Vocational Education and Training Clusters

VET cluster governance and operating model

The VET cluster governance and operating model will facilitate effective cluster collaboration and reduce the administrative burden on schools.

Clusters are encouraged to adapt the model and supporting templates to their schools’ operational requirements and local students’ educational needs.

Governance model

Clusters are encouraged to use a 2-tiered governance model consisting of:

1. Cluster Governance Group – the cluster’s ultimate decision-making body and responsible for determining the cluster’s strategic direction
2. Cluster Operations Group – responsible for implementing the cluster’s operational functions and can escalate matters to the Cluster Governance Group for decision when necessary.

Further information about the recommended responsibilities and composition of these groups can be found in the Cluster Governance Terms of Reference template (DOCX).

Memorandum of Understanding

All clusters must have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets out:

• the members (for example, schools and LLENs)
• cluster governance arrangements
• agreed terms of the partnership
• child safety obligations.

New clusters are encouraged to use the Template memorandum (DOCX) as the basis for their MoU.

The cluster governance group must regularly review its MoU and ensure it remains appropriate for the activities undertaken by the cluster as they evolve.

It is strongly recommended that any funding arrangements for Trade Training Centre or Australian Technical College management are documented in the MoU. For more information, refer to: Centre manager funding in the Trade Training Centres policy.