Links

Australian Apprenticeships

http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
 
This website provides access to information about Australian Apprenticeships. There are links to information tailored to specific groups eg. employers, job seekers, school students, careers advisers, registered training organisations and Australian Apprentices. It also provides links to Australian Apprenticeship Centres and Skills and Training Info Centres (STICs).

Australian Government Portal - access to Australian Government Information and Services

http://www.australia.gov.au/
 
The Australian Government Entry Point, offers comprehensive and integrated access to Australian Government information and services for Australians, for businesses, for non-residents as provides links to sites about the government and Australia. It contains a concentrated body of Commonwealth Government information throughout the site. www.australia.gov.au currently signposts over 700 Federal Government web sites, indexes more than 5,000,000 pages uses both metadata and full text indexing to ensure it is a comprehensive government portal.

Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

http://www.deewr.gov.au
 
Comprehensive information provided by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) on this site includes: links to the Minister responsible for the portfolio. Also contains corporate information about the department and the areas of responsibility within the portfolio such as higher education, school education, career development, international education, Indigenous education, and workplace relations.

Previously known as Dept of Education, Science and Training (DEST) until change of government in November 2007.

Historical note: due to the abolition of the Australian National Training Authority as of 1 July 2005, all functions and responsibilities were transferred to DEST. Nearly all content from the defunct ANTA website was integrated into the DEST website here. This area of the website provides links to information about the new National Training System, Action Groups, Strategic Review of Infrastructure Funding, AQTF 2007 Standards, Publications and the National Strategy for VET 2004-2010.
 
DEWR (Dept of Employment and Workplace Relations)
 
With the change in Government in Australia during November 2007, this department became amalgamated into a 'super department' - Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (http://www.deewr.gov.au). Content of DEWR's website (http://www.dewr.gov.au/) is currently under review. The web site provided access to a range of information including details of the Department's policies, programmes and services; a link to corporate publications; Tender information; News; and links to the Ministers & Media Centres. For information dealing with employment or workplace relations, issues, services, programmes, advice, policy or legislation, please visit the Australian Workplace site.

Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs

http://www.curriculum.edu.au/mceetya/
 
The areas of responsibility covered by the Council are pre-primary education, primary and secondary education, vocational education and training, higher education, employment and linkages between employment/labour market programs and education and training, adult and community education, youth policy programs and cross-sectoral matters. This work is taking place in close interaction with the Ministerial Council of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA MINCO) which has a statutory responsibility in relation to certain aspects of vocational education and training (until July 1 2005 when ANTA is abolished). 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 Commonwealth/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.

National Industry Skills Committee (NISC)

http://www.nisc.tvetaustralia.com.au/
 
The National Industry Skills Committee, established in March 2006, provides the Australian Vocational and Technical Education Ministerial Council with high-level, evidence-based advice on workforce planning, future training priorities and other critical issues facing the training sector. This website provides further information about the NISC and its role, membership, work plan, the NISC Secretariat, media releases, regular NISC newsletters, links to other organisations and contact details. This website also has a member-only area.

National Quality Council (NQC)

http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/
 
The NQC was established in December 2005 and as a Committee of the Australian Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, 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. This website provides access to information such as an overview of the NQC, its Charter, brief biographical details on each NQC member, the Australian Qualifications Training Framework (AQTF) 2007, Skill Sets (part of nationally endorsed Training Packages), regular newsletter, the NQC Secretariat, links to other like organisations and contact details. The website also contains a member-only area.

Skills & Training Information

http://www.skillsandtraininginfo.com.au/

This website aims to provide employers, employees, job seekers and their support organisations with skills and training information and contacts. This site is one support element for the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the future initiative ( http://www.alp.org.au/download/now/campaign_launch_skills_policy.pdf) . On this site you can search for examples of occupations and qualifications that may be used under initiatives such as Australian Apprenticeships and the Productivity Places Program. You will also find links to organisations that provide practical assistance.

