Purchasing Vocational Education and Training: Resources

Resources

VET purchasing contracts and agreements – templates

The department has created a set of contracts and agreements. Government schools must use these when purchasing VET.

The contracts and agreements cover many situations. They explain what each party must do. They also outline the fees involved.

If a school isn’t sure which template to use, they should ask their Jobs, Skills and Pathways Manager in the regional office.

Standard VET purchasing contract (DOCX)(opens in a new window) – schools must use this contract when they purchase VET from a registered training organisation (RTO). It must be used if the training will be delivered and assessed by the RTO’s staff. This is regardless of the delivery location. This includes non-government school-based RTOs. This does not include government school-based RTOs.
If the delivery is on another government school’s grounds (a ‘host school’), schools must:
- insert the host school’s details in the Contract Details section of the contract to indicate delivery site
- make sure the host school also has a current Standard VET purchasing contract with the RTO.
School to government school-based RTO VET purchasing agreement (DOCX)(opens in a new window) – Schools must use this agreement when they purchase VET from a government school-based RTO. For purchasing from non-government school-based RTOs, use the standard VET purchasing contract.
Standard VET auspicing contract (DOCX)(opens in a new window) – Schools must use this contract when they purchase VET from an RTO where the training will be delivered and assessed at the school by the school’s own staff under the supervision of the RTO (an ‘auspicing’ arrangement).
School to auspicing school VET access agreement (DOCX)(opens in a new window) – Schools must use this agreement when purchasing VET that is delivered by the staff of another government school under an auspicing arrangement with an RTO.
Schools must make sure the host school has a current Standard VET auspicing contract with the RTO.

The templates are designed for specific use of government schools. They are not recommended to be used by other parties.

If a government school wishes to access VET through a non-government school that is not an RTO, the parties should enter into a suitable agreement.

Schools can contact the Legal Division by emailing legal.services@education.vic.gov.au to review the proposed agreement prior to entering any arrangement with a non-government school.

The use of templates by other parties is subject to the department’s copyright licensing arrangements (refer to Intellectual Property and Copyright).

Contracts between schools and RTOs include rules on collecting and sharing student information. The parent/carer consent form should be used to share information.

Refer to: Parent/carer consent form VDSS (DOCX)(opens in a new window)

Certificates to prioritise for TAFE delivery

There are 14 certificates to prioritise for TAFE delivery because they are complex to deliver and aligned to labour market demand. Please refer to Standardised certificates for TAFEs – 2027 (DOCX)(opens in a new window).

Information on Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) Senior Secondary VET programs

VCE VET programs are VET qualifications approved by the VCAA. These offer students the opportunity to finish VCE, the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). It also provides students the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised VET qualification. Selected VCE VET programs offer scored assessment for Units 3 and 4.

Students who undertake VET or further education (FE) qualifications that are not included in the suite of approved VCE VET programs and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) may be eligible for credit towards their VCE, VCE Vocational Major, or the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). This credit is called block credit recognition.

To be eligible for credit the student must be enrolled in the VCE, VCE Vocational Major, or the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).
Credit will be available for full or partial completion of a nationally recognised qualification or state accredited curriculum.

For further information, go to VCAA VET(opens in a new window).

VET readiness check

Schools must complete a VET readiness check when they send students off-site to an RTO for VET. This means delivery that is not at a school. This helps the school to decide if this is right for the student and what supports the student might need to succeed.

Schools can use this VET readiness check template (DOCX)(opens in a new window) or their own version if it meets the policy requirements.

Victorian Skills Gateway

The Victorian Skills Gateway(opens in a new window) is a detailed resource with information about vocational training. It has information about jobs and courses tailored to different audiences. This includes students, careers practitioners, and parents/carers.

This information is provided for publicly funded (Skills First(opens in a new window)) RTOs only.

Training.gov.au

The National register(opens in a new window) for all nationally recognised qualifications and RTOs. It provides information on:

VET qualifications – it includes details of qualification structures, competency requirements and requirements for any prerequisites
RTOs – it shows the qualifications RTOs are registered to deliver. It shows who their registering body is. It also shows if they have any restrictions on their registration.

Additional resources relating to VET

ASQA(opens in a new window) is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector. ASQA regulates courses and training providers. ASQA ensures that nationally approved quality standards are met. ASQA has the authority to investigate formal complaints that allege training organisations are breaching, or have breached, the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth) and/or its associated legislative instruments.
Structured workplace learning (SWL) is on-the-job training. During SWL a student can master a set of skills or competencies, related to a course accredited by the VRQA or ASQA. SWL can be done as part of either the VCE or VCE Vocational Major.
The department has created the SWL statewide portal(opens in a new window). This is a website which gives students and teachers a single referral point for SWL opportunities. These opportunities are offered by a different range of employers. You can search on the portal by location, industry or VET certificate.
The VRQA(opens in a new window) is the authority that ensure employers of apprentices and trainees meet quality standards. It checks that education, and training providers do the same. It makes sure information is easy to find. This helps people make better choices in education and training.
The VRQA:
- registers education and training providers and awarding bodies
- registers qualifications and accredits coursesregisters children for home schooling(opens in a new window) in Victoria
- regulates apprenticeships and traineeships(opens in a new window) in Victoria
- may look into complaints about the registration standards of education and training providers.
The VRQA created the VRQA Guidelines for VET providers(opens in a new window). These guidelines aim to improve the quality of VET in Victoria.
VET(opens in a new window) is a vital part of the Victorian government’s plan. It aims to keep more students in school and finish their schooling. It also tackles skill shortages. VET offers options for all students.
VET delivered to secondary students includes nationally recognised certificates undertaken by Victorian students. These can help students finish a senior secondary certificate. This can be done through the VCE or VCE Vocational Major.

VET template purchasing contracts and agreements, checklists for purchasing VET and other links

Updated 9 October 2026