2025 Standards Glossary

Glossaries and/or definitions from the following documents have been combined below:

• Outcome Standards - Registration Standards 2025
• Compliance Standards & Fit and Proper Person Requirements – Registration Standards 2025; and
• Credential Policy
• Data Provision Requirements (Version 1 dated 20/08/2025)
• VET Data Policy (Version 1 dated 20/08/2025)
• Training Package Organising Framework (effective 1 July 2025)

ABN means an Australian Business Number issued under the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (Cth).

accredited short course means a course that leads to a VET statement of attainment accredited by a VET Regulator in accordance with the accreditation standards (within the meaning of the Regulations) or the equivalent requirements:

1. in another non-referring state; or b
2. under the Commonwealth Act.

ACN means an Australian Company Number issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Act means the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (WA).

approved VET course has the meaning given in the Act.

approved VET qualification has the meaning given in the Act.

AQF certification documentation means the set of official documents which confirm that an AQF qualification or VET statement of attainment has been issued to an individual by a WA registered provider or any other entity authorised to do so.

AQF has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

AQF qualification means an AQF qualification type endorsed in a training package or accredited in an approved VET course.

AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy means the document of that name, comprising part of the AQF.

AQTF Australian Quality Training Framework

ASQA Australian Skills Quality Authority

assessment means the process by which a WA registered provider, or a third party delivering services on its behalf, collects evidence for the purposes of determining whether a VET student is competent to perform to the standard specified in the training product.

assessment judgement means a determination of whether competency has been achieved by a VET student consistent with the training product and this instrument.

assessment system means a coordinated set of documented policies, procedures and assessment tools designed to ensure that assessment, including recognition of prior learning, produces consistent and valid judgements of VET student competency and meets the requirements of this instrument.

assessment tools mean the instrument, instructions and methods used to gather and interpret assessment evidence for the purposes of determining VET student competency, including:

1. the context and conditions of assessment;
2. the tasks to be administered to the VET student;
3. an outline of the assessment evidence to be gathered from the VET student;
4. the criteria used to judge VET student competency; and
5. the administration, recording and reporting requirements for assessments and assessment evidence.

assessor means a person who determines a VET student’s competency for, or on behalf of, a WA registered provider.

Australian university has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth).

Authenticated VET Transcript  has the meaning given by the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Cth):

a document prepared by the Student Identifiers Registrar that sets out information:

• that relates to the VET undertaken by an individual; and
• that is prescribed by the regulations.

AVETMISS data means the data elements described in the document titled "AVETMISS VET Provider Collection specifications: release 8.0", revised 31 October 2022.

Note The document referred to in this definition is available on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Council.

AVETMISS for the National VET Provider Collection  The document titled "AVETMISS VET Provider Collection specifications: release 8.0", revised 31 October 2022. Note: The document referred to in this definition is available on a website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Council.

Commonwealth Act means the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth).

competency the consistent application of knowledge and skill to the standard of performance required in the workplace. It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments

compliance standards has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

Conditions for the use of the Australian Qualifications Framework Logo policy means the document of that name, as reissued in May 2012.

Note The document referred to in this definition is available on a website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Council.

constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.

Council has the same meaning as in the Act.

Credential Policy means the document titled “Credential Policy” as made by the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations on 14 March 2025.

Note The document referred to in this definition is available on a website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Council.

credit transfer means the process of recognising and awarding credit for prior successful completion of an equivalent unit of competency or module.

direction includes an individual providing oversight, guidance and quality assurance to ensure the quality of training and assessment being delivered by another individual.

Employers' use and views of the VET system  This survey contains information about employers' use and views of the VET system and the various ways employers use the VET system to meet their skill needs.

executive officer has the meaning given in the Commonwealth Act.

financial support arrangement means a VET student loan issued under the VET Student Loans Act 2016 (Cth), a government-funded subsidy or any other government-funded financial support arrangement.

financial viability guidelines has the meaning given in the Regulations.

fit and proper person requirements means Schedule 1 to the compliance standards (within the meaning of the Regulations).

governing person has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

government entity means: a

1. Commonwealth entity, or a Commonwealth company, within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth);
2. a body (whether incorporated or not) established for a public purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory; or
3. an entity that is otherwise part of the Commonwealth or a State or a Territory.