Skills Australia

http://www.skillsaustralia.gov.au/

As part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the Future policy, a new independent statutory body entitled Skills Australia has been established to provide advice on current and future demand for skills and investment of public funds in training. A key priority for the body will be to signal to government, and industry, important changes of direction required in VET services and the labour market generally to maintain workforce participation and to grow productivity. Skills Australia is comprised of seven experts drawn from a range of backgrounds with expertise in economics, industry, academia and education. The website provides information about what they do, who they are and links to other stakeholders, research organisations etc.

SkillsInfo

http://www.skillsinfo.gov.au
 
This website has been established by the Australian Government to provide skills-related information and links for industries and regions, skills issues and education and training in Australia. The information is based around five themes: Education and training, Industries, Regions, Skills Issues and Skills links. The website includes Industry Employment Profiles that present, in graphical form, a comprehensive suite of data on employment characteristics, trends and prospects for all industries. Information is also provided on skills shortages, skills in demand, workforce ageing, occupation information, employability skills and ICT skills.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Australia Ltd.

http://www.tvetaustralia.com.au/
 
This new Australian Ministerial company (September 2006), jointly owned by the Australian, state and territory governments has been established through a merger of Australian Training Products and AEShareNet. TVET will continue to publish and distribute high quality, useable and cost effective national competency standards, Training Packages and competency based curriculum and related materials. AEShareNet is a collaborative system to streamline the licensing of intellectual property so that Australian learning materials are developed, shared and adapted efficiently. During the transition period to the new company, the AEShareNet website continues to operate (http://www.aesharenet.com.au/). TVET Australia hosts the websites of the National Industry Skills Committee (NISC) and the Vocational and Technical Education sector's National Quality Council (NQC) http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/
 
The State and Territory Government web sites are useful sources of information for individual State/Terrritory policy. They all provide links to government departments and agencies and have many of their documents available for download.

ACT Dept of Education and Training

http://www.det.act.gov.au/
 
The Dept delivers high quality education services through government schools; registers non government schools; and administers vocational education and training in the ACT. The web site has further information about: School education; Teaching and Learning; Employment; Vocational and higher education; the department's publications and polices; and latest news. Specific to vocational education are further links to information about VET providers; Employer and GTOs; Australian Apprenticeship Centres; Australian Apprentices and Adult Learners; and Vocational learning in schools.

NSW Department of Education and Training

http://www.det.nsw.edu.au
 
The Department delivers high quality, internationally competitive public education and training from early childhood (pre-school), through to the compulsory years of schooling (Kindergarten to Year 10), and senior secondary education leading to the award of the NSW Higher School Certificate (in Years 11 and 12). It also provides TAFE NSW courses, adult and community education courses, migrant English programs, post-secondary art courses and advice to the NSW Government on higher education. The Department is particularly focused on addressing the training needs of industry and meeting the challenge of skills shortages in certain trades. The website provides links to the Department's strategic research, strategic directions, reports and statistics, and to further information about training and industry, adult and higher education, and TAFE NSW.

New South Wales Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET)

http://www.bvet.nsw.gov.au
 
Established in 1994, the Board of Vocational Education and Training provides the State Government and the Minister for Education and Training with strategic advice about the NSW vocational education and training system. The Board oversees policy and planning initiatives and fosters partnerships between key stakeholders in the NSW training system. The website provides further detail of the Board's legislative objective, membership and charter. It also has links to other online resources, planning (such as strategic VET plans), news and events, publications and demonstration projects.

Northern Territory Dept of Employment, Education and Training

http://www.deet.nt.gov.au/
 
The Department of Employment, Education, and Training (DEET) is responsible for education, employment, training and NT Worksafe in the Northern Territory. DEET provides and promotes an environment of lifelong learning and employment and training pathways.
 
DEET's six key priorities are:

• To build the NT workforce
• Protect the NT workforce
• Improve educational outcomes for all students
• Improve education outcomes for Indigenous students
• Improve, develop and maintain school infrastructure
• Assist DEET people with development and capacity building

The Training section (http://www.deet.nt.gov.au/training/) of the web site provides links to further information on and about the Department, VET in schools, apprenticeships & traineeships, employment, RTOs, legislation, corporate plans, policies, strategies, statistics and news.

Queensland Dept of Education, Training and the Arts

http://deta.qld.gov.au/
 
Formerly the Qld Dept of Employment and Training, this new department was created in September 2006. The website provides access to information on the three sectors:

• Education Queensland delivers high quality education to more than 70 percent of all Queensland school students at preschool, primary and secondary levels
• Training - Queensland's entry point to jobs, careers and training, apprenticeships and traineeships, and employment and training government assistance
• Arts Queensland develops and implements cultural policy and administers cultural funding and capital works programs that support arts and cultural development for the benefit of the community

South Australia Dept of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST)

http://www.dfeest.sa.gov.au

DFEEST reflects and supports the South Australian Government's priorities of sustaining a vibrant economy and socially inclusive community by building skills for South Australia through workforce planning and skills development programs; providing high quality public VET through TAFE SA; increasing the workforce development and planning culture in SA workplaces; fostering innovation through science and information to develop the economy of the State; and to work directly with young people and support the youth sector. The website provides access to information about training, employment programs and services including: TAFE SA; Quality training; Youth; Higher education; Traineeships and apprenticeships; South Australia Works; Workforce development; Science and innovation; and Information economy.

Skills Tasmania

http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/
 
Skills Tasmania is responsible for planning, purchasing and supporting the delivery of vocational education and training services for Tasmania; the development of policy advice for skills development; promotion of industry investment in training; and the development, regulation and administration of the system in Tasmania. This website provides access to information for and about Learners; Employers; VET Service Providers; Tasmanian VET system; Skills Tasmania Conference; and other useful websites.

Skills Victoria

http://www.skills.vic.gov.au

Previously known as the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE). Skills Victoria provides strategic advice and analysis of Victoria's skill needs, and acts as the system managers for the vocational education and training sector. The web site provides links for and about: Training providers; Employers; Students, learners and jobseeker;, Apprentices & trainees; and Skills Stores.

Western Australia Dept of Education and Training

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/

The WA Department of Education and Department of Training amalgamated in February 2003 to form one government department, Department of Education and Training. The Training branch (http://www.det.wa.edu.au/training/) has been created as a consequence of this amalgamation. The web site offers links to: training opportunities; employment opportunities; apprenticeships and traineeships; training providers; publications; State Training Strategy.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

http://www.acci.asn.au/

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is the peak council of Australian business associations. Our member network has over 350,000 businesses represented through Chambers of Commerce in each State and Territory, and a nationwide network of industry associations. The role of ACCI is to represent the interests of business at a national level as well as internationally. ACCI's objective is to ensure that legislation or proposed policy approaches at a national level address the needs of Australian businesses, whether they are one of the top 100 Australian companies or a small sole trader. The web site provides links to the ACCI's surveys dealing with small business, business expectations and investor confidence. It also has a link to abstracts of their publications and issues papers under categories such as : ACCI Review; Surveys; Labour Relations; Occupational Health and Safety; Employment and Education.

Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

http://www.acer.edu.au/

ACER's mission is to create and disseminate knowledge and tools that can be used to improve learning. Underlying this mission is our belief in the importance of ongoing, lifelong learning both for the fulfilment of individuals and for the well-being of society, and our commitment to the use of systematic investigation, evaluation and critical reflection in the search for ways to improve learning. The web site provides links to: latest findings; research; ACER Press; school testing; university testing; library services; about ACER; forums; workshops & conferences.

Australian National Training Authority (ANTA)

ANTA ceased to exist as of 1 July 2005. All functions and responsibilities have been transferred to the Australian Government's Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). Nearly all content from the now defunct ANTA website has been integrated into the DEST website here. This area of DEST's website provides links to information about vocational education and training (VET) in Australia, the National Training System, Training Packages, Directions and Priorities, the Australian Quality Training Framework, publications, a glossary of Australian VET terms.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

http://www.aqf.edu.au/

This web site is produced by the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory Board as a means of providing access to information about the AQF, a unified system of thirteen national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training and the higher education sector. It has a link to the 3rd edition on-line version of the AQF Implementation Handbook; Learning pathways; AQF and schools; AQF and employment and others.

