Quality Framework

Swan TAFE operates under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) which is a set of nationally agreed standards designed to ensure the quality of vocational education and training services throughout Australia.

The National Training Framework

The key objective of the AQTF is to provide the basis for a nationally consistent, high quality vocational education and training system. The AQTF comprises two sets of quality standards, developed in collaboration with state and territory governments, the Australian Government, industry and training organisations:

• Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) – RTOs must meet these standards in order to deliver and assess nationally recognised training and issue nationally recognised qualifications. There are 12 Standards dealing with a range of matters, including learning and assessment strategies, staff competence, record keeping and quality systems
• Standards for State and Territory Registering/Course Accrediting Bodies – these standards provide a common framework for the authorities in each state and territory that register and audit training organisations and accredit courses.

National recognition is the cornerstone of the AQTF. The principle of national recognition features in both sets of the AQTF standards and its implementation is critical to the operation of a nationally consistent vocational education and training system.

National recognition has two elements:

• National recognition of RTOs – each state and territory has agreed to recognise the decisions of all other states and territories in registering training organisations under the AQTF. This enables an RTO to operate in any state and territory without a further registration process.
• National recognition of qualifications and statements of attainment – RTOs must recognise and accept Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and statements of attainment issued by other RTOs. This enables individuals to have national portability of the qualifications and statements of attainment they undertake.

The Australian Qualifications Framework sets out all nationally agreed education and training qualifications in Australia. The vocational education and training sector delivers eight qualifications under this framework – from Certificate I to Vocational Graduate Diploma.

The Australian Qualifications Framework

As a Registered Training Organisation, Swan TAFE is required to conduct all training and assessment in accordance with the AQTF Standard Requirements, which is subject to regular compliance audits. Being a RTO also allows Swan TAFE to issue qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework and deliver the associated training and/or undertake assessment.