The AQF was established by the Ministerial Council of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) in 1995 to provide for nationally recognised pathways between awards offered in Australia’s vocational education and training and higher education sectors. It brings together the qualifications issued by different sectors into a single comprehensive system of titles and standards.
The AQF also maintains a public register of MCEETYA endorsed post compulsory education providers and accreditation authorities. The register is a key element of the Australian higher education quality assurance framework.