Australian Training Products (ATP)

http://www.atpl.net.au/
 
This web site provides links to ATP's policies and news; an on-line catalogue of products and a registration link to Train e-sier, an electronic newsletter providing news about new products, product changes and special promotions. The site also provides an opportunity to register free as an ATP site member with access to downloadable publication samples, automatic updates and the option of submitting reviews about ATP products.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)

http://www.ncver.edu.au/

NCVER is Australia's national vocational education and training research and development centre. NCVER is responsible for the collection of national vocational education and training statistics and for managing employer, student and graduate surveys relating to vocational education and training outcomes and performance. NCVER provides research, evaluation, statistical and other information to a wide range of stakeholders involved in the development of a quality vocational education and training system in Australia.

National Training Information Service

http://www.ntis.gov.au/

The National Training Information Service has been developed by ANTA to provide access to current and emerging training market information and products in vocational education and training. Currently, the NTIS comprises a database of: VET accredited courses; competency standards; Training Packages and training providers and text information on a range of complementary issues.

training.com.au

http://www.training.com.au
 Training.com.au provides a single point of access to the vast range of vocational education and training information, products and services in Australia. The portal was developed in conjunction state and territory training authorities and the Australian National Training Authority. It is a gateway to many different websites and services.

The business and employer section of the portal includes information such as:

• The benefits of training and upskilling staff
• assessing the training needs of your business and your staff
• the funding available from Australian, state and territory governments
• how to choose the right training
• how to deliver training to employees
• training costs and obligations.

The Apprenticeships and Traineeships section includes information on:

• The benefits of employing a New Apprentice
• How to hire a New Apprentice
• The funding for employers of New Apprentices which is available from Australian, state and territory governments
• Employer costs and obligations

The Training Organisations section of training.com.au provides information for existing and prospective RTOs such as:

• The benefits of becoming an RTO
• How to become an RTO
• The obligations and standards an RTO must meet
• The funding available from Australian, state and territory governments
• What's involved in operating an RTO
• How to meet student training needs

Agri-food Industry Skills Council

http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/
 
The Agri-Food Industry Skills Council, formed in May 2004, represents the broad interests of all agri-food industry sectors through its 14 member Board and five industry standing committees and aims to sustain and enhance high-quality, nationally-recognised training products and services for the agri-food industry. Industry sectors represented include: Food, beverage and pharmaceuticals, Rural and related indsutries, Meath processing, Seafood and Racing.

Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council

http://www.cshisc.com.au/
 
Representing the community services and health sectors, the Skills Council develops, implements and continuously improves high quality, nationally recognised training products, services and support materials. It promotes and markets training and skill development to the industry sector, provides accurate industry intelligence on future skills directions, including strategic advice and assists individual enterprises and broad industry sectors and their workforces integrate skills development needs and business goals. The Council is also responsible for the provision of a national VET plan for the sector each year that is used for State and Commonwealth training funding allocations etc.

Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council

http://www.cpsisc.com.au/ 

The CPSISC represents the workforce training and development needs of the Construction and Property Services Industries in Australia. It is responsible for the development of quality industry owned Training Packages and products and the supply of information and intelligence relating to the sectors skill and strategic workforce development needs. Industry sectors represented include: Real Estate; Waste management; Security; Facility management; Building service; Master Plumbers and Construction.

ElectroComms and Energy Utilities Industry Skills Council (EE-Oz Training Standards Ltd)

http://www.ee-oz.com.au

EE-Oz Training Standards Ltd is the ElectroComms and EnergyUtilities Industry Skills Council (formerly Qualifications Standards Body of Australia) Ltd. It is 'a not-for-profit' industry training and skills standards and advisory organisation. It serves and works in partnership with Australia's ElectroComms & EnergyUtilities industry. EE-Oz Training Standards has an established network of individuals, technical experts and practitioners, enterprises, industry and government. They provide valuable advice to governments and industry on: policy formulation and planning and the operation and implementation of government policies and strategies. It has responsibility for training related matters in the gas, electricity, electrical/electronic, communications and lifts industries.

