MAATS see Modern Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship System
Management Enhancement Team Approach (or META) a staff development process designed to improve the management skills of vocational education and training managers, especially in TAFE.
matriculation (1) eligibility for admission to a university. (2) (historically) an examination to qualify for university admission. See also Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
Mature Age Entry Scheme a scheme which enables admission to further education after a period away from school instead of directly from school. Usually students enrolled through such schemes have not satisfactorily completed Year 12 of secondary education and are over 21 years of age.
Mayer Report (in full Key competencies: Report of the committee to advise the Australian Education Council and Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training on employment-related key competencies for post-compulsory education and training) the report (released in 1992) of a committee chaired by Eric Mayer which developed the concept of key competencies recommended in the Finn Report (1991). See also key competency
MCEETYA see Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.
mentor an experienced and trusted advisor.
MERSITAB Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Industry Training Advisory Body Ltd, a national industry advisory body.
META see Management Enhancement Team Approach
migrant adult education see adult migrant education
MINCO see ANTA Ministerial Council
minimum competency an essential skill for a given age, grade, or level of performance.
Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (or MCEETYA) a body comprising state, territory, Australian Government and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for the portfolios of education, employment, training and youth affairs, with Papua New Guinea and Norfolk Island having observer status. MCEETYA ’s areas of responsibility include all sectors of education and training as well as employment and youth affairs. MCEETYA replaced three previously existing councils: the Australian Education Council (AEC), the Council of Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training (MOVEET) and the Youth Ministers Council (YMC).
mixed-mode delivery (also called mixed delivery) a combination of learning modes to deliver a course or module, such as distance education and face-to-face study in classes, tutorials, practical sessions or workshops.
moderation (in assessment) the process of establishing comparability of standards of student performance across different courses, institutions or organisations, in order to ensure that assessment is valid, reliable and fair.
Modern Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (or MAATS) an entry-level training system, now known as New Apprenticeships.
modular course a course composed of modules.
module (also called subject) a unit of education or training which can be completed on its own or as part of a course. Modules may also result in the attainment of one or more units of competency.
MOVEET Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training, a former council of Australian Government, state and territory Ministers, superseded by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment,Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA).
MTIA Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia, now part of the Australian Industry Group.
multiskilling training workers in a number of skills, enabling them to perform a variety of tasks or functions across traditional boundaries. Multiskilling may be horizontal (broad skilling), vertical (upskilling) or diagonal (contributory skilling).
mutual recognition a feature of the Australian Quality Training Framework which allows a registered training organisation (RTO) registered in one state or territory to operate in another without a further registration process, qualifications and statements of attainment issued by any RTO to be accepted and recognised by all other RTOs, and training packages endorsed by the National Training Framework Committee to be delivered by all RTOs registered to do so.
NAAP New Apprenticeships Access Program; see Access Program
NAC see New Apprenticeships Centre
NAC InfoService a web site (http://www.nacinfo.com.au/ 
) providing information on training packages for New Apprenticeships Centres.
NACVETS see National Advisory Committee on Vocational Education and Training Statistics
NASS see New Apprenticeships Support Services
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (or AEP) Australia’s national policy on indigenous education with the primary objective of bringing equity in education for indigenous Australians.
National Advisory Committee on Vocational Education and Training Statistics (or NACVETS) an advisory committee to the ANTA Board on the collection and reporting of vocational education and training statistics. It replaced the Australian Committee on Vocational Education and Training Statistics (ACVETS), and is now called the National Training Statistics Committee (NTSC).
National Assessors and Workplace Trainers Body (or NAWTB) a project group of Business Services Training Australia providing information, services and support for competency-based workplace training and assessment.
National Board of Employment, Education and Training (or NBEET) a former body whose role was to provide co-ordinated, independent advice to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
National Centre for Vocational Education Research (or NCVER) a national research, evaluation and information organisation for the vocational education and training (VET)sector in Australia, jointly owned by the Australian Government, state and territory ministers responsible for vocational education and training. As well as conducting VET research and evaluation on national projects, and commissioning and managing the national program of VET research (NVETRE), NCVER provides research, development and implementation assistance on a commercial consulting basis. NCVER also collects and disseminates national VET statistics and manages a program of surveys of VET graduate students and employers. NCVER disseminates information on VET through the VOCED research database ,library and clearinghouse, conferences, workshops, sales of printed publications and maintenance of a web site (http://www. ncver.edu.au/ ).
National Consistency Advisory Committee (NCAC) a committee established by the ANTA Ministerial Council. Reporting to the ANTA Board, the NCAC is working towards achieving a fully integrated national vocational education system. The NCAC is the principal consultation mechanism for work on the following issues which were identified in the June 2000 report to ANTA MINCO on national consistency.
