Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF)

The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) is a tool which provides a common language for describing performance in five core skills that support effective participation in society: learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy.

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The ACSF provides a consistent national approach to identifying and developing these core skills in diverse settings including personal, community, employment, and education and training domains. It offers:

  • shared concepts and language for identifying and describing the core skills, and
  • a systematic approach to benchmarking, monitoring and reporting on core skills performance.

The ACSF has broad application and can be used to:

  • assess and benchmark an individual’s core skills performance
  • map core skills requirements in education and training, including language, literacy and numeracy curricula
  • describe core skills relevant to the workplace and employment
  • tailor approaches to teaching and learning
  • inform decisions regarding funding and referrals.

It is also the key quality measure for the Australian Government’s Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program.

Download the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF)