Australian vocational
education and training
statistics explained
Updated: May 2014
NCVER
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION RESEARCH
TECHNICAL PAPER
The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government
or state and territory governments.
© Commonwealth of Australia, 2009
This work has been produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) on behalf of the Australian
Government and state and territory governments with funding provided through the Australian Department of Industry. Apart
from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without
written permission. Requests should be made to NCVER.
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Contents
Introduction
4
Purpose of this document
4
The Australian VET system
4
The AVETMIS Standard
4
Broad structure of Australian VET statistical collections
5
Australian VET statistics program
6
Summary
6
Students and courses
7
Apprentices and trainees
9
VET in Schools
10
Student outcomes
11
Employers’ use and views of the VET system
12
Apprentice and trainee destinations
13
VET finance collection
14
Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information
Statistical Standard
15
Overview
15
History
15
Architecture
16
Maintenance and endorsement
18
Support and internet resources
19
Internet resources
19
NCVER AVETMISS help desk
20
NCVER
3
Introduction
Purpose of this document
This document provides an overview of the administrative and survey data collections, information
systems and resultant statistical reports relating to the Australian vocational education and training
(VET) system. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) maintains this
document.
The Australian VET system
The primary role of vocational education and training is to provide skills and knowledge for work. The
VET sector attracts a wide range of learners — from school students to older people. These people
undertake various types of training, in a wide range of subject areas, at different skill levels, in
formal learning environments and in the workplace. Training is provided by schools, technical
colleges, technical and further education (TAFE) institutes, universities, enterprises, communitybased adult education providers, privately operated registered training organisations (RTOs),
professional associations, industry associations and equipment and/or product manufacturers or
suppliers.
The AVETMIS Standard
In November 1990, the Australian ministers responsible for vocational education and training
committed their agencies to the development and implementation of the Australian Vocational
Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard (AVETMISS). The AVETMIS
Standard was endorsed by the Australian Government and state and territory governments in
mid-1993 and continues to be updated to keep pace with changes in the VET sector.
AVETMISS supports the objectives of the national VET strategy by:

enabling a comprehensive and high-quality information base that supports policy development,
research and evaluation in VET

providing the information base to underscore public accountability and measurement of the state
and national VET systems, including key performance measures

