3Interpretation

#### 3 Interpretation (1) In this Act: > annual VET plan, for a State, means the plan setting out the State’s intended vocational education and training activities for a year prepared in accordance with the Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement. > Australian Quality Training Framework means the document of that name approved by the Ministerial Council, as in force from time to time. > Australian workplace agreement means an AWA within the meaning of Schedule 7A to the Workplace Relations Act 1996. > bilateral agreement means an agreement referred to in subsection 7(2), as in force from time to time. > industrial association has the meaning given by the Workplace Relations Act 1996. > industrial instrument has the same meaning as in section 779 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996. > Ministerial Council means the Council that: (a) consists of the Ministers from the Commonwealth and each State that is a party to the Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement who have responsibility for vocational education and training; and (b) has overall responsibility for the national training system, including in relation to strategic policy, national objectives, national priorities and national performance targets. > National Industry Skills Committee means the Committee of that name that is responsible for advising the Ministerial Council on matters relating to vocational education and training, including workforce planning, future training priorities and other related issues. > National Quality Council means the Council of that name that is responsible for: (a) monitoring quality assurance procedures in the vocational education and training sector; and (b) ensuring national consistency in the application of the standards for auditing and registering VET providers under the Australian Quality Training Framework. > new apprentice means a person who is undertaking a full‑time or part‑time apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship under the New Apprenticeships Scheme. > New Apprenticeships Scheme means the national apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements that came into effect on 1 January 1998. > non‑corporate Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. > organisation has the meaning given by subsection 4(1) of the Workplace Relations Act 1996. > overseas student means: (a) a person who: (i) has a visa; or (ii) is included in a visa; in force under the Migration Act 1958 that permits a person to travel to Australia for the purpose of undertaking a course provided by a body; or (b) a person, or a person included in a class of persons, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; but does not include a person, or a person included in a class of persons, determined by the Minister, by legislative instrument, not to be a person or class of persons to whom this definition applies. > qualified accountant means a person who: (a) is registered, or is taken to be registered, as a company auditor under Part 9.2 of the Corporations Act 2001; or (b) is a member of CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia; or (c) is approved by the Minister as a qualified accountant for the purposes of this Act. > registered training organisation means an organisation that is registered by a training recognition authority under a law of a State as an organisation that is qualified: (a) to deliver training or conduct assessments, or both; and (b) to issue nationally recognised qualifications in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework. > Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement means the Commonwealth‑State Agreement for Skilling Australia’s Workforce referred to in subsection 7(1), as in force from time to time. > State includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. > State award has the meaning given by subsection 4(1) of the Workplace Relations Act 1996. > State Training Authority, in relation to a State, means a person, organisation or body nominated as the State Training Authority for that State by the Minister of the State who has responsibility for vocational education and training. > strategic national initiative means a project, program or other initiative relating to vocational education and training that is declared by the Ministerial Council, by instrument in writing, to be a strategic national initiative. > VET provider means a technical and further education institution or other registered training organisation that provides vocational education and training. > workplace agreement has the meaning given by the Workplace Relations Act 1996. (2) In this Act, a reference to anything done, or to be done, by the Ministerial Council is a reference to the thing done, or to be done, by the Ministerial Council by resolution in accordance with the Skilling Australia’s Workforce Agreement. (3) An instrument declaring a project, program or other initiative relating to vocational education and training to be a strategic national initiative is not a legislative instrument.