| A |
| ACCC |
See Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. |
| ACMA |
See Australian Communications and Media Authority. |
| ACPET |
See Australian Council for Private Education and Training. |
| ADAS |
See Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme. |
| AMSA |
See Australian Maritime Safety Authority. |
| APCC |
See Australian Procurement and Construction Council. |
| APRA |
See Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. |
| APVMA |
See Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. |
| AQF |
See Australian Qualifications Framework. |
| AQTF |
See Australian Quality Training Framework. |
| ARC |
See Australian Refrigeration Council Ltd. |
| ASCC |
See Australian Safety and Compensation Council. |
| ASIC |
See Australian Securities and Investments Commission. |
| accredited course |
A structured sequence of vocational education and training that has been accredited by a state or territory course accrediting body and leads to an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification or statement of attainment. |
| Act |
A law made by Parliament. Acts often have regulation-making powers that allow regulations to be made under them. |
| A Licence to Skill |
Produced in 2002 by the former Australian National Training Authority, this National Licensing Project report provides an analysis of the implications of industry licensing for the implementation of Training Packages.
The seven industry areas examined were electrotechnology, security, aeroskills, finance, general construction, community services, and metal and engineering.
The report can be accessed on the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training website at www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/publications_resources/
profiles/anta/profile/a_licence_to_skill_full_report.htm#authors |
| assessment |
The process of collecting evidence and judgingwhether competency has been achieved to confirm whether a person can perform to the standard expected in the workplace, as outlinedin the relevant endorsed competency standards or the learning outcomes of an accredited course. |
| Australian Apprenticeships |
Nationally recognised industry qualifications acquired using a combination of practical paid work and structured training. |
| Australian Building Codes Board |
A joint initiative of all levels of Australian Government and representatives from the building industry. It is responsible for developing and managing a nationally uniform approach to technical building requirements, developing a simpler and more efficient building regulatory system, and enabling the building industry to adopt new and innovative construction technology and practices. |
| Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) |
The Australian Government body responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications, telecommunications and online content. |
| Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) |
The independent Australian regulatory authority with responsibility for ensuring that people and businesses comply with the Australian competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws. |
| Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) |
A national industry association for independent providers of post-compulsory education and training for Australian and international students. |
| Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) |
An Australian Government not-for-profit diver training and accreditation scheme developed under the auspices of the Petroleum Sub-Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council. |
| Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme |
This scheme was developed in response to a Royal Commission that found the occupational health and safety performance in Australia’s building and construction industry was unacceptable. This prompted the Australian Government to use its influence as a major procurer of services in the industry to enhance occupational health and safety performance. The scheme requires anyone wanting to contract for building or construction work with the Australian Government to be accredited. Accreditation involves an assessment of contractors’ occupational health and safety policies, systems and experiences. |
| Australian Maritime Safety Authority(AMSA) |
The Australian Government agency with the charter of enhancing efficiency in the delivery of safety and other services to the Australian maritime industry. |
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| Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) |
The Australian Government authority responsible for the assessment and registration of pesticides and veterinary medicines, and for their regulation up to and including the point of retail sale. |
| Australian Procurement and Construction Council Inc (APCC) |
The peak council of departments responsible for procurement, construction and asset management policy for the Australian, state and territory governments. New Zealand is an associate member. |
| Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) |
The Australian financial services industry regulator that oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurance, friendly societies, and most members of the superannuation industry. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) |
A national system of qualifications encompassing all post-compulsory education. |
| Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) |
The nationally agreed recognition arrangements for the vocational education and training sector. The framework is based on a quality assured approach to the registration of training organisations and seeks to deliver training, assess competency outcomes and issue Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and/or Statements of Attainment, and ensures the recognition of training providers and the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statements of Attainment they issue, across Australia. |
| Australian Refrigeration Council Ltd (ARC) |
The industry board appointed by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage to administer regulations in relation to the abatement of avoidable emissions of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases. |
| Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) |
A partnership of government, unions and industry that leads and coordinates national efforts to prevent workplace death, injury and disease, improve workers' compensation arrangements, and improve the rehabilitation and return to work of injured workers. |
| Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) |
The independent Australian Government body that enforces and regulates company and financial services laws to protect consumers, investors and creditors. |
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| B |
| bill |
A proposal for a new law that has been presented to Parliament. |
| BLIS |
See Business Licence Information Service. |
| Business Licence Information Service (BLIS) |
A free online service that provides details of all licences to operate a business in Australia, including Australian, state or territory and local government requirements. |
| Builders Licensing Australasia |
A committee representing the government regulators responsible for licensing builders and trade contractors across Australia and New Zealand. The committee aims to ensure greater consistency between builder licensing and regulation, national uniformity in licence categories and qualifications and greater exchange of information between regulators. |
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| C |
| CASA |
See Civil Aviation Safety Authority. |
| COAG |
See Council of Australian Governments. |
| COAG Occupational Action Group |
Four Occupational Action Groups were established in 2006 to assist with the implementation of the COAG decision to promote a mobile workforce to help meet skills needs. The four groups—electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics; motor mechanics; builders, carpenters and joiners and bricklayers; and plumbers—report to the COAG Skills Recognition Steering Committee, comprising senior officials from first minister's departments. |
| Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) |
The independent regulatory authority whose main function is conducting the safety regulation of civil air operations in Australia and the operation of Australian aircraft overseas. |
| code of conduct or practice |
A document that sets out specific standards of behaviour for an industry in relation to its customers. |
| competency |
The ability to perform tasks and duties to the standard expected in employment. |
| competency standard |
An industry-determined specification of performance that sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package. |
| competent person |
A person who has acquired through training, qualification or experience (or a combination of them) the knowledge and skills to carry out a particular task. |
| Council of Australian Governments (COAG) |
The peak intergovernmental forum in Australia, comprising the Prime Minister, state premiers, territory chief ministers and the president of the Australian Local Government Association. |
| Back to Index |
| D |
| DEEWR |
See Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. |
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| Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations(DEEWR) |
The Australian Government department responsible for the full range of education and training areas, including public and private schools, higher education institutions and vocational education and training. It also provides high quality advice, programs and services to achieve outcomes in the area of employment and workplace relations. |
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| E |
| EdNA Online (Education Network Australia) |
A service that aims to support and promote the benefits of the internet for learning, education and training in Australia. The service is managed by a non-profit company owned by the Australian education and training ministers. |
| Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council |
The national council that coordinates the activities of state and territory electrical safety regulators. It deals with the approval, certification and the stop sale and recall of dangerous electrical products. |
| embedded occupational licence |
Any occupational licensing requirement that could be assumed or implied within a business licensing regime. For example, a condition of a child care centre business licence is that employees have specific qualifications for their jobs. These qualifications are a form of embedded occupational licence. |
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| F |
| Federal Safety Commissioner |
The Federal Safety Commissioner was appointed in 2005 to promote and improve occupational health and safety in the building and construction industry. |
| flexible delivery |
A range of approaches to providing education and training, giving learners greater choice of when, where and how they learn. It may involve distance education, mixed-mode delivery, online education, self-paced learning and self-directed learning. |
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| G |
| GTC or GTO |
See group training company or group training organisation. |
| group training company or group training organisation |
A company that employs apprentices and trainees and places them with one or more host employers, usually small to medium-sized businesses. The host employers provide on-the-job training and experience, while the group training company organises off-the-job training and handles recruitment, rotation and payroll. |
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| H |
| Back to Index |
| I |
| implied occupational licence |
No physical licence is issued by a licensing authority for an implied licence. Instead workers must meet certain skill-related standards set by the regulator (usually through legislation) to perform in a particular occupation. |
| industry skills councils |
Ten industry skills councils provide advice on the current and future skills needs of their industries and develop and maintain training packages and support materials. The Australian Department of Education, Science and Training manages the councils' operations. |
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| J |
| Back to Index |
| K |
| Back to Index |
| L |
| licensing authority |
A regulatory authority that determines licensing standards and/or issues occupational licences. |
| Back to Index |
| M |
| Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education |
This body comprises Australian and state and territory government ministers responsible for training. It has overall responsibility for national training policy, priorities, planning and performance. The council also addresses key cross-sectoral issues impacting on the training system, such as skills forecasting, workforce planning (including skills shortages) and articulation between higher education and vocational education and training. |
| mutual recognition |
The purpose of mutual recognition is to promote economic integration and increased trade between participants.
The Australian and state and territory governments implemented the mutual recognition principle in Australia because the multiple regulatory environments applying in states and territories were impeding trade and compromising Australia's ability to compete in the international economy.
The Mutual Recognition Act 1992 came into force in 1993. Under the legislation, a person registered to practise in an occupation in one state or territory is entitled to the equivalent registration in other states or territories without the need for further testing or examination.
