AQF - Qualifications Australia

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australia. It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.

AQF Governance

The AQF is managed by the Australian Government, Department of Education and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, in consultation with all Australian states and territories. The Department of Education and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations monitors and maintains the Framework, supports its users, and promotes its role in Australia’s education system.

Level 1 – Certificate I

Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have foundational knowledge for everyday life, further learning and preparation for initial work.

Graduates at this level will have foundational cognitive, technical and communication skills to:

undertake defined routine activities to
identify and report simple issues and problem

Level 2 – Certificate II

Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of a defined area of work and learning.

Graduates at this level will have basic cognitive, technical and communication skills to apply appropriate methods, tools, materials and readily available information to:

undertake defined activities
provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems

Level 3 – Certificate III

Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have factual, technical, procedural and some theoretical knowledge of a specific area of work and learning.

Graduates at this level will have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to:

complete routine activities
provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems

Level 4 – Certificate IV

Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have broad factual, technical and some theoretical knowledge of a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.

Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a range of methods, tools, materials and information to:

complete routine and non-routine activities
provide and transmit solutions to a variety of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems

Level 5 – Diploma

Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have technical and theoretical knowledge in a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.

Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

analyse information to complete a range of activities
provide and transmit solutions to sometimes complex problems
transmit information and skills to others

Level 6 – Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree

Graduates at this level will have broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have broad theoretical and technical knowledge of a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.

Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

analyse information to complete a range of activities
provide and transmit solutions to sometimes complex problems
transmit information and skills to others

Level 7 – Bachelor Degree

Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge with depth in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.

Graduates at this level will have well-developed cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

analyse and evaluate information to complete a range of activities
analyse, generate and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems
transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others

Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma

Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.

Graduates at this level will have advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities
analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems
transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others

Level 9 – Masters Degree

Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.

Graduates at this level will have advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.

Graduates at this level will have expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills in a body of knowledge or practice to independently:

analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories
research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice
interpret and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences

Level 10 – Doctoral Degree

Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.

Graduates at this level will have systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline or area of professional practice.

Graduates at this level will have expert, specialised cognitive, technical and research skills in a discipline area to independently and systematically:

engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation
develop, adapt and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge or professional practice
disseminate and promote new insights to peers and the community
generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to a discipline or area of professional practice

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The AQF Objectives

Accommodate the diversity of training both now and in the future
Contribute to national economic performance through well-developed training outcomes
Support, develop and maintain accessible pathways to education
Provide a framework for regulation across education and training sector
Enhance the national and international mobility of students, graduates and workers
Align with international education standards and frameworks