VET in Schools has come a long way since its inception in Australian school curricula in 1996. These programs are now an integral part of every state and territory Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education, although the structure and delivery of VET in Schools varies across states and territories.

VET in Schools programs provide credit towards a nationally recognised VET qualification, with training that reflects industry-specific standards. Under these arrangements, students can undertake whole VET courses, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, or just a few VET subjects.

Schools can deliver these programs directly as registered training organisations, as is the case for most schools in Queensland and New South Wales. However, in Western Australia, VET in Schools is offered mainly by training providers. Partnerships are also common across the nation, where schools work with providers such as TAFE institutes to deliver training programs.

The last decade has also seen significant structural changes in arrangements for students participating in these programs. In New South Wales and Western Australia, the recent development of industry-specific courses aims to provide skills which will be of particular value on the job. These courses have strengthened the profile of VET in Schools in NSW.

Many states also offer stand-alone VET subjects and courses along with curriculum-based VET in Schools programs. School-based apprenticeships and traineeships, which have been implemented more substantially in Queensland, are also gaining popularity among students in other states.

Participation in VET in Schools has increased significantly in the last decade. Over 90% of senior secondary schools offer VET subjects and programs. And, nationally, over 40% of students participate in VET in Schools, with close to 9% of these students undertaking a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. More information on VET in Schools and young people can be found at http://www.ncver.edu.au/students/31012.html

The updated Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Essential Conditions and Standards for Registration are now available.

The Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) endorsed a revised set of AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Registration on 9 June 2010.

The implementation date of the revised arrangements is 1 July 2010.

There are two sets of essential conditions and standards:

• AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration
• AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Continuing Registration

Transition arrangements have been provided in respect to some components of Conditions of Registration 5 and 6 where required by an individual applicant or registered training organisation (RTO).

Users' guides to the AQTF conditions and standards and other supporting national guidelines, including strengthened guidelines for risk management and managing non-compliance, will be submitted for endorsement and published in the next couple of weeks on www.training.com.au

RTOs should have received, or will shortly receive, information and updates from their relevant registering body regarding the new arrangements.

RTOs seeking further information around the updated AQTF should contact their relevant registering body. Licensing Line News will update its AQTF information page over the coming weeks as state and territory registering bodies provide information on their websites or in other communications.

For a list of registering bodies visit  www.licensinglinenews.com/resources/training-links.aspx#STRBs

For more information on the Australian Quality Training Framework visit the National Quality Council website at  www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/aqtf

Draft units and revised qualifications available for your review and feedback! 9 June 2010

The project team’s work on writing draft units and revising qualifications is well advanced. The draft qualifications and units of competency are now available for your comment on the IBSA Review and Feedback Register.

The units available for comment are those coded ‘CUA’. Other units in the draft qualifications have been imported from other Training Packages, e.g. Business Services, Entertainment, Screen and Media. On the Verve website we have provided links to where these units can be viewed on the National Training Information Service (NTIS). However, we are not in a position to change these units since they have already been endorsed as part of other Training Packages.

To access the draft units and qualifications and to provide feedback

Please go to the IBSA Review and Feedback Register on the IBSA website to provide your feedback. Click here to access the IBSA home page. Select 'Review and Feedback Register' from the 'Training Packages' tab on the top toolbar, give yourself a username and login. Once logged in, select 'dance qualifications', then at the bottom of the next page you'll see drop-down boxes for both units and qualifications. If you want to make a comment, simply click ‘Add’ in the feedback field next to the relevant qualification or unit. You can view feedback provided by other people by clicking ‘View’.

We have until the end of July to receive your feedback on these materials so we hope you will take the time to provide your comments.

A second round of national consultations for the project is taking place over May, June and July 2010. This is an opportunity for the dance industry to provide specific feedback on the new draft VET qualifications and units. Please click here to view the schedule of face-to-face meetings and teleconferences and to register to participate.

PROJECT TIMELINE AT A GLANCE

• Refinement of all draft materials (qualifications, skill sets and units) to incorporate feedback from industry and training providers (May-July 2010)
• Submission of final qualifications, skill sets and case for endorsement to the National Project Reference Group for approval (September 2010)

Additional questions on the project? Please visit our website to learn how you can contribute or contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

  Feedback: NQC Flexibility Requirements - part II

The National Quality Council (NQC) recently introduced new requirements which will affect the Packaging Rules of ALL qualifications in all Training Packages.

We require your feedback on changes to the following qualifications which have been adjusted to comply with the new flexibility requirements. The AUR files sent out recently have been edited and are also included.

