The Australian Quality Framework is a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training (TAFEs and private providers) and the higher education sector (mainly universities).  This ensures that qualifications issued by registered providers are consistent Australia wide.

The qualifications issued under the Australian Quality Framework are:
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education;
Certificate I;
Certificate II;
Certificate III;
Certificate IV;
Diploma, Advanced Diploma;
Associate Degree;
Bachelor Degree;
Vocational Graduate Certificate;
Vocational Graduate Diploma;
Graduate Certificate;
Graduate Diploma;
Masters Degree;
Doctoral Degree.

Recognition of prior learning and course credit

Students or prospective students may apply for course credit (which is also referred to as recognition of prior learning).  To apply, a written application needs to be made to the College with supporting evidence.

For more information about how to lodge an application for course credit, please read our RPL policy.

If your application for course credit is granted, it may affect your course duration and, as a consequence, your student visa.  If you have any questions about your student visa, you should visit the DIAC website:  www.immi.gov.au.

Experience Gained

As a participant works through thse RPL process, the following questions are addressed:
What experience has been gained that has developed the knowledge and skills of the participant?
Which aspects of that experience are relevant to the assessment criteria of the course?
How can the participant prove that the assessment criteria can be met? What evidence can be presented?

Evidence

Any evidence that can be provided as proof should be submitted as part of the RPL application. It can include:

• examples of one-to-one training in the workplace
• written feedback from clients or employees
• written reports on workplace assessment
• brief details of projects worked on in relation to training
• examples of promotion of training
• written evidence of ongoing work
• performance appraisal reports that relate to training or assessment
• performance awards
• courses or training programs relevant to the competencies completed successfully
  work reports
• testimonials
• documentation relating to courses attended

Participants should consider the experience gained in each of the three categories listed below:

Work experience including paid and unpaid, full-time and part-time
Education and Training including accredited and informal, training gained through work
Life Experience including leisure, recreation and hobbies

All information should be documented and participants should be able to verify that any documents submitted are their own. This may require supporting documentation from another person.
Any experience that has enabled the participant to develop knowledge and skills which relate to the assessment criteria should be considered, as it could be relevant to the application.

What matters is whether the knowledge and skills gained help meet the assessment criteria, not where or how they were gained.

Competency Based Training

What is Competency?
Being competent is having the knowledge, skills and attributes to be able to do something.

Workplace Competency

Focuses on what is expected of an employee in the workplace rather than on the learning process
Embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments
Competency is a broad concept that includes all aspects of work performance.