Vocational Education and Training has a much higher profile in Australia than in many other advanced industrial countries.  All the training done in the system is framed by a set of qualifications that have been developed and embraced by Australian employers, labor organizations and government.  To get most jobs in the economy one must possess the appropriate qualification.  Vocational education and training programs are designed to enable people of all ages to acquire the qualifications needed to get the jobs they want.

After achieving an initial qualification in a given field, qualification-holders typically continue to study to earn additional qualifications. The requisite training is offered by high schools and Registered Training Organizations. The national Vocational Education and Training Quality Framework outlines standards for all training organizations.

The qualifications system is regulated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF differs from the Vocational Education and Training Quality Framework in that it regulates qualifications rather than standards for the provision of training, and encompasses all of higher education, academic and vocational. Together, these frameworks provide consistency across Vocational Education and Training programs in Australia, so that employers know what credentials mean when they are offered by applicants for jobs, training institutions know what training they need to offer and individuals know what qualifications they have to earn to get the jobs they want.

Australia’s Vocational Education and Training programs also benefit from strong federal and business leadership. The government is currently working to improve the status of Vocational Education and Training programs in order to make both Australia and its individual citizens more competitive. To that end, the government has recently undertaken a six-year, $3 billion project to encourage workers to “up-skill” or “re-skill” by earning formal qualifications. Part of the project includes a comprehensive website for workers and job seekers, directing them to qualifications programs in various skill and job areas. The website also includes education and career guidance for Australians who are interested in gaining qualifications but have not yet selected a field.  Other lifelong learning opportunities are available privately or through on-the-job training.

Upper secondary school students can take vocational classes at comprehensive upper secondary schools, or can choose to enter a career-focused Vocational Education and Training program following the completion of grade 9 or 10, depending on the state or territory in which they reside. Traditionally, students have undergone this education and training at Training and Further Education (TAFE) colleges. However, the Australian government has been working to extend vocational education opportunities to more students, and has begun to establish Trade Training Centres in comprehensive secondary schools across Australia. In either the Trade Training Centres or in a Training And Further Education college, students may complete a diploma in a technical or vocational skill and are prepared to enter the workforce as a skilled laborer at the age of 18, or continue on to an advanced diploma at a Training And Further Education college. They can earn further qualifications, such as certificates or additional diplomas at Registered Training Organizations (RTO), which include Training And Further Education colleges, but also include a variety of private training institutes and programs.  At the secondary level, the OECD reports that 61.6% of Australian students are involved in pre-vocational or vocational training, though the majority of these students are taking courses in comprehensive upper secondary schools.