The National Skills Framework
The National Skills Framework provides the basis for high quality, flexible, nationally consistent vocational education and training which meets industry needs and which employers can trust. The Framework consists of quality delivery through the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), and through quality training products. The AQTF consists of registered training organisations and registering and course accrediting organisations. Quality training products are guaranteed by training packages which are nationally endorsed, and developed by industry, and accredited support materials. Training packages are outlined below. Support materials are materials that are used to deliver training, such as assessment material, learning strategies i.e. suggested curriculum, and professional development.
The Australian Quality Training Framework
The Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF 2007) comprises national standards for the registration and auditing of training providers and accreditation of courses, and national standards for state and territory registering authorities.
AQTF 2007 came into effect on 1 July 2007 and is the revision of the AQTF to improve the quality of training and assessment in the VET sector. The new arrangements encourage greater participation of licensing and industry regulatory bodies in ensuring the quality of training, and will also achieve greater national consistency through new standards for state and territory registering bodies. Outcomes-focussed audits will allow providers to focus more on the quality of the outcomes of their training and assessment, which in turn will give industry greater confidence in the outcomes of training.
Find out more information about
AQTF 2007. 
What is a Training Package?
A training package is an integrated set of nationally endorsed competency standards, assessment guidelines and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications for a specific industry, industry sector or enterprise.
Each training package:
- provides a consistent and reliable set of components for training, recognising and assessing people’s skills, and may also have optional support materials;
- enables nationally recognised qualifications to be awarded through direct assessment of workplace competencies;
- encourages the development and delivery of flexible training which suits individual and industry requirements; and
- encourages learning and assessment in a work-related environment which leads to verifiable workplace outcomes.
Training packages ensure the relevance of training and qualifications for industry. A training package describes the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectively in the workplace. They cover a full range of industries in Australia from aviation to community services, electrical, engineering, music, maritime, manufacturing, tourism, and business.
In addition to the traditional technical training areas in the trades, a variety of industries, such as retail, business services, and information technology, have now developed structured nationally recognised training as a result of the implementation of training packages. There are now 75 training packages (72 industry, 3 enterprise) covering 80% of the workforce across all industries.
For more detailed information about training packages, visit the national training information service at www.ntis.gov.au.
Registered Training Organisations
Registered training organisations (RTOs) are providers and assessors of nationally recognised training. Only RTOs can issue nationally recognised qualifications symbolised by a nationally recognised symbol.
In order to become registered, training providers must meet the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF 2007) standards. This ensures the quality of vocational education and training services throughout Australia.
Training organisations register to provide nationally recognised training with its relevant state or territory registration authority. When registering the provider must state its scope of registration detailing:
- the training or assessment it intends to deliver;
- the fields or industries in which it may deliver training or assessment; and
- the maximum level of qualifications it may issue.
To ensure an RTO continues to deliver quality training or assessment, its registration must be renewed with the relevant state or territory registering authority at least every five years. The registering authority can audit the RTO at any time during its period of registration.
National Audit and Registration Agency
In November 2006, the Ministerial Council on Vocational and Technical Education agreed to streamline quality assurance arrangements particularly for multi-state training organisations.
The National Audit and Registration Agency (NARA) is managed by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Australia and offers national training providers, operating across state or territory borders the option of having their registration and audit arrangements managed nationally. Approximately 1100 training organisations currently operate in more than one state, some of them as part of large corporate organisations.
TVET Australia provides eligible training organisations with the option of national registration under delegation from the existing state and territory registering authorities. This will simplify existing requirements, reduce the total burden on business and improve the consistency and credibility of regulation. TVET Australia plans to lead the development of national good practice through a range of services including forums, moderation of audit practice and the publication of case studies.
National Quality Council (NQC)
The National Quality Council was established as a committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education to ensure national consistency in the application of Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers.
The National Quality Council meets 4-6 times a year, and continues work as set out in its work plan. The Council has specific decision-making powers in relation to the endorsement of training packages and other aspects of quality assurance under the National Skills Framework.
The National Quality Council provides an annual report on its operations to the Ministerial Council, as well as a report on the operation of the National Skills Framework. For more information about the Council see the NQC website.