National Employment and Training Taskforce (also called NETTFORCE) a former body whose role was to encourage industry involvement in training.
National Framework for the Recognition of Training (or NFROT) a framework which established national principles for accreditation of courses, registration of training providers, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, and assessment. Replaced by the Australian Recognition Framework (ARF), and the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).
Nationally Recognised Training logo is the approved logo used to signify that training and assessment products and services meet the requirements agreed under the National Training Framework.
National Managed Research and Evaluation Program see National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program
National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (or NOOSR) a branch of the Department of Education,Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) which provides information, advice and assistance in relation to the recognition of overseas qualifications and skills, and assists other countries in recognising Australian qualifications. National Reporting System (or NRS a national framework for reporting outcomes of adult English language, literacy and numeracy programs.
National Reporting System a national framework for reporting outcomes of adult English language, literacy and numeracy programs
National Research Centre on Vocational Education and Training for Young People a collaborative research centre of the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, an ANTA research partner for 2000 –2002 under the Key Vocational Education and Training Research Centres National Project.
National Training Board (or NTB) a former company owned by the Australian Government, states and territories which was responsible for ratifying vocational competency standards. The NTB amalgamated with the Australian Committee for Training Curriculum (ACTRAC) to form the Standards and Curriculum Council (SCC), which was subsequently replaced by ANTA ’s National Training Framework Committee.
National Training Framework the system of vocational education and training that applies nationally. It is made up of the Australian Quality Training Framework and nationally endorsed Training Packages.
National Training Quality Council (NTQC) previously National Training Framework Committee - endorses training packages, and advises the ANTA Board on policies to ensure quality and national consistency of training outcomes and the relevance of training to industry and regional needs.
National Training Information Service (or NTIS) an online database (at http://www.ntis.gov.au/ ) developed by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), providing information on vocational education and training in Australia, including details of training packages, competency standards,assessment guidelines, courses, qualifications, and registered training organisations.
national training reform agenda (or NTRA) a term given to a series of reforms in vocational education and training designed to improve the competitiveness of Australian industry, which were introduced by Australian Government, state and territory Governments from about 1990, and later overseen by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).
National Training Statistics Committee (or NTSC) a committee which provides advice to the ANTA Board on the collection and reporting of vocational education and training statistics. This committee replaced the National Advisory Committee on Vocational Education and Training Statistics (NACVETS).
National Vocational Education and Training Clearinghouse Information Network a national network of 12 clearinghouses, including one in New Zealand, holding detailed information about vocational education and training research, policy and practice in Australia and internationally, with emphasis on the Asia- Pacific region. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) acts as the National Clearinghouse and co-ordinates the network. Materials available from the clearinghouses are entered and indexed in the Vocational Education and Training Research Database (VOCED) produced by the National Clearinghouse and available online
National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program (or NVETRE); also called
National Managed Research and Evaluation Program a program of research funded by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), managed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) who commissions the program of research and disseminates the results to stakeholders.
National WRAPS National Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services Industry Training Council.
NATMISS National Management Information and Statistical System, superseded by other arrangements.
NAWTB see National Assessors and Workplace Trainers Body
NBEET see National Board of Employment, Education and Training
NCRVE (in the US) National Center for Research in Vocational Education.
NCVER see National Centre for Vocational Education Research
neighbourhood centre (also called neighbourhood house or community centre) a place at which social, educational, recreational, and other activities are provided for the community.
NESB non-English-speaking background.
NETTFORCE see National Employment and Training Taskforce
New Apprenticeships an umbrella term for the new national apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements which came into effect on 1 January 1998. The main characteristics of New Apprenticeships include a contract of training between employer and apprentice or trainee, public funding and support for employers, choice of training provider, a wider range of occupations and industries than previously, competency-based training using national training packages, apprenticeships in schools, and a continued role for group training companies.
New Apprenticeships Access Program see Access Program
New Apprenticeships Centre (or NAC) an organisation providing advice and assistance to apprentices, trainees and employers with training arrangements, training agreements and financial incentives under the New Apprenticeships system.
New Apprenticeships Support Services (or NASS support services provided to an apprentice, employer, or other interested person under the terms of a contract between the New Apprenticeships Centre and the Australian Government.
Newstart Allowance a government allowance paid to unemployed people who are actively seeking paid work and are participating in activities designed to assist their employment prospects, e.g. undertaking approved training or approved voluntary work.
NFE see non-formal education
NFITAB National Finance Industry Training Advisory Body, a national industry advisory body.
NFROT see National Framework for the Recognition of Training
NIEF National Industry Education Forum.
