Purchasing Vocational Education and Training: Policy

Policy

This policy outlines how schools purchase Vocational Education and Training (VET) from registered training organisations (RTOs) and provides guidance about the different VET delivery models. Schools purchase VET to give students more options and to offer specialist training they can’t provide. Schools must use the department’s standard contracts and agreements when purchasing VET. They must also undertake due diligence when choosing an RTO to make sure the training is suitable, safe, and meets student needs.

Summary

Schools can use VET funding to purchase VET to meet student needs from RTOs including TAFE, school-based RTOs or private RTOs.
VET can be delivered on site at the school, at another school, at a TAFE campus or at the site of an RTO.
Schools must utilise the standard contracts and agreements when purchasing VET. They must also use the parent/carer consent form before sharing relevant student information with the RTO.
Schools must complete due diligence before purchasing VET. This includes checking that the provider, program, delivery setting, and student supports are suitable.
Where students will attend training at an RTO site, the school must complete an offsite VET readiness check before confirming the student’s enrolment. This helps identify whether the offsite arrangement is appropriate and what supports are needed.
When choosing a VET provider, schools must consider the needs of the students, the requirements of the certificate, the capability of the school and provider options available locally.
Regardless of the delivery model, schools always have responsibilities for student wellbeing, communication, information sharing, attendance oversight, duty of care and child safety.

Details

Selecting an RTO and delivery model

Schools are responsible for choosing an RTO and delivery model that is suitable for the certificate, their students and context. The RTOs that schools choose must be registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

The VET Delivered to School Students (VDSS) system includes different types of RTOs that provide VET through a range of delivery models. Each RTO type and delivery model suits different certificates and student groups. Schools must consider available options and choose an arrangement that provides safe and high-quality training.

Before making an agreement, schools must make sure the proposed RTO and delivery model:

is appropriate for the certificate being delivered
will provide safe, high-quality training for students
can meet the needs of participating students
provide access to industry standard facilities, equipment, and trainers.

It is important that schools work with VET clusters to plan provision. This can help schools with learning about local options and evaluating how well RTOs meet their needs.

Go to the Guidance tab for information on:

selecting an RTO, choosing a delivery model
completing due diligence.

When to prioritise TAFE

The department recommends that schools prioritise TAFE for 14 high priority certificates. These certificates are often hard for schools to deliver on their own. They require specialist facilities, equipment and industry expertise and support areas of workforce demand.

These certificates are:

Certificate II in Agriculture
Certificate II in Animal Care
Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation
Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship (Bricklaying and Carpentry Streams)
Certificate II in Cookery
Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start)
Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-vocational)
Certificate II in Engineering Studies
Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-Apprenticeship)
Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
Certificate III in Beauty Services
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Certificate III in Information Technology.

Go to the Guidance tab for further information about when to prioritise TAFE delivery.

Go to the Resources tab for information about the identified certificates.

Schools must document the purchasing arrangement in the standard contract or agreement

Schools must use the department's standard contracts and agreements for purchasing VET for students, these must be completed before students start engaging in the VET course. A new contract or agreement must be entered into every year, for the following year where students will engage in purchased VET.

The contract must be signed by an authorised representative of the School Council, usually the principal or assistant principal.

The department's standard contracts and agreements define the roles of schools and RTOs in VET delivery. This includes:

student safety and wellbeing
communication between schools and RTOs
privacy and information sharing
attendance and reporting
training and assessment.

Schools also must use the parent/carer consent form (DOCX)(opens in a new window) prior to the student starting the VET program. This form allows for information to be shared with RTOs.

Go to the Guidance tab for information on using the right contract, agreement and the consent form. Go to the Resources tab to download the relevant standard contracts and agreements.

Extra rules for offsite RTO delivery

There are extra rules when schools send students off-site to an RTO for VET. This means delivery that is not at a school.

Before choosing offsite delivery, schools must check if it is right for the student. Schools must do this by conducting a VET readiness check. A template is available in the resources section that schools can use to complete this check. This check helps schools understand what a student might need to be ready to go offsite safely.

Schools must also provide RTOs with important information about the students’ health and needs, such as student health support plans and behaviour support plans. The parent/carer consent form (DOCX)(opens in a new window) must be completed before sharing any personal information with the RTO.

The VET readiness check and other information relating to the student’s participation must be stored securely in the school’s student management system or admin server. These records are usually required to be retained for 75 years prior to secure disposal.

When schools send students offsite to an RTO, the RTO has several responsibilities. They are in the Standard VET Purchasing Contract and relate to:

student safety and Child Safe Standards
communication and information sharing
emergency management
transport.

Schools should confirm that the RTO has these arrangements in place and understand how they will operate for their students. This must include sighting policies and discussing with the RTO how the arrangements will work in practice.

The standard VET Purchasing Contract is the main source for these requirements. Go to the Guidance tab for information on conducting a VET readiness check and preparing for offsite RTO delivery.

Child safety and duty of care

The department’s Duty of Care policy requires all school staff to take reasonable steps to reduce child safety risks.

Both schools and RTOs have a duty of care to their students. School’s duty of care continues, even when another party is involved, or a student is offsite.

Child safety obligations for schools and RTOs depend on the delivery model used and are defined in the relevant contract.

Go to the Resources tab for the contracts and agreements that provide the specific rules for RTOs and schools.

Non-government schools

Non-government schools that want to buy VET from RTOs may seek advice from the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) or Independent Schools Victoria (ISV).

Definitions

For a full list of definitions refer to the Definitions chapter in the Guidance tab.

Contact

For help with questions relating to purchasing VET programs, contact the relevant school sector.

Government schools

Schools can contact the Jobs Skills and Pathways Manager in their regional office.

Catholic schools

Victorian Catholic Education Authority
Contact: Simone Best
Senior Officer, Pathways and Transition
Email sbest@vcea.catholic.edu.au or phone 03 8417 9356

Independent schools

Independent Schools Victoria
Email: enquiries@is.vic.edu.au
Phone: 03 9825 7200

Department policy outlining the requirements for purchasing vocational education and training from registered training organisations.

Updated 9 October 2026

Purchasing Vocational Education and Training