Training Packages

What is a Training Package?

In Australia’s vocational education and training sector, “training packages” specify the skills and knowledge workers will require to function in the workplace. These specifications are developed by Skills Service Organisations (SSOs) through a process of national consultation with industry. Training packages are intended to:
  • Assist Australia’s VET system to match supply of workers to the skills and knowledge required by industry.
  • Encourage flexibility in workforce learning and development while remaining relevant to industry.
  • Allow for national recognition of vocational skills and knowledge.
  • Provide support and guidance to individuals to assist with their learning and career.
Each training package is formed of 3 main elements:
  • Units of Competency: This is the smallest unit of learning that is recognised in Australia’s Vocational Education and Training sector. A unit specifies a set of knowledge and skills required to perform in a specific area of work, and establishes the standard of performance expected from the learner in order to function in the workplace. Units can be delivered on their own or used as building blocks for skillsets or qualifications.
  • Qualifications Framework: Establishes rules for combining sets of units together to form qualifications. On completion of a qualification, learners will have demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to perform in a specific job role or group of roles.
  • Assessment Guidelines: Guidance from industry on how they would like the qualification to be assessed to produce quality graduates. This includes specific qualifications the assessors must hold, how to conduct the assessment and the structure of assessment processes.
Training packages do not specify how a learner should be trained in the required skills and knowledge and that flexibility allows them to be used as the foundation for a wide range of vocational programs delivered in Australia. These include VET in Schools (VETiS) programmes, Australian Apprenticeships, occupational licensing and courses offered by registered training organisations and TAFEs.

How are Training Packages Developed?

Training packages are developed by Skills Service Organisations (SSOs). The SSO consults with industry and stakeholders, undertakes research and then develops and validates training packages. State and territory governments and the Australian Government then endorse training packages and approve them for use throughout Australia.

Who can deliver training packages?

Registered training organisations (RTOs) have permission to deliver training package qualifications and units of competency. RTOs must first have the training package product(s) on their scope of registration before they can deliver training. In some cases, organisations working in partnership with RTOs may also be authorised to deliver units and qualifications.

When are training packages updated?

Training packages are continuously reviewed and updated to support the current needs of industry. There is no fixed schedule of updates, however SSOs generally have ongoing projects to review and update groups of qualifications and units within their training package. Qualifications and units are generally reviewed and updated with a new version every 3-6 years, and the entire training package overhauled every 5-15 years.

What topics do training packages cover?

Each training package focuses on a specific industry, or related group of industries. Some examples of training packages include:
  • BSB – Business Services Training Package: covers many common roles and skills required within businesses such a Project Management, Recordkeeping, Human Resources, Administration, Sales, Customer Service, Work Health and Safety and more.
  • SIT – Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package: covers areas such as Hospitality, Kitchen Operations, Catering, Cooking, Travel, Tourism, Guiding, Event Management and other similar occupations.
  • CHC – Community Services Training Package: covers many caring related occupations such as Community Services, Volunteering, Early Childhood Education and Care, Education Support, Aged Care, Disability Care, Home and Community Care, Youth Work, Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, Counselling and similar vocations.
There are dozens of training packages covering many of the vocations practiced in Australia.

Where can you find more information on training packages?

Training.gov.au is the National Register on Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia.  It is the authoritative source of:
  • Training Packages
  • Qualifications
  • Units of competency
  • Accredited courses
  • Skill sets

Where can you find training resources to deliver and assess training packages?

RTO Learning Materials (RLM) interprets training packages to create training resources designed to be used by RTOs, TAFEs and other training providers with materials to deliver units, skillset and qualifications to learners. RLM also acts as a marketplace for other publishers to offer their training resources to training providers. RLM has a huge range of individual units of competency, and offers hundreds of qualification packages from dozens of training packages. To check out the range of training resources, simply visit the RTO Training Resources Shop.