In Australia, state and federal governments work together with industry, public and private training providers to ensure vocational education and training (VET) is consistent across the country.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator, overseeing VET in most states and territories. However, the VRQA plays a significant regulatory role in Victoria.
Registering training providers
Any organisation that offers VET courses is required by law to be registered. Registered training organisations (RTOs) have been approved to provide nationally recognised training and qualifications.
If an RTO delivers accredited training to domestic students in Victoria only, or in Victoria and Western Australia only, it is registered by the VRQA.
The VRQA does not regulate providers that offer:
- VET courses outside Victoria (including online or by distance education)
- courses to international students in Victoria (other than those enrolled in schools or undertaking school sector courses)
- English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and foundation studies courses (other than courses delivered by schools).
The types of providers above – along with RTOs in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania – come under the jurisdiction of ASQA.
In Western Australia, the Training Accreditation Council has regulatory powers over VET.
All RTOs are audited periodically to make sure they meet the standards for continuing registration.
Accrediting courses
Accredited courses are not the only way to deliver training, but they are nationally recognised and address needs within industry, enterprise, education, legislation or community.
The VRQA's role is to accredit:
- courses developed and owned by the Victorian Government
- courses for RTOs registered with the VRQA
- courses for organisations or individuals who are not RTOs.
ASQA also accredits courses that are offered and delivered by RTOs.
Regulatory framework
The vocational education and training sector in Victoria is supported by a mix of federal and state legislation and standards, including:
- VRQA Guidelines for VET Providers
- Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)
- AQTF 2021 Standards for Accredited Courses
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
Funding
We do not administer funding programs. The Victorian Department of Education and the Commonwealth Department of Education can guide you on the different funding arrangements available in Victoria.
For more information, see:
For more information about the Department of Education's (Vic) Skills First VET Funding Contracts, see:
For information about student loans, see: