n Introduction

The Commonwealth of Australia includes the entire Australian continent including the island of Tasmania and has a population of around 21 million.

Australia has been a nation of immigrants since its very beginnings. Twenty-three per cent of the population was born overseas, and at least 27% of the inhabitants have at least one parent from another country. The vast majority of immigrants are of European descent, although recent decades have seen an influx of immigrants from Asian countries.

Australia is divided into 6 states (New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria) and 2 territories (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory), and has 3 levels of government: federal, state/territorial and local.

In Australia, the state/territorial and federal authorities are jointly responsible for education. The responsibility for general funding and coordination of education lies with the federal government (Department of Education and Training), whereas the budgeting for individual schools is left to the states/territories. National education targets are formulated in joint consultation.

The states and territories all have their own department of education that is responsible for government-funded primary and secondary schools. The education departments formulate their own policy with regard to school organization, curricula (including approval), student/teacher assessment, certificates, distance education, special education, admission of international students and allocation of resources and project coordination.

In 1995, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) was introduced for all post- compulsory education (starting at approximately 15 or 16 years of age). The AQF distinguishes between 3 different education sectors: the Schools Sector, the Vocational Education and Training Sector and the Higher Education Sector. An important goal of the AQF is to facilitate mobility between the various sectors (flexible pathways), and to promote the recognition of a variety of types of working and learning.

Education is compulsory for children aged 6-16. The official language of instruction is English.

n Australian Qualification Framework

n Common diplomas of Australia

Higher School Certificate/Queensland Certificate of Education/South Australian Certificate of Education/Qualifications Certificate or Tasmanian Certificate of Education/Victorian Certificate of Education/Western Australian Certificate of Education/ACT Year 12 Certificate/Northern Territory Certificate of Education

Ø Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.

Ø Type of education: general secondary education.

Diploma (Higher Professional Education).

Ø Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.

Ø Type of education: higher professional education.

Ø Purpose of diploma: admission to further study of the first cycle in higher professional education (Advanced Diploma).

Advanced Diploma (Higher Professional Education)

Ø Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.

Ø Type of education: higher professional education.

Ø Purpose of diploma: admission to university bachelor, sometimes with exemptions.

Bachelor (ordinary)

Ø Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.

Ø Type of education: can be professional as well as research oriented, depending on the type of study.

Ø Purpose of diploma: admission to further study of the second cycle in higher education (Honours year, Master or Graduate Diploma).

Bachelor (honours)

Ø Duration of schooling: 1 year.

Ø Type of education: can be professional as well as research oriented, depending on the type of study.

Ø Purpose of diploma: admission to the university Master or to doctorate programmes, if a First or Second Class Honours degree is obtained.

Master

Ø Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.

Ø Type of education: can be professional as well as research oriented, depending on the type of study.

Ø Purpose of diploma: admission to doctorate programmes.