Australia then entered into mutual recognition arrangements with New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 came into force in 1998. Under the legislation, a person registered to practise in an occupation in either country is entitled to the equivalent registration in the other country without the need for further testing or examination. |
| mutual recognition agreement |
See mutual recognition. |
| Back to Index |
| N |
| NCVER |
See National Centre for Vocational Education Research. |
| NMSC |
See National Marine Safety Committee. |
| NOHSC |
See National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. |
| NQC |
See National Quality Council. |
| NTC |
See National Transport Commission. |
| NTIS |
See National Training Information Service. |
| National Centre for Vocational Education Research(NCVER) |
Australia's principal provider of vocational education and training research and statistics. |
| National Industry Skills Committee |
This advisory committee to the ministerial council provides high-level, evidence-based advice on workforce planning, future training priorities and other critical issues facing the training sector. Membership includes a cross-section of employers from small, medium and large enterprises from a range of industries. |
| National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) |
An intergovernmental committee established in 1997 by the Council of Australian Governments to achieve uniform marine safety legislation and practices throughout Australia. |
| National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) |
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) replaced the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission in February 2005. |
| National Quality Council |
Oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the registration and audit of training providers. |
| National Training Information Service (NTIS) |
An online service that provides access to current and emerging training market information and products in vocational education and training. |
| National Transport Commission (NTC) |
Established to assist Australian governments to improve transport productivity, efficiency, safety and environmental performance and regulatory efficiency in a uniform or nationally consistent manner. |
| negative occupational licensing |
Licences are not issued under a negative licensing regime. Instead, individuals who satisfy the regulatory requirements are allowed to work in an industry and anyone who does not meet the regulatory requirements is excluded from the industry. Breaches of the industry regulatory requirements can also result in exclusion. |
| New Apprenticeships |
The New Apprenticeships scheme was renamed Australian Apprenticeships in 2006. |
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| O |
| occupational licence |
Any form of regulation that restricts entry to an occupation or a profession to those who meet competency related requirements stipulated by a regulatory authority. This includes any physical or implied licence, registration, certification, approval or permit required by someone to gain employment, including self employment. |
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| P |
| physical occupational licence |
A licence that is physically issued by a licensing authority as evidence that the holder has satisfied licensing requirements. An example is a driver licence. Implied occupational licences and embedded occupational licences are alternatives to physical licences. |
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| Q |
| Back to Index |
| R |
| RPL |
See recognition of prior learning. |
| RTO |
See registered training organisation. |
| recognition of prior learning (RPL) |
The acknowledgement of a person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a training program. |
| registered training organisation(RTO) |
An organisation registered to deliver nationally accredited vocational education and training. This includes TAFE institutes, private training providers, enterprises and some schools. |
| regulation |
Subordinate legislation passed by Parliament to amplify or make explicit the requirements of an act. |
| Regulation Impact Statement |
A well-established procedure for assessing the impact of policy and regulatory proposals on stakeholders, industries, the economy and the community. |
| Road to Transition - Improved Pathways to Operator Certification |
This Licensing Line National Project report was produced in 2003 by the Queensland Department of Employment and Training and Department of Industrial Relations for the former National Occupational Health and Safety Commission and the former Australian National Training Authority.
The report details the examination of options for transitioning National Occupational Health and Safety Commission certification standards and requirements to the vocational education and training system.
The final report is available from the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training website at http://antapubs.dest.gov.au/publications/publication.asp?qsID=664 |
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| S |
| school-based Australian Apprentices |
Students who begin work on nationally recognised industry qualifications while still attending school, generally in Year 10, so that they can complete their school studies while starting their apprenticeship. |
| simulated work environment |
A learning environment in which a trainee or apprentice is able to practise using and operating the relevant industrial equipment under realistic workplace conditions. |
| skill |
An ability to perform a particular mental or physical activity that may be developed by training or practice. |
| Stairway to a Licence and Beyond |
Produced in 2002 by the former Australian National Training Authority and the Queensland Department of Employment and Training, this Licensing Line National Project report considers how to enable the vocational education and training system to address licensing standards within national training standards to the satisfaction of licensing authorities and industry.
The report can be accessed on the Queensland Department of Employment and Training website at www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au/
partners/training_delivery/training_packages/licensing/reports.html |
| standards |
Tools that can be used to quantify requirements or performance in achieving regulatory outcomes. Standards are often used in performance-based regulations. |
| state or territory registering body |
The body responsible under the state or territory vocational education and training legislation and decision-making framework, for all the processes related to the registration of training organisations. |
| state or territory training authority |
State and territory government bodies responsible for the operation of the vocational education and training system within that jurisdiction. |
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| T |
| training package |
A set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectively in the workplace. |
| Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement |
See mutual recognition. |
| Back to Index |
| U |
| unit of competency |
A component of a competency standard. A unit of competency is a statement of a key function or role in a particular job or occupation. |
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| V |
| Back to Index |
| W |
| Back to Index |
| X |
| Back to Index |
| Y |
| Back to Index |
| Z |
