The VET sector is made up of a diverse range of stakeholders including:
- National Quality Council (NQC)
- Industry Skills Councils (ISCs)
- State and Territory Training Authorities (STAs)
- Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
- Industry representatives and organisations
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
The NQC 
was established in December 2005 as part of the new national training arrangements. The NQC continues much of the work carried out by the former National Training Quality Council.
As a Committee of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, the NQC oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the AQTF 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 – the system’s requirements for quality and national consistency in terms of qualifications and the delivery of training.
The NQC has a key role in bringing together the major players in the VET sector – industry, unions, governments, equity groups and practitioners – to oversee and support the current and future quality of VET across Australia. It is also critical to ensuring the successful operation of the National Skills Framework.
The functions of the NQC include:
- reporting to the Ministerial Council on the operation of the National Skills Framework, including Training Packages, AQTF 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 NQC include provision of an annual report on its operations to the Ministerial Council.
ISCs provide advice to Australian, state and territory governments on the training that is required by industry. The key purpose of an ISC is to provide:
- comprehensive representation of industry in the management and planning of VET
- advice and participation in the development of training products and services to meet industry needs.
ISCs are responsible for collecting information on industry training needs from employers, unions and professional industry associations, thereby ensuring an industry-led VET system that is flexible and responsive. They advise government on how public funds should be spent within each industry, and have primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of Training Packages. Eleven ISCs have now been established:
Each Australian state and territory government has a training authority that administers VET – allocating funds, registering training organisations and accrediting courses. STAs have a key role to play in the development and endorsement of Training Packages. A condition for endorsement of a Training Package is that it is validated and approved by the STAs. The STAs are accountable to their Minister, who is a member of the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE). It is the responsibility of each STA to:
- plan and report on VET strategies
- purchase training on behalf of their government
- administer Australian Apprenticeships and VET-in-schools
- administer funding and financial incentives for VET within the state/territory
- support training organisations, employers and the community on VET issues
- accredit courses and register training providers within the AQTF .
RTOs are providers and assessors of nationally recognised training. Only RTOs can issue nationally recognised qualifications. In order to become registered, training providers must meet the AQTF standards . This ensures the quality of VET services throughout Australia.
Training organisations register to provide nationally recognised training with the relevant state or territory registering body. When registering, the RTO must state its scope of registration detailing:
- the training or assessment it intends to deliver
- the fields or industries in which it may deliver training or assessment
- the maximum level of qualifications it may issue.
To ensure an RTO continues to deliver quality training or assessment, its registration must be renewed with the relevant state or territory registering body at least every five years. The registering body can audit the RTO at any time during its period of registration.
RTOs include TAFE colleges and institutes, adult and community education providers, private providers, community organisations, schools, higher education institutions, commercial and enterprise training providers, industry bodies, and other organisations that meet registration requirements. All RTOs are entered into the NTIS database listing their details and scope of registration.
The needs of industry underpin the Australian vocational education and training system and Training Package development and review processes. Industry representatives are a diverse range of VET stakeholders including:
- employers and employees from various sized organisations throughout Australia
- peak industry groups and associations
- unions
- employer, employee and other professional industry associations and bodies.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is an agency formed in December 2007 to bring together the functions of the former Departments of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). The new DEEWR brings together the core elements of the Government’s productivity and participation agenda from early childhood, through schools, trade training, wider vocational education, universities and employment participation. DEEWR works in collaboration with various stakeholders across Government, industry and the community to support and create Australia’s future through improving education outcomes and systems, maximising the effectiveness of training, increasing workforce participation and contributing to a strong employment growth and economy.