What is VET?
Australia 's Vocational Education & Training System is part of a broad education network which focuses on “education and training for work”. The VET system is regarded as one of the most sophisticated in the world and is directly linked to the gauged needs of business and industry. VET courses are responsive to strong growth industries and are based on promoting and supporting the economy and employment opportunities.

VET is structured such that it is:

• Industry led: employers and industry articulate and define outcomes required
• National in scope: The system is jointly managed by state, territory and the Australian Government in partnership with industry and training providers.
• Relevant and responsive to needs

The VET system is encapsulated by a Quality Framework System:

These include:

• AQF (Australian Quality Framework) which endorses all nationally recognized qualifications (eg certificates, diploma and advanced diploma).
• AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) which is a set of standards to ensure high quality training and education systems throughout Australia .

Registered Training Organisations must meet AQTF Standards to become registered. Only registered training organisations can deliver training and assessment and can issue AQF qualifications.

Courses offered through the VET system are competency based training.

What does competency based training mean? (CBT)

Competency based training contributes to the development of an effective, efficient and coherent national vocational education and training system. It is a system for delivering, assessing and providing certification of training.

Formal qualifications are articulated in the form of a nationally recognized award system for those students who achieve the standards specified.

Competency standards are nationally agreed and encompass descriptors of outcomes to achieved (elements) and criteria for performance (performance criteria).

Under CBT students must demonstrate a set of skills, knowledge and attitudes and be able to effectively apply these in work settings.

Theory is combined with skills practice and training materials are aligned with the competencies. Flexible approaches to teaching are used (group, individual, self paced or directed learning). Individual learning styles are acknowledged and adult learning approaches are utilized and must be endorsed by the NTQC (National Training Quality Council). Training materials must meet quality assurance processes.

Assessment approaches under a CBT system are also diverse: Self assessment, oral presentations, observations, portfolios, reflective journals, discussions, tests, interviews, debates, workbooks and other forms.

What jobs / careers to the qualifications lead to?
The VET system provides training at a number of different levels and associated job / career outcomes are listed below:

Advanced Diploma:

• Supervisory and middle management positions
• Positions operating at a high level of expertise.

Diploma:

• Supervisory positions
• Running a small business
• Working closely with a professional team
• Operating at a higher technical level of expertise.

Certificate IV:
•  The courses are skills based and prepare students to work across a range of areas which may require complex skills.

Certificate III:
•  The courses provide skills for entry level positions into respective industries.