Understanding the VET Structure: A Simple Layered Model
In vocational education and training, it’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed by the terminology — training packages, qualifications, units of competency and everything underneath them.
A clear way to understand this is to picture the system as a layered model, moving from
the broadest level down to the detailed components. This approach helps learners, trainers, and organisations
see how everything fits together.
This layered model shows how Training Packages filter down into Qualifications, then Units of Competency, and finally the detailed elements and evidence we assess.
Layer 1: Training Packages
Training packages sit at the top of the hierarchy. They outline the skills and knowledge needed across an
entire industry sector. A training package includes:
- A set of units of competency
- A list of qualifications
- Assessment requirements and guidelines for industry
Layer 2: Qualifications
Each training package contains multiple qualifications at different AQF levels. A qualification is made up of:
- Core units (mandatory)
- Elective units (chosen to meet job roles or skill needs)
Example: CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support is a qualification within the CHC Training Package.
Layer 3: Units of Competency
Units of competency describe what a learner must know and be able to do. They define:
- Required skills
- Required knowledge
- How competency must be demonstrated
Layer 4: Elements, Performance Criteria and Evidence
At the micro level, each unit contains:
- Elements – the major tasks
- Performance criteria – how each task must be carried out
- Assessment evidence – what an assessor must see to confirm competence
These are the building blocks that inform lesson planning, training delivery, and assessment.
The Layered Model at a Glance
Training Package
↓
Qualification
↓
Units of Competency
↓
Elements, Performance Criteria and Evidence
By explaining the system this way, trainers and learners can easily understand how each layer connects —
from the industry-wide framework right down to the individual skills and knowledge demonstrated in assessment.
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