VET Quality Framework

• The VET Quality Framework is aimed at achieving greater national consistency in the way RTOs are registered and monitored and in how standards in the VET sector are enforced.
  • Australian Qualifications Framework
    The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system as agreed by the Commonwealth, state and territory ministers. It underpins the national system of qualifications in Australia encompassing higher education, vocational education and training (VET) and schools.
    The AQF is currently undergoing a review. More information can be found in VOCEDplus within the Australian Qualifications Framework collection.
  • Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015
    • The role of the Standards is to ensure quality and consistency with the vocational training and education system. They form part of the VET Quality Framework and should be read in conjunction with:
      • Standards for Training Packages
      • Standards for VET Accredited Courses
      • Standards for VET Regulators
    • 'The purpose of these Standards is to:
      • set out the requirements that an organisation must meet in order to be an RTO;
      • ensure that training products delivered by RTOs meet the requirements of training packages or VET accredited courses, and have integrity for employment and further study; and
      • ensure RTOs operate ethically with due consideration of learners' and enterprises' needs.' (Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, p. 5)
    • Revising the Standards for RTOS
      (Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations)
      The Standards are currently being revised with the aim of providing greater clarity for RTOs and regulators, strengthening the focus on quality outcomes for learners and employers, and allowing for more flexibility and innovation in training delivery. The draft revised Standards were released for public consultation on 2 November 2022 by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). All providers and stakeholders were encouraged to participate in the consultation process to ensure the draft revised RTO Standards are fit-for-purpose and effective in meeting the needs of the VET sector. Public consultation on the draft Standards for RTOs concluded on 31 January 2023. The draft Standards are currently being further refined based on the feedback received from the sector.

Standards for Training Packages

• Training packages define the competencies required by different occupations and industries and describe how these competencies may be packaged into nationally recognised and portable qualifications that comply with the Australian Qualifications Framework. They are a key component of delivering structured, accredited training.
• 'Standards for Training Packages ensure training packages are of high quality and meet the workforce development needs of industry, enterprises and individuals. The Standards apply to the design and development of training packages for endorsement consideration by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.'  (Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment)

Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2021 [Standards 2012 repealed]

• The Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2021 repeal the Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2012 and remake the Standards to align with the framework and principles set out in the Standards for Training Packages.
  • 'VET accredited courses are designed to address skill requirements for industry, education, legislative, enterprise or community needs, where these are not covered in nationally endorsed Training Packages. VET accredited courses also have the capacity to address changes in skill needs, and the needs of emerging industries, in a responsive manner'. (Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2021, p.5)
  • 'The purpose of these Standards is to ensure that, when making decisions to accredit a course, or cancel or renew accreditation of a course, the National VET Regulator must consider whether the course: meets industry, education, legislative, enterprise or community needs; provides appropriate competency outcomes and a satisfactory basis for assessment; meets national quality assurance requirements; and is aligned to the appropriate level of the Australian Qualifications Framework where it leads to a VET qualification'. (Standards for VET Accredited Courses 2021, p.5)

Standards for VET Regulators

• 'The purpose of these Standards is to ensure:
  • the integrity of nationally recognised training by regulating RTOs and VET accredited courses using a risk-based approach that is consistent, effective, proportional, responsive and transparent;
  • consistency in the VET Regulator’s implementation and interpretation of the RTO Standards and Standards for VET Accredited Courses; and
  • the accountability and transparency of the VET Regulator in undertaking its regulatory functions.' (Standards for VET Regulators, p. 5)

National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018

• 'Under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) the purpose of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (the National Code 2018) is to set nationally consistent standards and procedures for registered providers and for persons who deliver education services on behalf of registered providers'.
• 'The National Code supports the effective administration of the ESOS legislative framework by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments' (National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018, p. 4).

Legislation related to education and training

• Federal legislation
• State and Territory legislation
  • Australian Capital Territory
    Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003
  • New South Wales
    Vocational Education and Training (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2010
    Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001
    Apprenticeship and Traineeship Regulation 2017
  • Northern Territory
    Training and Skills Development Act 2016
  • Queensland
    Further Education and Training Act 2014
    Further Education and Training Regulation 2014
    Vocational Education and Training (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2012
  • South Australia
    Training and Skills Development Act 2008
    Training and Skills Development Regulations 2008
  • Tasmania
    Vocational Education and Training (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2011
  • Victoria
    Education and Training Reform Act 2006
    Education and Training Reform Regulations 2007
  • Western Australia
    Vocational Education and Training Act 1996
    Vocational Education and Training (General) Regulations 2009

Access more items in VOCEDplus

• Podlet [archived]: Quality assurance [final update December 2018]
• Podlet [archived]: Regulation [final update December 2018]
• Regulation and governance of the vocational education and training sector
• Regulation and quality assurance

Regulatory bodies

• VET regulators

Free resources

VET regulator guides

• Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
  • ASQA Discussion Series [2020]
    Produced in collaboration with stakeholders across the VET sector, these videos aim to provide answers to common regulatory questions. They feature roundtable discussions involving ASQA auditors and VET leaders. The first video to be released is:
    • Understanding audits
    • Understanding assessment
  • Distance learning: information for VET providers on how to stay compliant when adopting distance learning options
    This resource provides information and advice on how to remain compliant with aspects of the Standards when using distance learning techniques and tools.
  • Users' guide to developing a course document [2022]
    (Source: ASQA)
    When applying for course accreditation, course owners need to supply key information relating to the course's training and assessment using the 'National course document template'. This is a guide to help course owners complete the template.
  • 'Users' Guide to the Standards for RTOs 2015'
    This guide has been developed by ASQA to assist registered training organisations understand their obligations under the Standards for RTOs 2015, to ensure a quality learning experience for students in the VET system.
    Sections focus on:
    • Marketing and recruitment
    • Enrolment
    • Support and progression
    • Training and assessment
    • Completion
    • Regulatory compliance and governance practice
• Training Accreditation Council
  The Training Accreditation Council (TAC) is Western Australia's registering and course accrediting body. It is responsible for the quality assurance and recognition of vocational education and training (VET) services in Western Australia.
  • Users' guide: standards for registered training organisations 2015
    TAC has published its latest edition of this guide (current as at 13 November 2020), which provides guidance on the Standards for RTOs and supports existing RTOs and organisations seeking initial registration as an RTO.
    Useful guidelines:
    • Policies, guidelines and factsheets
    • Regulatory approach
• Victorian Regulation and Qualifications Authority
  The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) is Victoria's education and training regulator. With the establishment of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) as the national VET regulator, Victoria has not referred their powers to the Commonwealth and the registration of training organisations (with a number of exceptions) and accreditation of courses remain the responsibility of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) in Victoria.
  Useful guidelines:
  • Regulating VET and training organisations
  • Regulating apprenticeships and traineeships
  • Guidelines for VET Providers
  • VET standards and guidelines

Other resources

• Australian Skills Quality Authority strategic review of online learning in the VET sector [2020-]
  A series of papers have been published as part of this review initiated by ASQA in 2020 - prompted by the significant number of providers who shifted their delivery online in response to the circumstances created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Community Colleges Australia resources to support community education providers during the Coronavirus pandemic
• Copyright and IP
  (Source: Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development)
  The Department provides support and advice on intellectual property and copyright for TAFE colleges and registered training organisations that deliver publicly funded training. It also offers workshops and training on how to manage IP issues and risks when using and creating training resources, recommended for lecturers, content writers or anyone dealing with IP.
• Making sense of total VET activity: an initial market analysis [2016]
  (Source: NCVER)
  The National VET Provider Collection has expanded to include data that covers all Australian vocational education and training providers. The broader scope provides a more comprehensive picture of nationally accredited training across the VET sector. This paper explains the rationale for establishing a more comprehensive picture of Australia's VET system; it examines the outcomes of the first collection of total VET activity, analysing the completeness of 2014 training activity and highlighting the new information this broader collection brings. The paper goes on to explore whether there are any significant differences between the reported training activity of private and government-funded training  providers. It looks at whether government-funded providers (TAFEs) are delivering a different mix of courses compared with private providers, student enrolments, and how completions compare. It concludes with some future directions for an improved evidence base for VET policy.
• NCVER survey - Employers' use and views of the VET system
  This survey collects information about employers' engagement and satisfaction with the VET system and the various ways employers use the VET system to meet their skill needs.
• NCVER RTO Hub
  Reporting tools, resources and support for registered training organisations.
• Online learning good practice
  (Source: Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency)
  This resource has been collated by TEQSA to assist the sector's rapid transition to online learning during COVID-19. To date, the resources listed cover a range of topics related to online learning, from getting started and helping workforces to work online, to student experiences and assessment integrity.
• Regulating and quality assuring VET: international developments [2015]
  (Source: NCVER)
  To reduce regulatory burden and build trust in the VET system, accreditation and registration systems are increasingly utilising principles of responsive regulation and risk analysis to help increase compliance. Approaches to the regulation of VET in selected overseas countries are investigated, and detailed systems of accreditation and registration used for approving providers to deliver training and issue nationally recognised qualifications have been identified.
• Strategic review of online learning in the VET sector
  This strategic review will seek to understand the challenges that providers, employers and students experience in the adoption and provision of online learning in the VET sector.
  • Webinar on building e-learning capability
    (Source: ASQA, December 2020)
    In support of the review, ASQA ran a webinar and live forum on Monday 7 December 2020 to discuss the new online skill set, the challenges of training in COVID-19 and ideas for building e-learning capability. The review is part of ASQA's regulatory strategy 2020-22, which outlines its regulatory priorities for the next two years. The review's findings will inform the development of guidance and support ASQA can offer providers to promote quality outcomes in the VET sector and support self-assurance. It will also inform how ASQA engages with its broader stakeholders about online learning and its delivery in the VET sector.
  • Follow up discussion webinar
    (Source: ASQA, March 2021)
    This follow-up discussion webinar took place on Wednesday 3 March 2021 to respond to questions raised in our December Feedback Loop 1 webinar. The live question-and-answer format allowed panellists to discuss the new online skill set, the challenges of training in COVID-19 and ideas for building e-learning capability. The webinar featured a moderated panel made up of ASQA and industry representatives.
• Toolkits for TVET providers [international]
  (Source: UNEVOC)
  This online platform provides TVET stakeholders and practitioners with information on, and access to, online, free-to-use toolkits. Multiple toolkits for TVET providers/practitioners have been, and continue to be, created. The purpose of this database is to bring the many and varied toolkits into one place and to provide a guide and resource for: (1) TVET practitioners seeking a ready-made guide or self-assessment tool on themes such as digitalization, greening and inclusion; and (2) researchers and policy makers seeking to design new organizational assessment tools for their TVET providers.
• Top 10 common AVETMISS issues and how to resolve them [2022]
  (Source: Compliance and Quality Assurance)
  All RTOs must collect a range of data from their students and report all their delivery activity (known as Total VET activity) to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), at least annually. The Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS) is a national data standard which ensures the consistency and accuracy of VET information. This resource outlines some of the most common AVETMISS issues one can experience and the methods to fix them one by one. More information can be found on NCVER's RTO Hub
• VET provider market structures: history, growth and change [2016]
  (Source: NCVER)
  This report considers the past and present structure of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) market. Increasing competition in the VET sector over the last two decades means it is timely to understand how the market structure has changed.
  • VET provider market structures: history, growth and change: infographic