Government Subsidised Training Training paid for, either in part or full, by the Commonwealth, state or territory government.

government training contract means a contract that a registered training organisation has with a government entity under which it receives funding relating to the provision of vocational education and training by the organisation.

high managerial agent has the meaning given in the Commonwealth Act.

industry regulator means a body responsible for regulating a licensed or regulated outcome.

licensed or regulated outcome means compliance with eligibility requirements for an occupational licence, or any legislative requirements to hold a training product in order to carry out an activity in an industry or occupation.

mode of delivery means the methods adopted by a WA registered provider to deliver training and assessment to VET students.

My Skills (myskills.gov.au) is a comprehensive directory of all publicly available nationally recognised training. It provides transparent and up-to-date information about programs and RTOs.

National Apprentice and Trainee Collection provides data on all persons employed under a training contract and includes both apprentices and trainees. Data is collected from State Training Authorities on training activity in apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia, including information on training rates and duration of training.

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is a national research, evaluation and information organisation for the VET sector in Australia, jointly established by the state, territory and Commonwealth ministers responsible for skills. NCVER is the data custodian of the national VET statistical collections and national VET survey collections. For more information: www.ncver.edu.au

National Register has the meaning given in the Commonwealth Act.

National VET Finance Collection  This collection provides financial information about Australia’s public VET system. Information collected includes VET activity administered by state and territory training authorities, as well as VET activity administered by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. It also includes government funding for training delivery paid to non-government training providers by the Australian Government and state and territory training authorities.

National VET Funding Collection  This collection provides financial information about Australia’s public VET system. Information collected includes VET activity administered by the main training authority within each state and territory, and their training providers, as well as activity administered by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. It also includes government funding for training delivery paid to non-government training providers by the Australian Government and state and territory training authorities.

National VET in Schools Collection contains data about the Nationally Recognised Training undertaken by school students. Data is collected and reported to NCVER via Boards of Studies or State Training Authorities in each state or territory.

National VET Provider Collection contains data on VET activity delivered by Australian training providers, in accordance with the AVETMISS for the National VET Provider Collection. VET in Schools programs provide credit towards Nationally Recognised Training and therefore are included in this collection. The National VET Provider Collection provides information on training providers, student numbers, program enrolments, subject enrolments, hours of delivery, program completions and source of funding.

Nationally Recognised Training is any program of training leading to VET qualifications and statements of attainment that are recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. These include:

• industry training package qualifications and units of competency as listed on training.gov.au
• courses and modules that have been accredited by a VET Regulator or authorised course accrediting body.

non-referring State has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

NRT Logo means the Nationally Recognised Training Logo as specified in the NRT Logo Conditions of Use policy.

NRT Logo Conditions of Use policy means the Nationally Recognised Training Logo Conditions of Use Policy set out under Schedule 2 of this instrument.

NVETR Act National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth)

outcome standards has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

Overseas student has the same meaning as in the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth).

person has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1994 (WA).

personal information has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

prepaid fee means any fee relating to the delivery of services paid to a WA registered provider by, or on behalf of an individual prior to the services to which the fee relates being delivered by the provider.

Privacy Act Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)

Privacy Notice Describes how an entity handles personal information collected from the student that may be used together with training activity information. The Privacy Notice lists the ways information about the student is collected and why, and how it is used and shared. The minimum mandatory content for inclusion in a Privacy Notice can be found at Schedule 1 of this Policy.

Program A qualification, nationally accredited course or skill set that is a structured training program.

reasonable adjustments include any adjustments for a VET student with a disability made by a WA registered provider in a manner consistent with the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

recognition of prior learning means an assessment process that involves assessment of an individual’s relevant prior learning and experience (including skills and knowledge obtained through formal and informal learning) to determine the extent to which the individual meets requirements specified in the training product.

Registered Training Organisation (RTO) A training organisation that is registered to deliver Nationally Recognised Training by one of the following VET Regulators:

• The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
• Western Australia Training Accreditation Council (WA TAC) or
• the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).

Registrar has the same meaning as in the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Cth).

registration code has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Act.

registration standards 2025 has the meaning given in the Regulations.

Regulations means the Vocational Education and Training (General) Regulations 2009 (WA).

Scope of Registration  The training products for which an RTO is registered to issue AQF certification documentation. It allows the RTO to:

1. both provide training delivery and assessment resulting in the issuance of AQF certification documentation by the RTO; or
2. provide assessment resulting in the issuance of AQF certification documentation by the RTO.

services means:

1. training and assessment;
2. training support services (but excludes counselling, mediation, and information and communication technology services); and
3. any activities related to the recruitment of VET students including marketing, enrolment, induction, or the collection of fees.

