The benefits of a high-quality vocational education and training sector

For students

Students have the greatest stake in the quality of vocational education and training (VET). They often rely on VET outcomes to gain employment or career advancement. While students cannot always be expected to fully understand the complexities of the sector or what constitutes quality, they must be able to make informed choices about training that best meets their needs. Students must have confidence that, no matter which provider they choose, they will receive quality training and assessment that is responsive to industry needs and to their needs.

For industry and employers

Employers rely on registered training organisations (RTOs) to provide essential skills and knowledge to both new entrants and existing workers. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 (the Standards) require RTOs to maintain strong engagement with industry to ensure that their services remain relevant to the needs of employers and that graduates are job‑ready.

For governments

Collectively, the governments of Australia and its states and territories are responsible for policy on how VET is administered. Governments are also significant purchasers of VET through public funding programs. The Standards represent the expectations that governments place on RTOs and provide government with confidence to invest in training that contributes to a skilled Australian workforce.

For the community

VET is a significant contributor to Australia’s domestic economy, as the primary mechanism used to meet the skilling needs of the Australian community. VET also contributes greatly to the valuable export education market. An appropriate regulatory model ensures that the VET sector can remain viable in the long term. This gives the community confidence that RTOs are delivering quality training and assessment that is highly regarded both locally and overseas.

For providers

RTOs depend on the value that other stakeholders place on the Australian VET sector. To ensure the sector is able to provide high-quality training and assessment, a balanced approach to regulation is required. The Standards provide a rigorous (yet flexible) outcomes-focused regulatory framework that encourages innovation and flexibility while ensuring quality.