| A |
| ACE |
Adult and Community Education |
Community-focused learning delivered through a diverse range of programs and activities. It in non-accredited and non-formal in nature and contributes to the development of a person’s skills and knowledge and encourages social participation. It also encompasses accredited formal courses. |
| ACER |
Australian Council of Education Research |
Committed to creating and distributing research-based knowledge, products and services to improve learning across the lifespan in both formal and informal settings. Provider of reliable support to education policy makers and professional practitioners. |
| ACPET |
Australian Council for Private Education and Training |
The national industry association for independent provision of post-compulsory education and training for Australian and International standards. |
| AEEYSOC |
Australian Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Senior Officials Committee |
AEEYSOC is the forum of Australian and New Zealand Chief Executive Officers with responsibility for education and early childhood education and care, and is directly responsible to the Ministerial Council for the execution of Ministerial Council decisions. AEEYSOC is a collaborative forum providing leadership in national education and early childhood education and care. |
| AISWA |
Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia |
The peak body representing Independent Schools in Western Australia. Established in 1962 as a non-profit organisation to support, represent and promote the interests of Independent Schools. |
| AITAC |
Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council |
Created in 2000 as an advisory committee to the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) Board. With ANTA functions transferred to the Department of Education, Science and Training on 1 July 2005, AITAC has had their final meeting. An action group, endorsed by the State and Territory CEOs, will be established to progress the best way forward to ensure an effective voice for all learners in the new national training system. The vision of AITAC is a VET system that renews and shares an Indigenous learning culture with all Australians in a spirit of reconciliation, equity, justice and community economic development and sustainability. |
| ALA |
Adult Learning Australia |
National peak body for adult and community education in Australia.
|
| AQF |
Australian Qualification Framework |
A unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training and the higher education sector. |
| AQTF |
The Australian Quality Training Framework 2010 (AQTF 2010) |
A national set of standards which assures nationally consistent, high-quality training and assessment services for the clients of Australia’s vocational education and training system.
|
| C |
| CAF NGSWG |
Council for the Australian Federation – National Goals for Schooling Working Group |
At the April 2008 MCEETYA meeting, Ministers established the National Goals Working Group to develop a new National Declaration on Goals for Schooling. The new Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians was launched on 5 December 2008. The new vision sets out a vision for education of Young Australians over the next decade and replaces the Adelaide Declaration. |
| COAG |
Council of Australian Governments |
The peak intergovernmental forum in Australia, comprising the Prime Minister, State Premiers, Territory Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. The role of COAG is to initiate, develop and monitor the implementation of policy reforms that are of national significance and which require cooperative action by Australian governments. |
| COAG PAWG |
COAG Productivity Agenda Working Group |
The Productivity Agenda Workgroup was one of seven working groups established over 2008, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister that has three subgroups – Schooling, Early Childhood, and Skills and Workforce Development. |
| CRICOS |
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students |
Official Australian Government website that lists all Australian education providers to offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas and the courses offered. |
| D |
| DEEWR |
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations |
A federal government department providing a national leadership role in education, employment and workplace relations.
|
| DTWD |
Department of Training and Workforce Development |
The Department, in addition to its training role, has a broader responsibility for building, attracting and retaining a skilled workforce to meet the economic needs of Western Australia. |
| E |
| ECDS |
COAG PAWG Early Childhood Development Subgroup |
The Early Childhood Development Subgroup is a subgroup of the COAG Productivity Agenda Working Group to progress reforms delivered through a national agreement. |
| G |
| GTO |
Group Training Organisations |
Under a contractual arrangement employs and places apprentices and trainees with host employers who are responsible for the quality and continuity of the apprentices/trainee employment and training. GTOs are required to be registered with the DTWD and to meet the National Standards for Group Training. |
| I |
| ISC |
Industry Skills Councils |
These Councils provide advice and information between the national VET system and industry. They have two key roles:
• Provision of accurate industry intelligence to the VET sector about current and future skill needs and training requirements, and
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of quality nationally recognised training products and services, including Training Packages.
There are 11 such Councils and much of the funding is provided by DEEWR.
|
| ITAB |
Industry Training Advisory Bodies |
An association, whether incorporated or not, which is conversant with, and capable of giving advice in relation to, the vocational education and training requirements of a particular industry. Referred to Training Councils (TC) in Western Australia. |
| M |
| MCEECDYA |
Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs |
Functions of the Council include coordination of strategic policy at the national level, negotiation and development of national agreements on shared objectives and interests (including principles for Australian Government/State relations) in the Council's areas of responsibility, negotiations on scope and format of national reporting on areas of responsibility, sharing of information and collaborative use of resources towards agreed objectives and priorities, and coordination of communication with, and collaboration between, related national structures. |
| MCTEE |
Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment |
MCTEE is the key decision-making body and has overall responsibility for the national tertiary education and employment system.
MCTEE has responsibility for higher education, Vocational Education and Training, International Education (non school) , Adult and Community Education
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), Employment, Youth policy relating to participation in tertiary education, work and workforce productivity.
|
| N |
| NCETS |
National Centre for Education and Training Statistics |
The Australian Bureau of Statistics national centre. The NCETS includes the National Education and Training Statistics Unit (NETSU) among its specialist working groups. |
| NCVER |
National Centre for Vocational Education Research |
A national research, evaluation and information organisation for the vocational education and training (VET) sector - jointly owned by the Australian Government, state and territory ministers responsible for vocational education and training. Collects and disseminates national VET statistics, surveys VET graduate students and employers and disseminates information through the VOCED research database, library and clearinghouse, conferences, workshops, sales of printed publications and maintenance of a web site. |
| NISC |
National Industry Skills Committee |
Responsible for providing high level advice to the MCVTE on matters relating to vocational education and training, including workforce planning, future training priorities and other critical issues facing the sector. |
| NQC |
National Quality Council |
The National Quality Council (NQC) was established in December 2005 as part of the new national training arrangements. As a Committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, the NQC oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers. |
| NRPL |
National Recognition of Prior Learning |
The 'national standard of recognition' can be applied between RTOs so that if a competency through study was obtained with one RTO, either intrastate or interstate, an application can be made to have the competency recognised by another. |
| NSF |
National Skills Framework |
Comprises the Australian Quality Training Framework and Training Packages. |
| NSOC |
National Senior Officials Committee |
The National Senior Officials Committee is responsible for supporting the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, implementing its decisions, driving national collaboration on training matters and monitoring the effectiveness of the national training system. |
| NTF |
National Training Framework |
A nationally consistent industry-led system designed to provide high quality skill outcomes, nationally recognised qualifications and improve the competitiveness of enterprises and the nation. |
| NTIS |
National Training Information Service |
A database on vocational education and training in Australia. The official national register of information on Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and has been developed for experienced training sector users. Developed by federal and state governments to provide access to current and emerging training market information and products in vocational education and training. |
| NTS |
National Training System |
A set of organisational arrangements between the Australian Government, State and Territory governments working with industry, employers and training providers to deliver vocational education and training. Its key roles are driving economic growth and addressing areas of skills needs. Through strong industry leadership, the national training system provides Australians with the skills needed to enter the workforce for the first time, to re-enter the workforce, to retrain for a new job, to upgrade skills for an existing job, and to learn throughout their lives. |
| NTSC |
National Training Statistics Committee |
Provides the Ministerial Council with high-level advice on workforce planning, future training priorities and other critical issues facing the training sector. |
| O |
| OECD |
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development |
OECD brings together the governments of countries committed to democracy and the market economy from around the world to:
• Support sustainable economic growth
• Boost employment
• Raise living standards
• Maintain financial stability
• Assist other countries' economic development
• Contribute to growth in world trade
|
| R |
| RPL |
Recognition of Prior Learning |
This acknowledges competencies acquired through training, work or life experiences that may be used to grant status or credit in a subject or module. |
| RTO |
Registered Training Organisation |
Providers and assessors of nationally recognised training. Meets AQTF standards and delivers, assesses and issues AQF qualifications and statements of attainment.