NILS National Institute of Labour Studies, a research centre based at the Flinders University of South Australia.
nominal hours (supervised) the hours of supervised learning or training deemed necessary to cover the educational material in a training program when undertaken in standard classroom delivery mode.
nominal hours (unsupervised) the hours of unsupervised learning or training deemed necessary to cover the educational material associated with the delivery of a training program. These hours include the time spent in work experience, industry placement or field placement.
non-compliance in relation to RTOs means failure to comply with one or more of the Australian Recognition Framework Standards for Registered Training Organisations
non-endorsed component the parts of a training package not required to be endorsed by the National Training Framework Committee, including support materials for learning, training, assessment, and professional development.
non-formal education (or NFE) organised education and training outside of the formal education system. Compare informal education
non-standard employment employment other than permanent full-time employment, including part-time, temporary, casual, on-call, self-employed, freelance, consulting and contracting arrangements.
NOOSR see National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition
NRS see National Reporting System
NTB see National Training Board
NTCE Northern Territory Certificate of Education. See also Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
NTETA Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority.
NTF see National Training Framework
NTFC see National Training Framework Committee
NTIS see National Training Information Service
NTMRC National Training Markets Research Centre, a former collaborative research centre of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd and the National Institute of Labour Studies Inc.
NTRA see national training reform agenda
NTSC see National Training Statistics Committee
NUEITAB National Utilities and Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body Ltd, a national industry advisory body.
NVETRE see National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program
NVQ (in the UK)National Vocational Qualification.
NZQA New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
ODLAA see Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
OET Occupational English Test.
off-the-job training training which takes place away from a person ’s job, usually off the premises, e.g. at TAFE, but may be on the premises, e.g. in a special training area.
OHS occupational health and safety.
OLA see Open Learning Australia
OLIMCH Open Learning Information and Materials Clearing House, based at the Adelaide Institute of TAFE.
OLM occupational labour market.
OLTC Open Learning Technology Corporation Ltd,now known as Education.Au Ltd
One Nation a statement issued by the Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1992, which described the government ’s strategy to create jobs and strengthen the economy, and included the Australian Government ’s offer to assume responsibility for vocational education and training which was rejected but led to the formation of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).
online education also online learning and online training learning or training conducted via a computer network,e.g. using the internet and the World Wide Web,a local area network (LAN),or an intranet.See also flexible delivery
on-site training training conducted at the work site (e.g.in a training room) but not on the job.
on-the-job training training undertaken in the workplace as part of the productive work of the learner.
OPCETE (in Victoria)Office of Post Compulsory Education Training and Employment.
Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia a professional association of people interested or involved in distance education and open learning.
open entry (1) an admissions policy in which there are minimal entry criteria or in which standard selection criteria are relaxed or waived. (2) an admissions policy, usually at school level, where selection is not restricted by place of residence.
open learning an approach to learning which gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, at what pace, where, and how they learn, commonly using distance education and the facilities of educational technology. See also flexible delivery
Open Learning Australia (or OLA) an educational organisation which enables people to undertake tertiary or vocational study wherever they live and beginning at any time of year, using materials supplied to their home, often supported by online study resources and television and radio programs.
Open Learning Technology Corporation Ltd (or OLTC) the former name of Education.Au Ltd
open training market a system of open competition among public and private providers in the provision of vocational education and training, giving users greater choice of program and provider; adopted by the ANTA Ministerial Council (MINCO) as a national policy to encourage diversity and competition among providers. See also Deveson Report.
OTAE (in ACT)Office of Training and Adult Education.
OTEN–DE Open Training and Distance Education Network, an institute of TAFE NSW offering a range of training and education courses through distance education and flexible delivery.
OTFE (in Victoria)Office of Training and Further Education, superseded by the Office of Post Compulsory Education Training and Employment (PETE).
outcome (in education or training) a result or consequence of participation in, or completion of an education or training program, e.g. employment, promotion, higher salary, further study.
outcomes-based education an educational system focused and organised around clearly defined outcomes which students are expected to demonstrate upon completion.
outsourcing the practice of having goods or services provided by a person or persons outside the business or organisation.
OVET (in Tasmania and SA) Office of Vocational Education and Training.
OVTA (in Japan) Overseas Vocational Training Association.
OZJAC (also called Australian Courses and Careers Database) a national database (available on CD-ROM or online) produced by Curriculum Corporation containing course and career information with links to relevant training providers and related occupations. Formerly known as JAC or Job and Course Explorer.
packaging the process of grouping competencies in a training package into combinations which represent whole jobs or key functions that are meaningful in the workplace.
participation taking part in an activity, e.g. participation in vocational education or training; labour force participation.
participation rate the proportion of a defined group of people undertaking a specific activity.
partnership (in vocational education and training) an association between a non-registered organisation and a registered training organisation (RTO) to achieve recognised training.
part-time student a student who undertakes less than the full-time study program.
part-time worker a person working less than the normal full-time working hours. The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines part-time workers as: Employed persons who usually worked less than 35 hours per week and who did so during the reference week. Source:ABS cat.no.6203.0, Labour Force, Australia, August 1999, p.71
pathway a path or sequence of learning or experiences that can be followed to attain competency.