ForestWorks: learning and skills development

http://www.forestworks.com.au/
 
ForestWorks was granted Skills Council Transitional Status on 18 December 2007 by the Australian Government Dept of Education , Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). This status gives ForestWorks the ability to carry out urgent Skills Council functions on behalf of the Forest Industry. As of 2008, ForestWorks will be involved in all ISC discussions, negotiations and roundtables with an early March target date for a formal Skills Council Contract. This website provides a one-stop-shop to both an industry knowledge resource and a gateway for new entrants to the industry. It provides access to the most up-to-date knowledge on Training and Assessment, Skills Standards, Employment, Industry Careers Information and more.

Government Skills Australia

http://www.governmentskills.com.au/
 
Government Skills Australia (GSA) is the Industry Skills Council (ISC) for government and community safety. GSA aims to provide high quality training resources and services to support the recognition of skills and professionalism in government administration, services and operations. As the national ISC for government and community safety, GSA manages nationally recognised competency standards and qualifications for the following industries:

• Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments
• Local Government
• Defence, Fire, Police, emergency services and management and marine rescue
• Correctional services - custodial, community and rehabilitation services
• Water - catchment, distribution and treatment

The website provides links to careers information, industry specific information, online shop of training resources and other publications, projects, and latest news.

Innovation and Business Industry Skills Council

http://www.ibsa.org.au/
 
Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) is one of ten Industry Skills Councils for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system recognised and funded by the Australian Government. IBSA covers:

• Business Services;
• Cultural and Related Industries;
• Education;
  Financial Services;
• Information and Communication Technologies; and
• Printing and Graphic Arts.

IBSA develops competency standards and qualifications for workforce skills development and training that are recognised throughout Australia.

Manufacturing Industry Skills Council

http://www.mskills.com.au/
 
Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) is addressing the skills needs of over 75,000 manufacturing businesses employing almost one million Australians and works with Australian Government and the manufacturing industry to ensure that the skills needs of enterprises are being met. It is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, owned by industry and managed by a board from across industry. It has a range of reference and advisory groups and is constantly seeking information on industry skills needs. Their work involves:

Assemble industry intelligence: research the current and future skills the manufacturing industry needs to compete in global and domestic markets. Assist industry to integrate skills development with business goals.
Establish skills standards: develop, supply and continuously revise high quality, nationally recognised training products and services.

SkillsDMC

http://www.skillsdmc.com.au/
 
The national Industry Skills Council (SkillsDMC) was officially formed in April 2004. Stakeholders from each of the following industry sectors agreed to form one of the 10 new Industry Skills Councils as part of the revised national advisory arrangements for industry related education and training:

• Coal Mining
• Civil Construction
• Construction Materials
• Drilling
• Metalliferous

SkillsDMC is a not-for-profit organisation with the primary role of facilitating the education and training needs of all stakeholders operating to these industry sectors. It's a national organisation charged with the responsibility to develop and implement an education and training structure with the flexibility to meet the range of industry needs, and rigorous enough to satisfy educational and regulatory requirements across Australia. Previously traded as the Resources & Infrastructure Industry Skills Council (RIISC).

Services Industry Skills Council

http://www.serviceskills.com.au/

Service Skills Australia is the Industry Skills Council for the Australian service industries. It represents the interests of almost 640,000 businesses across sectors including retail and wholesale, sport, fitness, community recreation, outdoor recreation, travel, tours, meetings and events, accommodation, restaurants and catering, caravans, hairdressing, beauty, floristry, community pharmacy and funeral services.

Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council

http://www.tlisc.com.au/
 
TDT's key focus is:

• To build strong partnership with, and be recognised by, the industry as the key National Training Development Organisation by offering a broad range of services to those involved in the development and provision of Transport and Logistics employment and training.
• To research, analyse and consolidate industry needs into defined and effective strategies and operational plans.
• To produce and maintain world class, nationally recognised training products to service the needs of all sectors of industry.
• To work with industry in developing high quality training packages designed to meet industry's present and future skill needs.
• To actively promote and advocate on the present and future skill needs of the industry.