Only RTOs can issue nationally recognised qualifications. |
| S |
| SAW |
Skilling Australia’s Workforce |
Skilling Australia's Workforce Act 2005. A federal Act to grant financial assistance to the States and to other persons for vocational education and training, and for related purposes. |
| SC |
Steering Committee |
Advisory committee comprising usually of high level stakeholders and/or reputed experts who provide guidance on key issues such as company policy and objectives, budgetary control, marketing strategy, resource allocation, and decisions involving large expenditures. |
| SSG |
COAG PAWG Schooling Subgroup |
The Schooling Sub-group of the Council of Australian Government's (COAG) Productivity Agenda Working Group (PAWG) |
| STB |
Western Australia State Training Board (the Board) |
The Board is the peak industry training advisory body to the Minister for Training in Western Australia with the role to provide high level advice to the Minister on the supply and demand for skills. One of the functions of the Board is the preparation of the State Training Profile. |
| STP |
State Training Plan |
A comprehensive plan providing a three year outlook into Western Australia’s skill needs and priorities for publicly funded vocational and education training. The responsibility of the State Training Board. |
| SWD |
Skills and Workforce Development |
A sub group of the COAG Productivity Agenda Working Group to progress national reforms. |
| T |
| TAC |
Training Accreditation Council |
The Training Accreditation Council is Western Australia's State Registering/Course Accrediting Body and is responsible for quality assurance and recognition of vocational education and training services in Western Australia. This includes:
• the registration of training providers;
• the accreditation of courses;
• the recognition of skills and qualifications; and
• providing policy advice to the State Training Board on recognition arrangements.
Meets twice per month to consider applications for course accreditation and registration matters.
|
| TAFE |
Technical and Further Education |
A publicly funded post-secondary organisation which provides a range of technical and vocational education and training courses and other programs, e.g. entry and bridging courses, language and literacy courses, adult basic education courses, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education courses, personal enrichment courses, and small business courses. Each state and territory has its own TAFE system. They are the primary providers of publicly-funded vocational education and training. |
| TAFEWA |
Technical and further Education in Western Australia |
Technical and further education colleges in Western Australia. |
| TC |
Training Council |
An association, whether incorporated or not, which is conversant with, and capable of giving advice in relation to, the vocational education and training requirements of a particular industry. See ITAB. |
| TDA |
TAFE Directors Australia |
TAFE Directors Australia’s strategic objectives can be summarised as:
• Providing leadership in the development of the National Training Framework
• Developing a stronger model for Skilling Australia, especially developing more effective industry and community partnerships
• Promoting wider public recognition of the strategic role of TAFE in Australia as the public provider of vocational education and training and the major contribution TAFE makes to Australia’s economic and social development
• Building TDA’s influence as a national organisation by achieving membership of all eligible TAFE Institutes
• Achieving TAFE representation on key policy making and implementation bodies including the key councils and bodies operating under the National Training Framework |
| TTC |
Trade Training Centres |
Trade Training Centres are being established to help increase the proportion of students achieving Year 12 or an equivalent qualification and help address skill shortages in traditional trades and emerging industries through financial assistance. |
| TVET |
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Australia) |
TVET Australia Ltd is a company owned by the members of the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE). It provides secretariat and other services to the National Quality Council and the National Industry Skills Committee, manages the National Audit and Registration Agency and TVET Product Services. |
| V |
| VET |
Vocational Education and Training |
The sector which deals with vocational education and training. It is a national system designed to skill workers for particular industries. It is underpinned by a National Training Framework. The education and training is delivered by technical and further education TAFE colleges and institutes or registered private providers. |
| VETiS |
Vocational Education and Training in Schools |
Vocational education and training delivered by schools. |
| VOCED |
Vocational Education |
A research database for technical and vocational education and training. It is an international database of research abstracts with a special focus on Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Produced by NCVER and endorsed by UNESCO. |