PAVE Centre for Professional and Vocational Education, a research centre based at the University of Canberra.
performance criteria the part of a competency standard specifying the required level of performance in terms of a set of outcomes which need to be achieved in order to be deemed competent.
performance indicator (also performance measure) a criterion or measure for monitoring or evaluating the efficiency or effectiveness of a system or service, which may be used to demonstrate accountability and to identify areas for improvement.
PETE (in Victoria) Office of Post Compulsory Education Training and Employment.
polytechnic an institution in some countries offering vocational or higher education courses in technical areas.
portable skill a skill or competency that can be transferred from one work context to another.
post-compulsory education education beyond the compulsory age prescribed by statute in each state or territory, including the senior years of secondary schooling, and all higher, further, or other post-secondary education.
post-secondary education all education beyond secondary school level, including that delivered by universities, colleges, community providers, etc.
post-trade course a course which provides further or more advanced training for qualified tradespersons. PRA see primary recognition authority
pre-apprenticeship course (also pre-traineeship course) a course which provides initial training in a particular industry or occupation. Successful completion of the course can assist participants in obtaining an apprenticeship or traineeship, and may enable the term of the apprentice’s training agreement to be reduced.
preferred supplier arrangement an arrangement whereby a state training system or other purchaser agrees to buy training from or give preference to a specific provider or provider sector.
pre-requisites (in Training Packages) a requirement for the attainment of a particular unit or units prior to commencement of another unit of competency.
prevocational course a course designed to prepare people for vocational education and training or work, including bridging courses, basic literacy and numeracy training, or training in job skills.
prevocational education education preparing students for the world of work, including counselling on career choices, training in general work skills and habits, and work experience.
primary recognition authority (or PRA) the state or territory recognition authority responsible for registering a training organisation which operates in more than one state territory. See also mutual recognition.
primary learning skills and knowledge acquired from previous study,work or life experiences. See also recognition of prior learning (RPL)
private provider a non-government training organisation, including commercial providers (providing courses to industry and individuals for profit), community providers (non-profit organisations, funded by government or community sponsors), enterprise providers (companies or other organisations providing training mainly for their own employees), and industry providers (organisations providing training to enterprises across an industry).
professional continuing education also called professional development education of adults in professional fields, updating and improving occupational skills, often involving short-term, intensive, specialised courses.
program (1) a plan incorporating a set of actions designed to achieve certain outcomes, e.g. labour market programs, the Adult Migrant English Program. (2) in full training program a set of education and training activities designed to achieve a specific vocational outcome, e.ga course, module (subject), on-the-job training, etc.
provider see vocational education and training provider
PSETA Public Service Education and Training Australia.
PSTA Property Services Training Australia, a national industry training advisory body. QCA (in the UK)Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
QE see quality endorsement
QETO see quality-endorsed training organisation
qualification certification awarded to a person on successful completion of a course in recognition of having achieved particular knowledge, skills or competencies. See also Australian Qualifications Framework
quality (under Australian Quality Training Framework arrangements) the level of satisfaction with and effectiveness of vocational education and training organisations, their products and services, established through conformity with the requirements set by clients and stakeholders.
quality assurance the systems and procedures designed and implemented by an organisation to ensure that its products and services are of a consistent standard and are being continuously improved.
quality-endorsed training organisation (or QETO) a registered training organisation which has been granted recognition by a state or territory recognition or training authority on the basis of its implementation of a quality system. Once quality-endorsed, a registered training organisation can receive delegated powers of self-management for the scope of its registered operations and self-management of accreditation of its own courses within the parameters set by the Australian Recognition Framework.
(Note: In accordance with the June 2001 ANTA MINCO decisions on the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), QETO status will have no national standing after 2003. A new policy on delegations under the AQTF will come into effect 1 March 2003.)
quality endorsement the formal recognition awarded by a state or territory recognition or training authority to a registered training organisation on the basis of its implementation of a quality system.
quality management encompasses all the activities that determine quality policy objectives and responsibilities, implemented by means such as quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement within a quality system.
quality system a management system designed to ensure that an organisation ’s products and services always meet or exceed defined quality standards and are subject to continuous improvement.
QTAC see Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre
Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC) provides and operates a centralised tertiary application system. QTAC receives and processes applications for admission to all undergraduate courses offered by the publicly funded universities in Queensland, Bond University, the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania, and to some courses at universities in Northern New South Wales. It also processes applications to full-time associate diploma, advanced diploma and diploma courses in Queensland institutes of TAFE and selected courses from the Queensland Agricultural Colleges and some private providers of post secondary courses.