For information on the changes and to view drafts of the adjusted qualifications, click here

Department of Education and Training

Applications are invited for grant submissions for programs that will increase training

and employment opportunities for disadvantaged Territorians. 

 This includes:

• People with a disability
• Parents returning to the workforce after an absence of 5 years or more
• Long-term unemployed migrants
• Refugees
• Mature-aged
• Long-term unemployed people

Who can apply? Incorporated organisations, registered training organisations and schools.

Applications close: COB Friday 21 May 2010.

For more information on the grants and application forms go to www.det.nt.gov.au/grants

Or contact Debbi Rowlands on 8901 1345 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The IBSA Review and Feedback Register is open for industry to comment on the revised draft qualifications, provide your comments using this tool: http://www.org.au/review-and-feedback-register.aspx.

You must first get a user name and password (use this link) to get into the Feedback register.

You can submit a nomination for one of the seven employment and inclusion categories of:

• Employment & Inclusion of People with a Disability
• Employment & Inclusion of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians
• Employment & Inclusion of Mature Age Workers
• Employment & Inclusion of Indigenous Australians
• The Equal Advancement of Woment within the Workplace
• Employment & Inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Intersex
• Today's Youth - The Future of Tomorrow

Visit http://www.diversityatwork.com.au/awards/nominations for further information

Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices - Application Round Closing

The closing date for applications for the Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices is this Friday, 26 March 2010.

Applications can be submitted directly to DEEWR by this date or through Australian Apprenticeships Centres – including Australian Apprenticeships NT (email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

All applications submitted via Australian Apprenticeships Centres are due to be received by DEEWR by COB Tuesday, 6 April 2010.

Please send your applications to:

Sheila Staples VET Recognition Programs Section

C14MT6

DEEWR

PO Box 9880

Canberra ACT 2601

Or contact Skye Blake from Australian Apprenticeships NT on 8935 8200 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Application forms can be accessed from the Australian Apprenticeships website at

http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Northern Territory Training Awards

28th May is the deadline for nominations for this year's NT Training Awards.

The NT Training Awards are the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) annual premier event recognising training excellence and achievements by Territory businesses, training organisations, apprentices, trainees and students.

The awards are presented annually as official recognition of merit and excellence contributing to high standards of training and for personal achievement through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.

The Awards consists of two categories, student and organisational, with twelve awards in total.

Nominations close - 28 May 2010

Student Judging Weekend - 26 to 29 June 2010

Gala Event -11 September 2010

Winners of five of the Northern Territory student categories will automatically go on to represent the NT at the Australian Training Awards, and winners of the organisational categories can nominate to represent the Territory at the National Awards.

The 2010 Australian Training Awards will be held in Sydney in November 2010.

For further information please visit http://www.trainingawards.nt.gov.au/

Full Event Brochure at nt_training_awards

Invitation to Free Indigenous Hospitality Employment Project  Workshops delivered throughout 2010  

Cross Cultural Consultants (with a sub-contracting relationship with CHARTTES Training Advisory Council) is running a series of free workshops designed to support employers with their commitment to increase their Indigenous workforce. Half day ‘Working with Cultural Differences’ and ‘Internal Mentoring’ Workshops have been scheduled for Darwin.

Monthly Employer Networking sessions have also been scheduled.

Karen Sheldon Catering have been contracted by DEEWR to deliver targeted pre-employment training for Hospitality in the Darwin area. The course delivery is a 4 week program which addresses OH&S, life skills, motivation and employability skills. The contract also includes the placement of participants in to employment and to provide mentor support for the first 6 months of employment.

Working with Cultural Differences - Managers and Staff

• introduces skills and strategies for communicating and working effectively across cultures with a focus on working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and cultures.
• assists non-Indigenous people who are working in long or short-term in indigenous settings.
• Indigenous Australians working in mainstream public sector settings have noted that this program provides practical frameworks to improve their work.

Networking session discussions include:- Employers

• facilitating shared learning
• debriefing
• guidance and support for employers involved in this project
• identification of current and upcoming employment opportunities

Internal Mentoring session includes:- Managers and Staff

• establish working definition and mentoring model
• identify challenges and strengths especially across cultures
• develop shared strategies, skills and resources for mentoring
• map out how participants will implement identified skills and strategies

Contact: Patricia O’Brien-Price,

Industry Liaison Officer

Charttes Training Advisory Council

Email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone 8941 1956

Session Dates for 2010:

Correct at 22 April 2010 - Employers are invited to host a session