASQA Connect Online Portal – https://asqaconnect.asqa.gov.au/

Traineeships and Apprenticeships

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network
https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn

Australian Apprenticeship Pathways – https://www.aapathways.com.au/

Also see State and Territory Government Training Department links above.

Support for Workforce Development and Career Development

Human Services Skills Organisation – https://www.hsso.org.au/

Boosting the Local Care Workforce Program – https://blcw.dss.gov.au/About

Skills Checkpoint – https://skillscheck.com.au/skills-checkpoint-for-employers/services-for-employers/

Victoria Skills and Jobs Centres – https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/visit-a-skills-and-jobs-centre

Western Australia Jobs and Skills Centres – https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/resources-employers

National Careers Institute – https://www.dese.gov.au/nci/national-careers-institute-and-its-work

Regulators

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) – https://www.asqa.gov.au/

Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) – https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/

Training Accreditation Council Western Australia (TAC) – https://www.tac.wa.gov.au/

An overview of governance and regulation of VET

https://www.voced.edu.au/vet-knowledge-bank-governance

Financial support for Vocational Education and Training

Australian Government financial support for individuals – https://www.dese.gov.au/skills-and-training/help-cost-training

State and Territory Government specific funding – see State and Territory Government Training Department links above.

Skills Checkpoint to upskill employees aged 45-70 – https://skillscheck.com.au/skills-checkpoint-for-employers/services-for-employers/

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network subsidies for employing trainees and apprentices – https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn  

Employment service provider wage subsidies for employing certain groups of job seekers – https://jobsearch.gov.au/employer-info/wage-subsidies

Work placements

Preparing Students for Work: Certificate III in Individual Support Work Placement Guide for Human Services employers and RTOs  – Coming soon

Training product development and reform

Industry Reference Committees – https://www.aisc.net.au/industry-reference-committees/industry-reference-committees-0

Skills Service Organisations – https://www.aisc.net.au/industry-reference-committees/skills-service-organisations

Australian Government Skills Reform – https://www.skillsreform.gov.au/

Other national VET support organisations

Skills Organisations – https://www.dese.gov.au/skills-organisations

National Skills Commission – https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/

Below are some of the key terms used in the Guide. They are drawn from:

• National Careers Institute – MySkills Glossary
• National Centre for Vocational Education and Research – Glossary of VET

Accredited Course

A nationally recognised course accredited by vocational education and training (VET) regulators and developed to meet training needs not addressed by existing training packages. The course results in a statement of attainment outcome. The title of an accredited course commences with the words ‘Course in’.

Accredited Training

Training that leads to vocational qualifications and credentials that are recognised across Australia. Only registered training organisations (RTOs) that meet government quality standards such as TAFEs, private providers, enterprise registered training organisations, vocational divisions of universities, community RTOs and schools that are RTOs can provide nationally recognised training.

Nationally recognised training is listed on the National Training Register (training.gov.au) and includes accredited courses, endorsed training package qualifications, training package skill sets and associated subjects.

Australian Apprenticeships

Covers all Australian apprenticeships and traineeships. Australian apprenticeships:

• do not require entry qualifications
• can be full-time, part-time or school-based
• combine training and employment
• can lead to a nationally recognised qualification
• are available to anyone of working age including school-leavers, people re-entering the workforce or those wishing to change careers.

Certificate

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).

Credit Transfer

The granting of status or credit by an institution or training organisation to students for modules (subjects) or units of competency completed at the same, or another, institution or training organisation.

Entry-level Training

Training undertaken to gain entry into the workforce or further vocational
education and training.

Fee-for-service Training

Most or all of the cost of this training is borne by the student or a person or organisation on behalf of the student.

Government Training Subsidies

Money or other financial incentives paid by a government to help in the delivery and participation of students in training courses.

Informal Learning

Learning resulting from daily activities related to work, family or leisure. It is not organised or structured (in terms of objectives, time or learning support). Informal learning in most cases is unintentional from the learner’s perspective. It typically does not lead to certification.

National Register

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).

Non-accredited Training

Training that does not lead to nationally recognised certification. It includes locally developed programs and skill sets, and non-accredited modules.

Non-nationally recognised training is not listed on the National Training Register (training.gov.au) and can be delivered by all training providers not just Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

Non-formal learning

Learning that takes place through a program of instruction but does not usually lead to the attainment of a formal qualification or award (e.g. in-house professional development programs conducted in the workplace).

Qualification

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

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) identifies an individual’s skills, knowledge and experiences no matter where, when or how they gained them. RPL offers the opportunity to have these attributes count towards a formal qualification. 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.

Reskilling/retraining

Training to facilitate entry to a new occupation.

RTO

Registered Training Organisations meet the registration requirements to deliver training and can issue nationally-recognised qualifications. 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.

Scope

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 a particular qualification or unit of competency is currently being delivered.

Skill Set

Single units or groupings of units of competency which are combined to provide a clearly defined statement of the skills and knowledge required by an individual to meet industry needs or a licensing or regulatory requirement. They may be either a nationally recognised skill set, which are endorsed in a national training package, or a locally developed skill set that has been developed to meet training needs that are not addressed in existing training packages.

Skill Shortage

Where the demand for employees in specific occupations is greater than the supply of those who are qualified, available and willing to work under existing industry conditions.

Traineeship

A system of vocational training combining off-the-job training with an approved training provider with on-the-job training and practical work experience. Traineeships generally take one to two years and are now a part of the Australian Apprenticeships system.

Training Products

These include training packages, skill sets, accredited courses, industry certification and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications.

Training Provider

An organisation that delivers Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs. Training providers include private training providers, schools, community education providers, enterprise providers, TAFE institutes and universities.

Training Package

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.

Unit of competency

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.

Upskilling

Improving skills (e.g. by further training).

VET

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is training in technical, job-related skills. It provides students with specific skills to help them in the workplace, and enables them to gain qualifications for all types of employment.

Vocational Placements

A period of unpaid work with an employer undertaken by Vocational Education and Training (VET) students in order to satisfy the requirements of a course or module, with supervision provided by the employer, the training provider, or both.

An example of financial support available in NSW

This is an example of the types of support for training and workforce development. Available support may be different in other states and territories, so check with your Education and Training Department or local training provider.

Considering your workforce development needs: A background brief

Training providers will be able to give you more comprehensive information and advice if you’ve already considered what you want. Before making contact, consider these questions.

Finding the right training provider:

These are questions you can ask of potential training providers to see if they are the right fit for your organisation.

A checklist for establishing a relationship with a training provider

Working through these steps will help to lay a foundation for an effective relationship between you and the training provider.

Conducting checks on Registered Training Organisations using www.training.gov.au

The National Register of VET can help you to find out important information about an RTO.

Training Partnership Agreement

This template can be used as a basis for developing your own agreement with a training provider