maximising the opportunity for the information base to be analysed by exploiting data linkages and
making the data widely available in a variety of formats.
National VET statistics and the data standard, AVETMISS, are aligned with standards developed by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the Australian
Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and state and territory jurisdictions.
4
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Broad structure of Australian VET statistical collections
Australian VET statistics are drawn from vocational and education and training administrative
collections and surveys.
National VET administrative data collections
Collections are sourced from administrative information on training activities,
apprenticeship/traineeship training contracts and finances compiled by RTOs and all state training
authorities from business systems, training providers and Australian Apprenticeships Centres.
National VET collections are managed in accordance with the AVETMIS Standard. There are separate
AVETMISS specifications for the individual components of the national VET collections: the National
VET Provider Collection (also known as Students and courses); the Apprentice and Trainee Collection;
the VET in Schools Collection; and the National VET Financial Data collection. (Refer to table 1 for
details.)
National VET surveys
Sample-based surveys of VET sector graduates, employers and client groups are conducted on issues
related to the outcomes and perceptions of vocational education and training. NCVER manages regular
surveys that include the annual Student Outcomes Survey, biennial Survey of Employer Use and Views
of the VET System and annual Survey of Delivery of VET Offshore by Public Providers. Ad hoc targeted
surveys are also conducted, such as the Apprentice and Trainee Destination Survey. The ABS surveys
that pertain to the VET system include the Survey of Education and Work, the Survey of Education and
Training, the Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey, and the Training Expenditure and Practices Survey.
(Refer to table 1 for details.)
Statistical organisations
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia’s official statistical organisation and is responsible for a
broad range of education-related statistics, including vocational education and training, which
supplement existing administrative collections, in addition to specifying national standards for
statistical collections.
National Centre for Vocational Education Research
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research is an independent limited company, owned by
ministers in the Australian Government and state and territory governments responsible for vocational
education and training. NCVER is contracted by the Department of Industry to manage the Australian
VET statistical standards and administrative and survey data collections.
National Register
The National Register <training.gov.au> is the official register of all training organisations in
Australia registered under the Australian Quality Training Framework and of all training products
(courses, qualifications and competency standards) endorsed by governments and recognised
nationally. The Department of Industry maintains the register.
NCVER
5
Australian VET statistics program
Summary
Table 1 provides an outline of data collections and surveys, the details of which are provided
separately in subsequent sections.
NCVER is contracted to manage the Australian VET statistical collections on behalf of the Australian
and state and territory governments.
ABS collects information on literacy and numeracy, educational attainment, participation in education
and training courses, transitions, training expenditure and training practices through the Survey of
Education and Work (supplement to the May Labour Force survey), the Survey of Education and
Training, the Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey, and the Training Expenditure and Practices Survey.
The National Register provides access to a database of VET-accredited courses, competency
standards, training packages and registered training organisations, as well as text information on a
range of issues.
Table 1
Outline of collections and surveys comprising current national VET statistics
Collection/survey
What is it?
Frequency and scope
National VET Provider
Collection (NCVER)
Administrative collection of information on
students, the courses they undertake and
their achievement. The information is
sourced from student enrolment records
and transmitted by state training
authorities from registered training
providers.
Annual national collection, dates back to
1994. Scope of collection has
progressively widened and broadly covers
the ‘public VET system’.
Apprentice and Trainee
Collection (NCVER)
Administrative collection on apprentices
and trainees and their employers.
Sourced from state training authorities via
Australian Apprenticeships Centres from
the apprenticeship/traineeship training
contracts registered at the time of
commencement and updated throughout
the life of the contract.
Quarterly national collection, dates back
to 1994. Scope is all apprentices and
trainees with an
apprenticeship/traineeship training
contract.
VET in Schools Collection
(NCVER)
Administrative collection of courses
undertaken by school students in
recognised VET qualifications, including
certificate I, II, and III, and senior
secondary certificate and achievement.
Sourced from student enrolment records
through the Boards of Studies in each
state or territory.
Annual national collection, dates back to
2005. Scope is school students
undertaking courses in recognised VET
qualifications as part of their senior
secondary achievement.
Student Outcomes Survey –
previously TAFE Graduate
Destination (NCVER)
A self-identification survey of students
who completed or part-completed a
qualification in the preceding year,
covering their views on the training they
received and their current activity.
Annual, dates back to 1997 and renamed
the Student Outcomes Survey in 1999.
Varies in scale, from large (TAFE
institutional level) to medium sample
(state level) in alternate years. Has
expanded in scope over time. The current
scope is students who completed or partcompleted a qualification in the public
VET system.
Survey of Employer Use and
Views of the VET System
(NCVER)
A telephone survey of employers covering
their satisfaction with aspects of the VET
system, including satisfaction with the
skills of recent VET graduates.
Last conducted in 2013, previously in
2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 and
before then on a biennial basis back to
1995. Since 2005, the scope is all
Australian employers.
Published as Students and
courses.
6
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Collection/survey
What is it?
Frequency and scope
Apprentice and Trainee
Destinations Survey (NCVER)
A telephone survey of the employment
and further study outcomes of
apprentices and trainees, their
satisfaction with the apprenticeship or
traineeship and reasons for noncompletion (where applicable).
Was conducted in 2008 and 2010. Scope
is apprentices and trainees approximately
nine months after leaving an
apprenticeship or traineeship for
completers and non-completers.
National VET Financial Data
Collection (NCVER)
Administrative collection on the finances
of state training authorities.
Annual national collection, accrual
reporting, dates back to 1997. Scope is
the VET revenue and expenditure of the
eight state and territory governments and
the Australian Government.
Delivery of VET Offshore by
Public Providers, published by
Australian Education
International (AEI) and
collected by NCVER
A survey focused on the offshore
activities of public providers of vocational
education and training.
Annual; a pilot study was conducted in
2002 and data have been collected every
year since then. Data for 2002 are not
directly comparable with later collections.
Scope is public providers of vocational
education and training (TAFE) and higher
education institutes delivering VET.
Indigenous Students Survey
(NCVER)
A face-to-face survey of Indigenous
students that extends some of the
information sought in the Student
Outcomes Survey, with a specific focus
on Indigenous people and the benefits
arising from training.
Was conducted in 2004. Scope was
Indigenous students in the public VET
system who undertook any training in
2003.
Down the Track Survey
(NCVER)
A national telephone survey following up
students who completed or partcompleted a qualification in 2001, looking
at their longer-term outcomes and
benefits from training.
Ad hoc targeted survey conducted in
2004 of 15 to 24-year-old graduates and
module completers who responded to the
2002 Student Outcomes survey.
Survey of Education and Work
(ABS)
A household survey with the focus on
educational attainment, participation and
transitions. Supplement to the May
Labour Force survey.
Annual, dates back to 1964. Has had
frequent change in scope. Current scope
is civilian population aged 15 years and
over.
Survey of Education and
Training (ABS)
A household survey with extensive
information obtained on educational
qualifications and participation in
education and completed training courses
in current and previous year prior to the
survey.
Quadrennial, dates back to 1989 and was
last conducted in 2009. Scope has
widened to population aged 15 years and
over.
Adult Literacy and Lifeskills
Survey (ABS)
A household survey on aspects of literacy
and numeracy, matched with objective
assessments of same, allowing
international comparisons.
Last conducted in 1996 and 2006. Scope
is population aged 15 to 74 years.
Training Expenditure and
Practices survey (ABS)
A business survey, covering training
expenditure and training practices.
Irregular; last conducted in 2002, with
earlier separate surveys of expenditure
(1990, 1993, 1996) and practices (1989,
1994). Scope is all employers, excluding
employers in agriculture, forestry and
fisheries.
Students and courses
Purpose
The purpose of the collection is to provide data on programs of training, including nationally
recognised training and recognition of prior learning, reported to a nationally agreed standard, from
government-funded and privately operated training providers, both registered and non-registered.
These data provide the basis for research and enumeration to inform and measure performance of the
VET system. Outputs from the VET system are the main focus of the National VET Provider Collection.
NCVER
7
How data are collected
Information is collected from training providers, which include TAFE institutes, some universities,
secondary schools offering VET, industry organisations, Adult Migrant Education Scheme providers,
private enterprises in receipt of government funding for training, agricultural colleges, community
education providers and other government providers.
When data are collected
Training providers submit data for a calendar year to state training authorities, who validate and compile
the data into standardised files; these are then submitted to NCVER by the end of March of the following
year. Data submissions are then reviewed for quality and signed off by jurisdictions. Statistics for the
calendar year are released publicly at the beginning of July.
What is collected
Subject enrolments
Records are submitted for enrolments for each unit of competency or module enrolment for an individual
client at a training organisation’s delivery location during the collection period. Individual records
contain data on the client’s delivery location, module or unit of competency, start and end date, mode
of delivery, outcome, funding source, number of hours of delivery, apprentice identifiers, the reason for
study and an indicator for clients in VET in Schools programs.
Students
Records are submitted for individuals who have participated in VET activity or who have been awarded a
qualification during the collection period. Individual records contain data on demographics, schooling and
prior education, and cultural and language attributes.
This information is generally collated from student enrolment forms, apprenticeship/traineeship training
contracts or enterprise records, or a combination of these.
Qualifications or courses
Records are submitted for each qualification or course associated with enrolment activity and completed
qualifications during the collection period. Individual records contain data on the level and field of
education, expected occupation outcome and national accreditation status of the qualification.
Units of competency or modules
Records are submitted for each module or unit of competency associated with enrolment activity.
Individual records contain data on field of education and hours.
Training providers
Records are submitted for training organisations that deliver vocational education and training. Individual
records contain data on location and, if registered, their national code.
Training provider campus or delivery location
Records are submitted for locations associated with the delivery of enrolment activity within a training
organisation. Individual records contain data on the location of the specific training site (for example,
campus) of a training organisation.
8
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: students and courses (NCVER)

