Qualifications Framework (Australia)

The purpose of the Doctoral Degree is to qualify

Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and
individuals who apply a substantial body of
Doctoral
10
skills to demonstrate autonomy, authoritative
knowledge to research, investigate and
judgement, adaptability and responsibility as an
Degree develop new knowledge, in one or more fields
of investigation, scholarship or professional
expert and leading practitioner or scholar.

practice.
The purpose of the Masters Degree (Coursework) Graduates at this level will apply knowledge
Masters
9
is to qualify individuals who apply an advanced and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert
body of knowledge in a range of contexts for judgement, adaptability and responsibility
Degree professional practice or scholarship and as a as a practitioner or learner.
pathway for further learning.

Bachelor The purpose of the Graduate Diploma qualification Graduates at this level will apply knowledge

8
type is to qualify individuals who apply a body of and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-
Honors, knowledge in a range of contexts to undertake
professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway
developed judgement, adaptability and
responsibility as a practitioner or learner.
Dip/Cert for further learning.

The purpose of the Bachelor Degree qualification type

Bachelor Graduates at this level will have broad and

7
is to qualify individuals who apply a broad and
coherent body of knowledge in a range of contexts coherent knowledge and skills for
Degree to undertake professional work and as a pathway for professional work and/or further learning.
further learning.

Associate The purpose of the Associate Degree qualification type

Graduates at this level will have broad

6
is to qualify individuals who apply underpinning
Degree technical and theoretical knowledge in a range of knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/
contexts to undertake paraprofessional work and highly skilled work and/or further learning.
Adv Dip as a pathway for further learning.

The purpose of the Diploma qualification type is to

Graduates at this level will have specialised

5
qualify individuals who apply integrated technical
Diploma and theoretical concepts in a broad range of knowledge and skills for skilled/
contexts to undertake advanced skilled or paraprofessional work and/or further
paraprofessional work and as a pathway for further learning.
learning.

The purpose of the Certificate IV qualification

Graduates at this level will have theoretical

4
type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad
Cert IV range of specialised knowledge and skills in
and practical knowledge and skills for
specialised and/or skilled work and/or
varied contexts to undertake skilled work and further learning.
as a pathway for further learning.

The purpose of the Certificate III qualification

3
type is to qualify individuals who apply a broad
Cert III range of knowledge and skills in varied
contexts to undertake skilled work and as a
pathway for further learning.
Graduates at this level will have theoretical
and practical knowledge and skills for
work and/or further learning.

The purpose of the Certificate II qualification type Graduates at this level will have knowledge

2 Cert II
is to qualify individuals to undertake mainly
routine work and as a pathway to further
learning.
and skills for work in a defined context
and/or further learning.

The purpose of the Certificate I qualification type Graduates at this level will apply knowledge

1
is to qualify individuals with basic functional and skills to demonstrate autonomy in highly
Certificate 1 knowledge and skills to undertake work, structured and stable contexts and within
further learning and community involvement. narrow parameters

https://www.aqf.edu.au/framework/aqf-qualifications https://www.aqf.edu.au/framework/aqf-levels

Tony Ridley MSc CSyP CAS MSyl

Risk, Security, Safety, Resilience & Management Sciences (Applied)