SENIOR HANDBOOK for 2012

AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (AQF)
Many people still think of post educational options in terms of gaining an appropriate OP to allow them to go to
a university. To these people the ‘natural’ order of things is – Queensland Certificate of Education OP
university degree world of work. They therefore choose their senior subjects on the basis of this and
sometimes attempt subjects for which they have little aptitude on the pretext of ‘keeping their options open’.
Since January 1995, a framework encompassing all qualifications in post-compulsory education and training
across Australia has been implemented under the auspices of all State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers
for Education and Training to bring some national consistency into qualifications and to make it easier for people
to have qualifications awarded in one State recognised in all the others. An offshoot of this is to make alternative
pathways of post compulsory education much clearer for us.
The AQF comprises national qualifications issued in:
the secondary schools sector;
the vocational education and training sector (TAFE and registered private providers); and
the higher education sector (mainly universities)
These qualifications are shown below, grouped according to the educational sector which they are most
commonly issued.
AQF QUALIFICATIONS BY EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
Schools Sector Accreditation
Queensland Certificate of Education
Vocational Education and Training
Sector Accreditation
Vocational Graduate Diploma
Vocational Graduate Certificate
Advanced Diploma
Diploma
Certificate IV
Certificate III
Certificate II
Certificate I
Higher Education Sector
Accreditation
Doctoral Degree
Master’s Degree
Graduate Diploma
Graduate Certificate
Bachelor Degree
Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma
Diploma
Notice that the sectors overlap. Schools are able to offer courses leading to qualifications at Certificate I, II and III
standard, while the VET sector overlaps at Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels.
The AQF also supports more efficient continuous learning and elimination of wasteful repetition of learning by:
Articulation of education and training programs by interconnecting programs across schools, TAFE, adult
education centres, universities and private providers, across fields of study and across qualification levels.
Credit transfer arrangements
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – credit for skills and knowledge acquired through training, work or life
experience.
While entry into degree courses from school is usually via an OP, entry into other courses may be via this route
or via a selection rank.
St Margaret Mary’s College Senior Handbook for 2012 Page 15