For purchase

These are examples only of commercial producers of resources. Inclusion on this list does not signify endorsement by NCVER.

• E-Skills Australia 
  • RTO Policies and Procedures
    These documents meet the requirements of Standards for RTOs 2015 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018. The complete set provides a comprehensive management and compliance system that can be deployed straight away to get your RTO up and running. Based on quality principles (ISO9001: 2015), quality and compliance are embedded in each and every operation and process.
  • Application Guides: RTO and CRICOS registrations
    These guides provide a resource for both initial registrations as well as maintaining on-going compliance at the RTO.
• Training Tools
  • Big Book of kNOw
    This resource is designed to support effective validation practices. It covers aspects of 'NO' when it comes to mapping and validation of mapping practices, and includes points to 'KNOW' for best-practice results.
  • Info Sheet: Developing a Customised TAS
    This information sheet provides a step by step approach to developing a customised Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS), including calculating the amount of training (versus the volume of learning).
  • Template: Record of QA Check on Assessment and Learning Materials
    This template is designed to guide the internal review of your training and assessment materials, and it provides an easy framework to record improvement issues and outcomes. It also contains a glossary of terms to make it easy to understand the various requirements of assessment tools and components of the checklist.
• Velg Training 
  • Webinars
    • Focus Week: Checking Documentation for Compliance
      Recorded on 27/06/2018 and forming part of Velg Training's Focus Week on RTO Compliance, this webinar brings you up for air by clarifying actual evidence required by the RTO and streamlining documented processes that effectively cover compliance requirements whilst efficiently driving quality across your RTO. Does your documentation serve a 'What now?' approach rather than a 'How to' solution?
    • Internal Auditing: Tips and techniques and examples of schedules
      Recorded on 28/06/2018 and forming part of Velg Training's Focus Week on RTO Compliance, this webinar explored Internal auditing - an important strategy that RTOs use to mitigate risk. Hear tips and techniques that could be used to support self-assessment against the relevant VET Quality standards and a schedule of activities to get you started.
    • The Impact of Non-Compliant Practice
      Recorded on 17/04/2019, this webinar explored what the impacts of non-compliance are to your RTO’s business operations, staff and most importantly, your students.
  • Resources
    • Velg Training Internal Audit Self-Assessment Report template
      Continuous improvement is an underlying principle of the VET Quality Framework (VQF) - this resource is designed to assist with undertaking an effective and systemic review process against the Standards for RTOs 2015 in a linear approach from SRTO1 through to STRO8.
    • Velg Training National Code 2018 at a Glance
      The  National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students  2018 is cited as the National Code 2018.  This 'at a glance' product is an easy reference PDF that outlines the credential requirements for CRICOS providers.
    • Velg Training Self-Assessment Report - Student-Centred Approach template
      Continuous improvement is an underlying principle of the VET Quality Framework (VQF) - this resource is designed to assist with undertaking an effective and systemic review process against the Standards for RTOs 2015 utilising the Student-Centred Approach.
    • Velg Training Standards at a Glance Card
      An overview at a glance of the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015
• vetr 
  • Full vetr Resources Pack
    The Full vetr Resource Pack provides all of vetr's currently published resources, templates and documents for VET Providers in a single package.
  • Internal Review Support Pack
    The Internal Review Support Pack provides all of vetr's popular VET Provider internal review resources and templates in a single package.
  • Management Registers Support Pack
    The Management Registers Support Pack has been designed to assist VET Providers in effectively tracking and managing key operational areas for regulatory compliance requirements.
  • Marketing Support Pack
    The Marketing Support Pack has been designed to assist VET Providers in identifying all contractual requirements and implement robust arrangements in marketing operations.
  • Policy Positions Support Pack
    The Policy Positions Support Pack provides an extensive VET Provider policy framework in a single manual format.