Australian Educational System

I. Overview

The Australian education system is made up of school education and postsecondary education also known as tertiary education.  Tertiary education consists of vocational education and training (VET), and higher education. 

School

School education lasts for 13 years and is compulsory from age 5 or 6 to age 15 or 17 depending on the state or territory, and it consists of:

• Primary school, which runs for seven to eight years starting from Reception or Preparatory (Year 0) through to Year 6 or 7
• Secondary school (also called Middle school or Junior Secondary school), which runs for three to four years from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10, and
• Senior Secondary school, which runs for two years from Year 11 to 12.

Each state or territory manages and regulates the school system within its jurisdiction.  A student is awarded the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) upon successful completion of Senior Secondary School, with the curriculum, assessment and actual name of the SSCE different in each state and territory:

• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) in Queensland
• Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory Year 12 Certificate in Australian Capital Territory
• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in Victoria
• Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) in Tasmania
• South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) I South Australia
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) in Western Australia, and
• Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE) in Northern Territory.

Vocational education and training (VET)

VET is designed to provide workplace-specific skills and knowledge in careers that don’t need university degree.  The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the federal agency which regulates and manages the VET system (including VET courses and providers) to ensure national-approved quality standards are met.  Training providers, both public and private, who are registered by AQSA to deliver vocational education and training (VET) services are called Registered Training Organisations or RTO.  RTOs are recognised as providers of quality-assured and nationally recognised training and qualifications.  There are currently around 5000 RTOs in Australia.

Higher education

Higher eduation system in Australia consists of public or private universities, and other non-university higher education institutions.  Australian universities are independent, self-governing and free to decide on courses they want to offer and the course content (self-accrediting).  The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is the national regulatory and quality assurance body of the Australian higher education sector.  Australian higher education providers are required by legislation to be listed in the National Registry (as administered by TEQSA).  Continuing registration requires higher education providers’ continuing compliance to performance standards set out in the Higher Education Standards Framework.

II. The Australian Qualification Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) refers to the 14 qualifications awarded in Australian school, VET and higher education sectors.  The AQF also refers to the set of policies that regulate those qualifications.  Lastly the AQF refers to the integration of all those 14 qualifications from the school, VET and higher education sectors into one comprehensive qualifications framework.  The AQF is a shared responsibility of all Commonwealth, State and Territory governments.  AQF provides the standards for Australian qualifications and underpins confidence in Australia’s education and training system.

Table below summarises the different AQF qualifications in different levels and sectors.

The AQF levels define the relative complexity and depth of achievement and the autonomy required of graduates to demonstrate that achievement.  As can be seen in the table above there are 10 levels in the AQF with level 1 having the lowest complexity and level 10 the highest complexity. The levels are defined by criteria expressed as learning outcomes.  The learning outcomes are constructed as a taxonomy of what graduates are expected to know, understand and be able to do as a result of learning.  They are expressed in terms of the dimensions of knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills.

A qualification normally offered in one sector may be provided by an institution in a different sector.  For example, some Senior Secondary Schools offer and confer Certificate courses to Year 12 students, or a VET provider may offer Senior Secondary Certificate of Education to adult students, or a University may offer Diploma courses.

Australian education courses that are not covered under the AQF:

1) English language courses (ELICOS) – Although not covered under AQF, a National ELICOS Standards exist to assure the quality of and regulate the ELICOS being provided to overseas students.  ESOS agencies in School, VET and Higher Education sectors administer the mandate of the Standards. 

2) Foundation studies – Like ELICOS, a National Standards for Foundation Programs exist to regulate and quality assure the delivery of Foundation courses to international students.  Foundations programs are delivered by either a VET or Higher Education provider and as such ASQA and TEQSA administer compliance to the Standards.   

3) The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme – The IB Diploma is an alternative to the regular curriculum that leads to a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education qualification.  Its curriculum, quality and delivery are governed by the International Baccalaureate organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland.