Accreditation

The official recognition of a course by National, State or Territory vocational education and training authorities leading to a qualification.

Articulation

The formal connection between different qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework.
See Credit Transfer

Assessment (CBT)

The process of determining whether or not an individual student is competent when their skills and knowledge are compared to the relevant national industry/enterprise competency standards.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

A 12 level structure which includes all qualifications in post-compulsory education and training. The AQF ensures that qualifications will be consistent and recognisable throughout Australia.

Award

The formal certificate that the student receives from the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) once he/she has successfully completed all the course requirements.

Block Credit

Students with full or partial completion of a nationally recognised VET qualification may be eligible for credit towards the VCE/VCAL.

Students are eligible for credit if they have completed, or are completing, training in a nationally recognised VET Program that is not included in the suite of approved VCE VET and Australian School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeship programs. Credit will be available for full or partial completion of a nationally recognised qualification, according to the conditions outlined below. To be eligible for credit the student must be enrolled in the VCE/VCAL. Students who have been enrolled in the VCE within the previous two years may also be eligible for credit.

Competence

The skills and knowledge required to perform the tasks a job requires to the standards required by industry.

Competency Based Training (CBT)

Training based on what a person requires to effectively work in industry. It focuses on the skills and knowledge an individual has, rather than on how they attained the skills and knowledge. CBT is mainly concerned with making sure workers have the skills needed by industry.

Credit Transfer

The recognition within one course of study of competencies already achieved through completion of units within another course of study.

Dual Accreditation

A process whereby a course is recognised by both the Board of Studies for the purpose of issuing a senior secondary certificate and by the State Recognition Authority for issuing a VET qualification. For students, this means that the course is recognised both academically (by a school or college) and vocationally (by an employer or industry).

ENTER

Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank

Entry-level Skills

Skills required for initial employment in an organisation. These entry level skills are set out in terms of industry competency standards which form the basis of vocational education and training qualifications in the AQF. Australian School-based Apprenticeships provide entry-level skills for a number of industries.

Flexible Delivery

The key to ensuring learners can access VET at a time, place and by a mode which maximises their learning opportunities. Flexible delivery is a policy response to the call from students, employers, businesses and industry for more flexibility in training. The term describes the aim of delivering training how, when and where learners want it, using a variety of methods. Computer based learning is not the only type of flexible delivery, although it is one of the most obvious examples.

Group Training Companies (GTC)

These are not-for-profit organisations that employ apprentices and trainees, and place them with ‘host employers’, usually from small to medium sized enterprises. The GTC looks after all the contracts, paperwork and payroll, as well as providing a safety net for the apprentice or trainee and the host employer. Many GTC’s are also registered training organisations (RTOs).

Key Competencies

These are generic competencies that focus on the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in an integrated way in work situations. These competencies are not specific to any particular industry. The key competencies are:

• Collecting, analysing and organising data
• Communicating ideas and information
• Planning and organising activities
• Working with others and in teams
• Using mathematical ideas and techniques
• Solving problems using technology

Log Book

A record of the skills and knowledge gained during structured workplace learning (SWL).

National Training Framework

Designed to make Australia’s national training arrangements simpler and more flexible, the NTF integrates a comprehensive set of principles and guidelines to form a nationally recognised, competency-based training system for vocational education and training.

The NTF is made up of two interrelated components: National Training Packages and the Australian Recognition Framework.

Off-the-job Training

Training that is undertaken away from the workplace, normally with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

On-the-job Training

Training that is undertaken in the workplace, while completing work-related tasks.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This allows a person to receive recognition and credit for skills and knowledge they have, no matter how and where they were attained. This can include skills and knowledge from previous study or from work and life experiences.

Registered Training Organisations (RTO)

An RTO is an organisation that has been registered with the relevant State/Territory body to provide training and/or assessment products and services, and issue qualifications and Statements of Attainment (an RTO can offer assessment services only or a combination of training and assessment). To register, an organisation needs to satisfy the training authority that it will operate in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) principles, standards and operational protocols. These may include:

• Group Training Companies
• TAFE Institutes
• Private training providers
• Employers
• Adult and Community Education (ACE) providers
• Secondary Colleges (can gain registration as an RTO, dependent on State/Territory Legislation, or operate in partnership with another RTO)

Australian School-based Apprenticeship

(formerly known as School Based New Apprenticeships)

The Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASA) program is open to secondary college students 15 years of age or over who are permanent residents of Australia. The program involves the student undertaking their VCE/VCAL as well as being employed and trained under the following arrangements:

• VCE/VCAL studies selected by student
• a Training Contract registered with the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE)
• a negotiated training program leading to a nationally recognised qualification
• paid work under some form of industrial agreement that endorses Part-time Apprenticeships, such as a Federal Industrial Award, Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) or Certified Agreement (CA)

Australian School-based Apprenticeship programs generally provide the same contribution to the VCE/VCAL as their related VET in Schools programs.

Statement of Attainment

The formal certification issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in recognition that a person has successfully completed units of competence within a recognised qualification, without completing the entire requirements of the qualification.

Structured Workplace Learning

This enables students to learn specific skills on-the-job.

Traineeship

Traineeships are part of the Australian Apprenticeship system.

Training

The development of skills or knowledge through instruction or practice. For example, VET programs such as apprenticeships or traineeships include both formal education, training and on-the-job experience.

Training Agreement

A Training Agreement is a formal agreement between an employer and employee which establishes a training program for the employee and outlines the rights and obligations of both the apprentice/trainee and employer as parties to the Training Agreement.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Broadly defined, VET is designed to prepare students for the world of work. When specifically defined, VET may include Australian Apprenticeships, training provided by RTO’s and VET in Schools programs. Definitions may vary between States and Territories.

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

This is a statutory authority that reports directly to the Minister for Education and Training through the VCAA Board.