Annual national report of the Australian vocational education and training system (Department of
Industry)

Report on government services (Productivity Commission)

At a glance publications (series of topical issues) (NCVER)

Report on the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) Reform Council)

Skills and workforce development 2010: comparing performance across Australia (COAG Reform
Council)
Apprentices and trainees
Purpose
The purpose of the Apprentice and Trainee Collection is to provide data on all people employed under
an apprenticeship/traineeship training contract. To account for delays in processing contracts for
reporting to NCVER, the published statistics on apprenticeship activity are based on estimated data.
How data are collected
Information is collected from the apprenticeship/traineeship training contract completed by the
employer and employee in the presence of a field officer from the relevant Australian Apprenticeships
Centre. The data are entered into the Department of Industry’s Training and Youth Internet
Management System (TYIMS) and downloaded by each state training authority, which supplies
additional data and reports to NCVER.
When data are collected
Data are extracted from local systems and submitted on a quarterly cumulative basis, beginning
1 July 2005.
What is collected
Apprentices/trainees
Records are submitted about people who have participated in apprenticeship/traineeship training
contracts. Individual records contain data on their demographics, schooling and prior education, and
cultural and language attributes.
Training contract transactions
Records are submitted for each commencement, cancellation, withdrawal, completion or expiration
associated with the life of the apprenticeship/traineeship training contract.
Employers
Records are submitted for each employer who has entered into, and had approved by a state training
authority, an apprenticeship/traineeship training contract. Individual records contain data on the
employer’s name, type and number of employees.
NCVER
9
Qualifications
Records are submitted about each qualification undertaken in an apprenticeship as part of the
apprenticeship/traineeship training contract.
Training providers
Records are submitted for each registered training organisation associated with training for an apprentice
under the terms of the apprenticeship/traineeship training contract.
Key publications

Australian vocational education training statistics: apprentices and trainees, quarterly summary
(NCVER)

Australian vocational education training statistics: apprentices and trainees — early trend estimates,
quarterly publication (NCVER)

Australian vocational education training statistics: apprentices and trainees, annual publication
(NCVER)
VET in Schools
Purpose
The purpose of the VET in Schools collection is to provide data on secondary school students who gain
vocational education and training in schools, such as practical work skills and nationally recognised VET
qualifications, including certificates I, II, and III, in addition to their senior secondary certificate. School
students may also commence part-time school-based apprenticeships while studying for their senior
secondary certificate.
How data are collected
Data are collected via the senior secondary assessment authority in each state or territory (known as
Boards of Studies) and reported through state training authorities or directly through Boards of Studies to
NCVER.
When data are collected
Standardised data files are submitted to NCVER by 31 March each year.
What is collected
Subject enrolments
Records are submitted for enrolments for each unit of competency or module enrolment for a student
during the collection period. Individual records contain data on the delivery location for the client,
module or unit of competency, start and end date, mode of delivery, outcome, and number of hours of
delivery for students in VET in Schools programs.
Students
Records are submitted for students who have participated in vocational education and training in schools.
Records contain data on demographics, schooling and prior education, and cultural and language
attributes.
10
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Qualifications or courses
Records are submitted for each qualification or course associated with enrolment activity and
completed qualifications during the collection period. Records contain data on the level and field of
education, expected occupation outcome, and national accreditation status of the qualification.
Units of competency or modules
Records are submitted for each module or unit of competency associated with enrolment activity.
Individual records contain data on field of education and hours.
Training providers
Records are submitted for training organisations that deliver vocational education and training to
school students. Individual records contain data on location and the registered training organisation
trading name and national code. Locations associated with the delivery of enrolment activity are also
provided.
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET in Schools.
Student outcomes
Purpose
The purpose of the Student Outcomes Survey is to provide the Australian Government, state and
territory governments and providers with information to monitor over time the extent to which
vocational education and training meets the needs of students who — either through employment or
further study outcomes — have successfully completed some training. The survey also monitors
student satisfaction with, and benefits from, vocational education and training. The survey provides
data on all graduates (those who completed full qualifications) and module completers (those who
completed less than a full qualification).
How data are collected
The data are collected via a mail-out survey and online. A random sample of students is selected from
the Students and Courses collection. Students who have an Australian address as their usual address
and are awarded a qualification, or who successfully complete part of a course and then leave the
VET system, are included. Students who undertake recreational, leisure or personal enrichment
(short) courses are excluded. The records are sent to the relevant state training authority to enable
personal details to be added. These populated data files are then sent to the fieldwork contractor.
When data are collected
The Student Outcomes survey is undertaken annually, with a reference date of the last Friday in May.
What is collected
Information collected from students includes demographic and training characteristics, employment
outcomes, satisfaction with training and whether they undertake further study. Students undertaking
VET with community education providers receive a shorter questionnaire, which also excludes questions
relating to further study, demographic and training characteristics, and some employment questions.
NCVER
11
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: student outcomes (NCVER)

