What are Training Packages?
Training Packages are sets of nationally-endorsed standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills. They set a national industry standard for skills, and are used as the basis for most of the programs delivered in the vocational education and training system, including New Apprenticeships , training courses, VET in schools programs, recognition of existing skills, and occupational licensing. Training Packages are national products, which means that qualifications delivered and assessed in one state or territory are recognised across Australia. In nearly all industries, Training Packages have replaced accredited courses. Training Packages are national products, developed with industry, so they hold national recognition, and are not owned by an individual training provider. Only Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are able to issue Training Package qualifications or statements of attainment.
> Industry involvement in the development of Training Packages
> How do Training Packages encourage flexiblity
> Structure of Training Packages
> Training Package Endorsed Components
> Training Package support resources
> Training Packages managed by Government Skills Australia
> Access to Training Packages and support resources
Industry involvement in the development of Training Packages
Training Packages are developed through a national process that allows industries to determine their own skill and qualification requirements. This process involves widespread, national consultation with peak industry bodies and other industry stakeholders.
Training Packages are developed by Industry Skills Councils (ISCs), Government Skills Australia is one of eleven ISCs, which consults widely with industry across Australia to define exactly what skills industry will need, now and in the future. This consultation ensures that Training Packages reflect the skills that employers need, and ensures that the qualifications are valued by industry.
All Training Packages are developed according to a set of rules set down by the Commonwealth Government, are endorsed by the National Training Quality Council (NTQC), and signed off by the State and Territory Education Ministers. Training Packages are reviewed and improved on a regular basis, to ensure that they keep pace with changes in industry, and continue to meet industry needs.
How do Training Packages encourage flexiblity
Training Packages describe the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectivly in the workplace without prescribing how people should be trained. Training Packages acknowledge that people can achieve vocational competency in many ways by emphasising what the learner can do, not how or where they learned to do it. For example, some experienced workers might be able to demonstrate competency against the units of competency, and even gain a qualification, without completing a formal training program.
With Training Packages, assessment and training may be conducted at the work-place, off-the-job, at a training organisation, during regular work, or through work experience, work placement, work simulation or a combination of these.
Structure of Training Packages
Training Packages are made up of mandatory components endorsed by the NTQC.
Training Package Endorsed Components
The Nationally endorsed components which form the basis of training and assessment in the Training Package include:
- Competency Standards
- Assessment Guidelines
- Qualifications Frameworks
Competency Standards
Each unit of competency identifies a discrete workplace requirement and includes the knowledge and skills that underpin competency as well as language, literacy and numeracy; and occupational health and safety requirements.
Assessment Guidelines
The Assessment Guidelines provide an industry framework to ensure all assessments meet industry needs and nationally agreed standards as expressed in the Training Package and the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.
Qualifications Frameworks
Each Training Package provides details of those units of competency that must be achieved to award AQF qualifications.
Training Package support resources
The endorsed components of Training Packages are complemented and supported by optional support resources that provide for choice in the design of training and assessment to meet the needs of industry and learners.
Training Package support materials can relate to single or multiple units of competency, an industry sector, a qualification or the whole Training Package.
Training Packages managed by Government Skills Australia
Government Skills Australia is responsible for the management of the quality of the following Training Packages:
- Correctional Services
- Local Government
- Public Safety (Defence, Police, Fire, Emergency Services, Surf Life Saving)
- Public Sector (State, Territory and Commonwealth Governments)
- Translators, Interpreters and Bilingual Workers
- Water
Training Packages are subjected to major reviews to ensure that they keep up to date with industry needs and changes. Government Skills Australia welcomes feedback from employers, human resource managers, training providers, state training authorities and specialist practitioners from the industry on any aspect of the Training Packages and their implementation.
Access to Training Packages and support resources
A range of Training Packages and support resources for the government and community safety industry are sold through Government Skills Australia and can be accessed via our GSA e-shop.
Training Packages across all industries are available through the National Training Information Service (NTIS)
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