SI Act Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Cth).

skill set means a single unit of competency or a combination of units of competency from a training package which link to a licensing or regulatory requirement or a defined industry need.

student identifier has the same meaning as in the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Cth).

Student Identifiers Registrar  is appointed by the Commonwealth Minister and performs the following functions:

• assigning student identifiers to individuals;
• verifying or giving an individual’s student identifier;
• preparing and providing access to individuals’ Authenticated VET Transcripts;

enabling individuals with student identifiers to set access controls on their Authenticated VET Transcripts.

The SI Act establishes the Student Identifiers Registrar.

Student Outcomes Survey The National Student Outcomes Survey contains information on VET students’ reasons for training, their employment outcomes, satisfaction with training, and further study outcomes.

Subject A unit of competency, accredited course unit, or module that can be studied independently or as part of a Program.

TAC WA Training Accreditation Council Western Australia

third party means any person who has an arrangement with a WA registered provider to deliver services, but does not include:

1. a employees of the provider;
2. experts engaged by the provider;
3. government agencies and government funded agencies that refer VET students to the provider and do not receive any payment from the provider for doing so.

trainer means a person who undertakes training for, or on behalf of a WA registered provider.

training means the process by which a WA registered provider, or a third party delivering services on its behalf, facilitates learning and the acquisition of competencies consistent with the requirements specified in the training product.

training product means an AQF qualification, a skill set, a unit of competency, accredited short course or module.

training support services means services and resources designed to support and skill VET students to meet training product requirements and complete the training product in which they are enrolled.

Training.gov.au  is the national register of the VET sector. It is the authoritative source of information on training packages (and their components), accredited courses and the RTOs authorised to deliver them.

tuition assurance scheme operator means a person or body who operates a scheme approved by the Council for the purposes of requirements that —

1. are set out in this instrument or the outcome standards; and
2. relate to the protection of fees for courses that a WA registered provider is unable to provide.

Unique Student Identifier (USI) A student identifier assigned to an individual by the Student Identifiers Registrar under the SI Act.

unit of competency means the specification of the standards of performance required in the workplace as defined in a training product.

validation means the review of the assessment system to ensure that:

1. assessment tools are consistent with the training product and the requirements set out in this instrument; and
2. assessments and assessment judgements are producing consistent outcomes.

VET Activity Data means data collected and held in the following: 

• National VET Provider Collection
• National VET in Schools Collection
• National Apprentice and Trainee Collection
• aggregate competency commencement and completion data.

VET course has the meaning given in the Commonwealth Act.

VET Data refers to:

• VET Activity Data
• VET Outcome Data, and
• VET Funding Data

VET Data Policy means the document titled “VET Data Policy” version 1.0 dated 20 August 2025. Note    The document referred to in this definition is available on a website maintained by, or on behalf of, the Council.

VET Data Use Statement and RTO Declaration and Understanding Is a statement acknowledged by a person submitting data on behalf of an RTO who provides VET Data to an organisation. By acknowledging the VET Data Use Statement and RTO Declaration and Understanding, the RTO is indicating awareness that information submitted by the RTO is complete and accurate and may be used for the purposes listed. The minimum mandatory content for inclusion in a Data Use Statement and RTO Declaration and Understanding is at Schedule 2 of this Policy.

VET Funding Data means data collected and held in the following:

• National VET Finance Collection
• National VET Funding Collection (from 2018)

VET Outcome Data means data collected and held by NCVER from the following:

• Student Outcomes Surveys
• Surveys of Employers’ Use and Views (of the VET System)
• Apprentice and Trainee Destinations Surveys I
• identified RTO level completions data.

VET Qualification VET Qualification has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act: a testamur, relating to a VET course, given to a person confirming that the person has achieved learning outcomes and competencies that satisfy the requirements of a qualification.

VET quality framework has the same meaning as in the Regulations.

VET records has the meaning given to the term "VET student records" in the Commonwealth Act.

VET Regulator Has the meaning given by the NVETR Act and includes the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and the Training Accreditation Council Western Australia (TAC WA).

VET Statement of Attainment has the same meaning as in the NVETR Act: in relation to units of competency or modules of a VET course, a statement given to a person confirming that the person has satisfied the requirements of units of competency or modules specified in the statement.

VET student has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Act.

VRQA Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority

WA registered provider A training provider that is a registered training provider by reason of being registered by TAC WA under Part 7A of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (WA).

wellbeing support services means support services and resources to assist with VET students’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.