Annual national report of the Australian vocational education and training system (Department of
Industry

Report on government services (Productivity Commission)

Report on the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (COAG Reform Council)
Employers’ use and views of the VET system
Purpose
The purpose of the Survey of Employer Use and Views of the VET System is to provide detailed
information on the way employers interact with the VET system, and their satisfaction with these
dealings. The survey was first conducted in 2005. Similar surveys were conducted in 1995, 1997, 1999 and
2001.
The aim of the survey is to provide information enabling state and territory governments and the
Australian Government to monitor over time the extent of employer engagement and satisfaction with
vocational education and training in meeting the skill needs of the workforce. The survey also identifies
and ranks the factors that influence employer engagement and satisfaction with vocational education and
training.
How data are collected
The data are collected via a survey conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). For
the surveys from 2005, a list of employers was randomly selected from the ABS Business Register.
When data are collected
For the surveys from 2005, interviewing was conducted between February and June, to cover training
provided in the previous 12 months.
The Survey of Employers Use and Views of the VET System is conducted every two years.
What is collected
The survey collects information on employer characteristics, their industry, business and recruitment
practices, and their attitudes towards vocational qualifications, in terms of job requirements, employers’
use and views of the VET system and the various ways they use the VET system and unaccredited training
to meet their skill needs. The information collected measures the awareness, engagement and
satisfaction of employers with the VET system.
Questions related to employer use of unaccredited training rather than nationally recognised training are
also asked. Information on the level of satisfaction and the type of training provider used for this training
is collected.
12
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: employers’ use and views of the VET
system (NCVER)

Annual national report of the Australian vocational education and training system (Department of
Industry)

Report on government services (Productivity Commission)

Report on the National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (COAG Reform Council)
Apprentice and trainee destinations
Purpose
The Apprentice and Trainee Destination survey provided information on the employment and further
study outcomes of apprentices and trainees, their satisfaction with the apprenticeship or traineeship,
and their reasons for non-completion (where applicable). Comparisons were made between
apprentices and trainees who completed their training and those who did not. Comparisons were also
made between trade and non-trade apprentices and trainees.
How data were collected
The survey was conducted twice, once in 2008 and once in 2010. On both occasions, data were
collected by telephone using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. A random sample of students
was selected from the Apprentice and Trainee collection. The scope of the survey was all apprentices
and trainees aged 15 years and over who for the 2008 survey, had left their training between October
and December 2007, and for the 2010 survey, had left their training between April and June 2009. The
survey was conducted approximately nine months after students had left their training; for the 2008
survey this was between September and November 2008, and for the 2010 survey, between March and
May 2010.
Contact details for all selected apprentices and trainees were supplied to the fieldwork contractor by
the state training authority in each state and territory.
When data were collected
The reference date for the 2008 survey was 26 September 2008, and for the 2010 survey, 19 March 2010.
What was collected
The focus of the survey was on the outcomes of apprentices and trainees and their satisfaction with
the apprenticeship or traineeship. Information collected included personal and training
characteristics, satisfaction with training, employment outcomes, further study activity and reasons
for non-completion (where applicable).
The survey covered apprentices and trainees who had:

completed all of the prescribed requirements of their contract of training (completers)

cancelled or withdrawn from their contract of training prior to completing all prescribed
requirements and did not return to the same qualification before being interviewed
(non-completers).
NCVER
13
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentice and trainee destinations, 2008
(NCVER)

Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentice and trainee destinations, 2010
(NCVER)
VET finance collection
Purpose
The purpose of the VET Financial Data Collection is to provide financial information about Australia’s
public VET system. This collection focuses on financial performance (revenues and expenses); financial
position (asset and liabilities); how activities are financed (cash flows); and trends in revenues and
expenses for applications in areas of VET financial policy, performance efficiency and research.
How data are collected
Information is collected from state and territory training departments and training authorities and the
Department of Industry. The information is provided electronically to NCVER in an agreed format, where
it is reviewed for consistency, using prescribed scope and data definitions. Key elements of the data are
also audited by a registered external auditor to validate the accuracy of the data and compliance with
reporting requirements.
When data are collected
Preliminary information is submitted to NCVER by 1 May each year. This is followed by a period of review
by NCVER, with state and territory sign-off of finalised audited data by mid-July.
What is collected
The National VET Financial Data Collection consists of a set of general-purpose financial statements
comprising of an income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in
equity, and supporting notes, which detail the line items in the individual statements. NCVER, with the
endorsement of the states and territories, extracts and publishes additional tables and charts of some
specific financial categories from this information.
Key publications

Australian vocational education and training statistics: financial information (NCVER)

Annual national report of the Australian vocational education and training system (Department of
Industry)

Report on government services (Productivity Commission)
14
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Australian Vocational Education
and Training Management
Information Statistical Standard
Overview
The Australian Vocational Educational and Training Management Information Statistical Standard
(AVETMISS) is an open standard. Open standards are publicly available specifications for achieving a
specific task and can be implemented by anyone, without royalties or other restrictions. The adoption
and implementation of the standard for VET-related information systems, software products and
statistical reports increases compatibility and operability between various systems and publications.
AVETMISS offers a nationally consistent standard for the collection, analysis and reporting of VET
information throughout Australia.
History
The AVETMIS Standards have been developed by the National Training Statistics Committee and its
predecessors, the National Advisory Committee on Vocational Educational and Training Statistics and
the Australian Committee on Vocational Education and Training Statistics. AVETMISS has been
approved by the Commonwealth and state ministers and it has been implemented throughout the
publicly funded VET sector.
The AVETMIS Standards were first implemented in 1994 as a consistent means for measuring various
aspects of VET activity in Australia.
Since 1994 state and territory vocational education authorities have provided information related to
VET programs and apprenticeship/traineeship training contracts entered into by apprentices and
trainees. During 1995 and 1996, the standard was progressively implemented in other parts of the VET
sector. The implementation phases are indicated below:

1994 — publicly funded TAFE and other government providers

1995 — adult and community education (ACE) providers

1996 — publicly funded delivery by other providers

1998 — VET Financial Data to the AVETMIS Standard

2005 — VET in Schools

2014 – all RTOs.
The AVETMIS Standards apply to separate collections of VET enrolment activity (National VET Provider
Collection and VET in Schools Collection); apprenticeship/traineeship training contract activity
(Apprentice and Trainee Collection); and financial information (National VET Financial Data
Collection).
The VET in Schools Collection commenced in 2005 as an administrative arrangement under the
AVETMIS Standard to enable NCVER to report to the ministerial council.
NCVER
15
AVETMISS release table
The apprenticeship and National VET Provider data collection specifications were located in the same
volumes of the AVETMIS Standard until the release of the Contract of Training (COT) supplement in July
1997. The AVETMIS Standard for VET Providers was updated in May 1996, but no changes were made to
the Contract of Training supplement, which was renamed AVETMISS — The Standard for New
Apprenticeships in September 1998.
Table 2: AVETMISS release table
Collection standard
Release date
Activity from
AVETMISS
1.0 November 1993
1 January 1994
AVETMISS
1.1 May 1995
1 January 1995
AVETMISS
2.0 May 1996
1 January 1997
AVETMISS for VET Providers
3.0 September 1998
1 January 1999
AVETMISS for VET Providers
4.0 September 2001
1 January 2002
AVETMISS for VET Providers
5.0 September 2002
1 January 2003
AVETMISS VET Provider Collection
Specifications
6.0 April 2006
1 January 2007
AVETMISS VET Provider Collection
Specifications
6.1 July 2011
1 January 2012
AVETMISS VET Provider Collection
Specifications
7.0 April 2013
1 January 2014
AVETMISS for New Apprenticeships
2.0 (COT supplement) July 1997
1 July 1997
AVETMISS for New Apprenticeships
3.0 September 1998
1 January 1999
AVETMISS for New Apprenticeships
4.0 September 2001
1 January 2002
AVETMISS for New Apprenticeships
5.0 January 2004
1 April 2004
AVETMISS Apprentice and Trainee
Collection Specifications
6.0 March 2008
1 July 2008
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.0 September 1998
1 January 1997
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.1 July 1999
1 January 1998
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.2 July 2000
1 January 1999
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.3 July 2001
1 January 2000
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.4 September 2002
1 January 2001
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.5 September 2003
1 January 2003
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.6 December 2004
1 January 2004
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
1.7 December 2005*
1 January 2005
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
2.0 December 2009
1 January 2009
AVETMISS for VET Financial Data
2.1 December 2010 (updated in
December 2012)
1 January 2013
Note:
* original release date, minor updates in March 2007 and January 2008.
Architecture
In June 2004, the National Training Statistics Committee agreed to terms of reference for a review of the
AVETMIS Standard for VET Providers. A discussion paper was developed by NCVER and made publicly
available for formal responses from stakeholders by February 2005. In addition, NCVER staff consulted
with state training authorities in all jurisdictions and with the Australian National Training Authority
(ANTA; now abolished), the former Department of Education, Science and Training (whose functions have
been assumed by the Department of Industry), ABS, industry representatives, registered training
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Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
organisations and software developers. As a result of this review, new AVETMISS architecture was
endorsed by the National Training Statistics Committee.
Figure 2 Representation of the AVETMIS Standard suite of documents for the Australian VET System
Australian VET statistics
explained
AVETMISS data element definitions
National VET
Provider
Collection
specifications
Apprentice and
Trainee
Collection
specifications
VET in Schools
Collection
specifications
National VET
Provider
terms and
definitions
Apprentice and
Trainee
terms and
definitions
VET in Schools
terms and
definitions
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained (this publication) provides a synopsis of
the VET system, collections, surveys, information systems and resultant statistical reports. A summary of
the AVETMIS Standards and references to other AVETMISS documents are included.
Australian vocational education and training statistics explained is maintained by NCVER.
Data element definitions
Data element definitions, context, rules for use, the code set and format attributes for collections or
surveys are available in AVETMISS data element definitions and available from <www.ncver.edu.au>.
Collection specifications
The collection specification documentation applies to a specific national data collection administered by
NCVER on behalf of the Department of Industry.
The AVETMISS National VET Provider Collection specifications release 7.0 (for activity from 1 January
2014) and AVETMISS Apprentice and Trainee Collection specifications release 6.0 publications are
available from <www.ncver.edu.au>.
NCVER
17
Terms and definitions
Terms and definitions are intended to provide meaning, context and caveats for all data used in statistical
reporting from a specific collection.
Maintenance and endorsement
Revisions to the standard are agreed to by states and territories. The recommendation for a new standard
is submitted to the National Senior Officials Committee for final endorsement and implementation by the
Australian VET sector.
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Australian vocational education and training statistics explained
Support and internet resources
Internet resources
Australian Apprenticeships
<www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au>
Australian Bureau of Statistics
<www.abs.gov.au> for classifications, select ‘Methods & Classifications’, then select appropriate
category.
Australian Qualifications Framework
<www.aqf.edu.au>
Australian Quality Training Framework
<www.nssc.natese.gov.au/vet_standards>
Australian Skills Quality Authority
<www.asqa.gov.au>
AVETMIS Standards and related resources
<www.ncver.edu.au/avetmiss/index.html>
Department of Industry
<www.industry.gov.au>
Industry skills councils
<www.isc.org.au>
National Centre for Vocational Education Research
<www.ncver.edu.au>
National Register
<www.training.gov.au>
Standards for Training Packages
<http://www.nssc.natese.gov.au/training_packages/standards_and_policies>
Unique student identifier for VET
<www.industry.gov.au/USI>
VOCEDplus (UNESCO/NCVER research database for international research abstracts)
<www.voced.edu.au>
NCVER
19
NCVER AVETMISS help desk
The NCVER AVETMISS helpdesk provides assistance for queries relating to the AVETMIS Standard and the
AVETMISS validation software. NCVER is unable to assist with queries relating to commercial student
management systems.
National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd:
Telephone:
1800 649 452
Facsimile:
(08) 8212 3436
E-mail:
support@ncver.edu.au
Internet:
<www.ncver.edu.au>
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Australian vocational education and training statistics explained