How to choose a provider for your teen’s vocational education and training (VET) course

Vocational education and training or VET is a learning option your teen may choose to study at school or when they leave school. VET is study and training designed to support students to gain qualifications for employment and to help them develop the skills they need to enter and succeed in the workplace.

As a parent of a teen studying VET at school, or of a young person who plans to study VET when they leave school, it’s important to be informed about what your child should expect from their course. In this series, we explore what you need to know when choosing a VET provider, how to choose a quality VET course, and what to do if you have concerns about the quality of training your teen is receiving.

Whether your teen is embarking on a VET course at school, leaving school to pursue a VET pathway, or has finished school and is deciding what to do next, it pays to make informed choices. Here’s some tips on what to look for when choosing a VET provider.

Do your research

There are many training providers offering VET courses, so it’s important you and your teen do your research so you can select a high-quality option that will give your child the best possible experience.

A crucial first step is making sure the provider is registered to deliver training. Being registered with a government regulator means the provider is held accountable for meeting standards of quality. Ask them:

1. Are you a registered training organisation?
2. Are you registered to deliver the course my child wants to undertake?
3. What is your registration number?

To verify what the provider tells you, visit MySkills.gov.au—a searchable directory of all registered VET providers in Australia. The site also provides information such as the average course fee, average course duration, subsidies and online options.

If your teen’s school is an RTO, talk to the Guidance Officer or Head of Department – Senior Schooling to find out if the course your teen is interested in is offered by the school. If the school doesn’t offer the course, visit Myskills.gov.au to search for RTOs that offer the course.

Expert advice to guide your research

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national VET regulator, and their website gives advice on things you should consider when choosing a VET provider. ASQA’s website includes a handy guide on the most important things to think about, during the research stage and at the time of enrolling with your chosen provider.

Get this important information up front

ASQA’s guide also lists the different types of information that registered VET providers are required to give you.

Before you enrol, providers are required to share information about:

• the training, assessment and support services they provide, including when, where and how the program will be delivered; and
• your rights and obligations, including payment terms and cancellation as well as refund conditions.

The information may be part of marketing material from the provider’s website or social media, or pre-enrolment information directly from the provider.

The information should also take into account:

• how training and assessment will be conducted and where (e.g. face-to-face, online, in a workplace)
• what equipment you need to complete the course
• course costs
• refund and cancellation policies
• complaint processes
• and more.

Read the complete guide on ASQA’s website

More information

• The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) website has useful information about choosing a VET provider. ASQA is the national VET regulator.
• MySkills.gov.au is a national directory of VET courses and providers.
• Myfuture.edu.au provides resources to explore career pathways and tools to develop self-knowledge to help with career decision-making.
• The Queensland Department of Education website has useful information about VET in schools.
• The National Careers Institute provides information for planning careers, including finding a course.
• The Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website has information about VET, courses, pathways, subsidised training and more.
• Find a training course or provider or eligibility for subsidised training at the Queensland Skills Gateway.