Training Package Assurance

The Assurance Body is led by a non-statutory Executive Director in a different area of the department from the management of JSCs. We provide increased transparency, accountability, and confidence to VET sector stakeholders that training package products are compliant with training package product development rules.

We do this by:

• undertaking assessments of training package products and the development process against the Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF)
• making recommendations to Skills Ministers about whether the products should be endorsed
• educating, engaging and consulting with JSCs about the training package product development and endorsement process.

We do not support JSCs to draft training package products or influence the product content.

JSCs are responsible for ensuring that the training package products they have developed have merit and reflect the needs of industry and stakeholders.

Training packages are a key feature of Australia's national VET system.

Training package qualifications are the occupational skills standards against which training delivery and assessment of competency take place. They are developed through a process of national consultation with industry.

Training packages contain the following nationally endorsed training products:

• units of competency, which specify knowledge and skill and the application of knowledge and skill to the standard of performance required in the workplace
• assessment requirements associated with each unit of competency
• qualifications aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
• credit arrangements specifying existing arrangements between training package qualifications and higher education qualifications as described in the AQF.

Training packages also consist of the following non-endorsed training product components:

• skill sets
• companion volume implementation guides.

We assess training package products submitted by JSCs against the Training Package Organising Framework (TPOF). The framework contains the development rules and process set by Skills Ministers.

From 1 July 2025 the framework comprises:

• Product requirements – setting the overarching design and development requirements of training package products for endorsement by Skills Ministers and outlining the design rules that must be adhered to when developing or modifying a training package product.
• Process requirements – outlining the process for developing and seeking the endorsement of nationally recognised training package products.

Training Package Organising Framework (from 1 July 2025)

A small number of training package development projects will continue under the pre 1 July TPOF and training package product templates. These will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Assurance Assessment

Our business rules and processes ensure the assurance assessment is conducted in a manner consistent with the TPOF requirements, providing detailed reports to JSCs on assurance assessment outcomes.

We recommend to Skills Ministers to endorse training packages that meet the framework’s requirements. Once it is endorsed the training package is updated on the National Register of VET training website so that it can be implemented within the VET sector.

The Approach to Assurance document provides more information about how we assess training package product submissions prepared by JSCs and produce recommendations with supporting rationale for Skills Ministers to inform their endorsement decisions.

Contact trainingpackageassurance@dewr.gov.au.

Publications

Following endorsement, training packages are published on the National Register of VET training website.

The Mandatory Workplace Requirements: Good Practice Guide provides training product developers with consistent and clear guidance for determining, justifying, and drafting mandatory workplace requirements for inclusion in training products.

See our Approach to Assurance guidance for information on how we assess training package product submissions.

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training.