There are various organisations that provide quality training and development but the names of these will vary from state to state.

All states have TAFEs, in New Zealand these are known as Polytechnics. Private companies, or private Registered Training Organisations (RTO) also exist in all Australian states and in New Zealand. Private businesses of many kinds will also deliver training course, particularly in the fields of business, software and professional development. And the of course there are universities.

What will they deliver?

• Apprenticeships – some will deliver the training that is required to be completed by apprenticeships and trainees.
• Accredited – accredited training is training that is linked to a state or national training package. This type of training usually attracts government subsidies paid to the training provider.
• Non Accredited – non accredited may not be attached to a training package but can still be valuable for the individual or the business.

Accredited Training

For a training package to be accredited it needs to go through numerous checks and balances from a number of experts. Training packages can be accredited on either a national or a state level or even both. Industry training bodies exist for all industries and are made up of experts in the trade or field. Rather than undertaking a complete qualification participants can often choose instead to undertake an accredited course. This is most often a single unit subject from an accredited qualification, which is delivered in isolation . A common example of this is food handling courses that draw from Hospitality qualifications, and a dogging courses which draws from a Construction qualification.

Non Accredited Training

If the training that you need isn’t connected to an Industry Required licence or ticket, non-accredited training may suit your needs better. The type of training that often comes as non-accredited includes training on software packages, communication and leadership courses. Although a non-accredited course can be delivered by a Registered Training Organisation, an accredited course can’t be delivered by a training provider who isn’t a Registered Training Organisation.

Organisations that may provide training

• TAFE colleges – trade and other, mainly accredited
• Polytechnic colleges – trade and other, mainly accredited
• Community Colleges – trade and other, mainly accredited
• Adult and Community Education Centres – usually non trade
• Neighbourhood Houses – usually non accredited
• Local Health Services – usually for employees only
• Local Shire Councils – may be available for local businesses and residents
• Unions – available for members
• Industry Bodies (HIA) – available for members
• Red Cross – available for general public in some locations
• Employment Service Providers – usually only available for people registered with their service
• Secondary Schools – for their students only
• Disability Service Providers – usually only available for people registered with their services
• Community Groups – usually available for members of that community group or for the general public.

Many providers of training and development services are private businesses who operate on a profit basis. These providers, although not not for profit, are still eligible for government subsidies where they are applicable as long as they are a Registered Training Organisation.