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Who provides the courses?

Vocational and Technical Education (VET) sector

Formal training to gain VET qualifications provides:

  • structured training leading to a qualification
  • performance and skills assessment against competency levels
  • on-the-job and/or off-the-job training.

On-the-job training occurs in the workplace as part of your work. An assessor will visit you regularly to check off the specific competency levels you have achieved for your training qualification. This is also called Structured Workplace Learning in school-based VET courses.

Off-the-job training occurs away from the workplace and sometimes out of working hours. It may take place at a TAFE institute, a school or a private training centre. You can study on-campus by attending classes, or externally via online or distance learning at home. Assessment occurs through tests, completed projects and research at the learning institution.

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Australian Technical Colleges

Australian Technical Colleges provide young Australians with the opportunity to commence their training in a traditional trade through an Australian School-based Apprenticeship while at the same time completing a Year 12 certificate.

Australian Technical Colleges offer academic courses that are relevant to trade careers and will lead to a Year 12 certificate. This includes courses such as English, science, mathematics and information technology skills. Training in enterprise education, small business and employability skills are a feature of the colleges to help students to succeed and compete in a competitive business environment.

For up-to-date information on Australian Technical Colleges visit www.australiantechnicalcolleges.gov.au or call 13 38 73 or TTY: 1800 554 609.

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Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)

  • TAFE Institutes
  • Private providers
TAFE institutes

TAFE is a major provider of post-secondary vocational education and training. There are over 5000 courses available at around 500 campuses throughout Australia.

The TAFE system trains people in technical, creative, para-professional and mid-level administrative areas. Most TAFE courses are developed in consultation with the relevant industry. TAFE also offers labour market courses, entry and bridging courses, and adult and community education classes.

For more information, contact a counsellor at your local TAFE institute or TAFE information centre. See the Useful Addresses section for contact details.

Private providers

There are about 4000 private RTOs in Australia offering nationally recognised training. These include business colleges, secretarial colleges, computer training centres and industry-based training centres. They provide training from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma in a wide range of fields. Course fees may be higher than those of TAFE institutes. Contact the Training Authority in your state or territory for information about RTOs (see the Useful Addresses section for contact details), or visit the National Training Information Service website at www.ntis.gov.au .

Skills centres

Skills centres are industry and enterprise-based training facilities that offer a wide range of training to enterprise employees, industry groups and individuals. Some skills centres are located in a working plant setting, some are stand-alone and others are linked with a TAFE institute, school or Group Training Organisation. There about 128 industry-based skills centres, 146 skills centres for school students and 40 skills centres connected to VET infrastructure for Indigenous people. Contact the Training Authority in your state or territory for information about skills centres. See the Useful addresses section or the end of this section for contact details.

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Higher education sector

Universities

Universities offer a wide range of courses, some of which lead to specific occupations such as medicine, nursing or engineering. Other courses such as arts or science degrees are more general. They offer study at undergraduate level (Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Bachelor Degree) and postgraduate level (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree and Doctoral Degree). Universities also run bridging and tertiary preparation courses which help students to prepare for bachelor degrees.

You can apply to your chosen university through normal entry (senior secondary school qualifications), special/alternative entry or advanced standing entry (credit transfer or credit for prior learning). In most states and territories, and in most courses, applications are processed through a Tertiary Admissions (Service) Centre. Application forms should be available from August onwards and it is advisable to apply before November. Contact individual universities and Tertiary Admissions Centres for further advice. See the Useful addresses section for contact details.

TAFE institutes

A small number of TAFE institutes also offer higher education courses, such as Bachelor Degrees, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, in selected fields of study.

Entry requirements and application processes vary but are often similar to those of universities. For more information, contact the TAFE information centre in your state or territory (see the Useful addresses section).

Private higher education providers

A number of privately operated institutions are able to offer Bachelor Degrees by permission of the local state or territory government. Many of these institutions focus on studies in a particular area: business, psychology or fine arts, for example.

Before enrolling in a course at a private institution, you should ensure that the institution and its courses are properly accredited by the relevant government department. For further information, see the register of institutions on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) register at www.aqf.edu.au/register.htm#highered .

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