National Quality Council

The National Quality Council plays a key role in bringing together the major players in the vocational education and training sector—industry, unions, governments, equity groups and practitioners—to oversee and support the current and future quality of vocational education and training across Australia. It is also critical to ensuring the successful operation of the National Skills Framework.

The National Quality Council, a committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers. It has specific decision-making powers in relation to the endorsement of training packages and other aspects of quality assurance under the National Skills Framework.

What are the functions of the National Quality Council?

The functions of the National Quality Council include:

  • reporting to the Ministerial Council on the operation of the National Skills Framework, including training packages, Australian Quality Training Framework standards and other quality assurance arrangements
  • advising Ministers on the endorsement of training packages
  • recommending approaches to improve national consistency within the operation of the National Skills Framework.

Accountability requirements for the National Quality Council include providing an annual report on its operations to the Ministerial Council.

Who are the members of the National Quality Council?

The membership of the National Quality Council consists of:

  • an independent chair appointed by the Australian Government following consultation with the Ministerial Council
  • four industry representatives and one Australian Council of Trade Unions representative appointed by the Australian Government following consultation with the Ministerial Council
  • three National Senior Officials Committee members as representatives for states and territories on a three-year rotational basis
  • one representative from the Australian Government (the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)
  • two provider representatives—one public and one private, nominated by TAFE Directors Australia and the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), and appointed by the Australian Government following consultation with the Ministerial Council
  • two equity representatives nominated by the Client Action Group.

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