Useful terms

Accredited training	Training that is nationally recognised, and is provided by Registered Training Organisations, including TAFE.
Advanced diploma	A VET or higher education award usually requiring a minimum of four semesters to complete.
Affirmative action	An Australian Government policy to achieve equal employment opportunity for women in the workplace. Most state governments have complementary legislation. See also Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity.
Annual leave	The paid holidays to which all full-time and part-time employees are entitled, usually four weeks for each year of full-time employment or a proportional amount for part-time employment.
Apprenticeship	Apprenticeships combine practical work with structured training to provide a nationally recognised qualification and experience. Participants earn while they learn. Referred to as Australian Apprenticeships in some states.
Associate degree	An undergraduate award usually requiring two years full-time or the equivalent part-time study.
Assumed knowledge	The minimum level of achievement in senior school studies considered necessary for successful first year tertiary study. Students lacking the assumed level of knowledge are not prevented from enrolling; however, they may be disadvantaged unless they undertake recommended bridging, preparatory or introductory subjects prior to or during their first year of study.
Australian Apprenticeship	Australian Apprenticeships combine practical work with structured training to provide a nationally recognised qualification and experience. Participants earn while they learn. Referred to as apprenticeships or traineeships in some states.
Australian School-based Apprenticeship	An arrangement that enables students to start an Australian Apprenticeship while continuing their school studies.
Award	A legally binding document setting out rates of pay and conditions to be provided by employers for employees covered by the award. There are federal and state awards.
Award rate	The minimum rate of pay for a particular classification in an award. Payments over the award rate are quite common and are referred to as 'over-award' payments (see below).
Bachelor degree	An undergraduate award requiring six or more semesters of full-time, or equivalent part-time, study.
Block release training	The release of apprentices from their normal workplace (usually two weeks per term) to attend full-time vocational study.
Bonus	An additional payment made by an employer for good performance or greater productivity.
Business hours	Usually Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, however hours vary greatly between industry sectors.
Cadetship	An employment arrangement in which an employer agrees to subsidise formal training of an employee to enable certain qualifications to be obtained. The employee is usually required to remain with the employer for a specified period after training is completed.
Casual work	Employment in which the days, hours and times worked may vary according to the need of your employer. You are usually paid on an hourly basis.
Certified agreement	An agreement between an employer and employees or union(s) detailing wages, working conditions and work practices in that particular organisation.
Commission	A fee or percentage paid to a salesperson or agent for sales or services, usually on top of a retainer.
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)	A university place where the tuition costs are subsidised by the government. The remaining amount, called the ‘student contribution’, may be paid in full by the student or deferred using HECS-HELP (see below).
Competency-based training	Training based on the ability to perform tasks rather than the length of time spent in training.
Contract of employment	An informal agreement between an employer and employee about the job to be done and the conditions of employment (e.g. wages, hours of work). Unlike formal agreements, an informal agreement, such as a contract of employment, does not have to be registered by a government body.
Contract of training/training agreement	A legally binding contract/agreement between the employer and apprentice. The employer guarantees to train the apprentice in the agreed occupation and the apprentice agrees to learn all aspects of the occupation and to work for the employer for a specified period of time.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)	Written summary of a person's educational qualifications, employment history and personal details.
Danger money	Payment in addition to normal wages for work that involves some risk.
Deductions	Money taken out of an employee's pay by an employer for payments such as superannuation or health care.
Dependant	A person who is wholly or partly supported financially by someone else.
Diploma	A VET or higher education award usually requiring two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, study.
Discrimination	Unfair treatment of someone, or giving another an advantage or a disadvantage, because of their colour, politics, race, religion, gender or other personal attribute which does not relate to work performance. See also Equal Employment Opportunity.
Dismissal	When an employer ends a worker's employment.
Duty statement	A written outline of the main duties, responsibilities and qualifications required for a particular job. Also called a position description.
Employer association	An association of employers to promote and represent their individual or collective interests.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)	An Australian Government policy to discourage discrimination in employment. Employers following this policy consider job applicants on their ability, not on their colour, politics, race, religion, gender or other personal attributes that do not relate to work performance.
FEE-HELP	A government loan scheme that helps full-fee students to meet their tuition costs. HELP loans are repaid after graduation through the taxation system.
Flexitime	An arrangement whereby employees can start and finish work earlier or later than the normal times. Time debits or credits can be built up (within specified limits), enabling a flex day to be taken off now and then. There are conditions attached to flexitime to make the system manageable. These vary between employers.
Freelance	A form of self-employment whereby a person agrees to do some work for someone else at an agreed price.
Full-fee place	A place in a higher education course where the student is responsible for meeting the entire cost of tuition. See FEE-HELP.
Full-time work	Generally considered to be employment for a full working week (normally five or six days) for a minimum of 35 hours. Full-time workers are eligible for annual leave, sick leave and other entitlements.
Graduate diploma	A postgraduate award requiring one year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, study.
Gross pay	Pay before tax and other deductions have been taken out.
Group certificate	See PAYG summary.
Group Training Organisation	A Group Training Organisation is a company which takes on apprentices and then hires them out for short or long periods to employers who do not have the capacity to take them on full time.
HECS-HELP	A government loan scheme that helps students with a Commonwealth Supported Place to pay their student contribution. HELP loans are repaid after graduation through the taxation system.
Income tax	Tax deducted from an employee's wages by the employer and paid to the federal government.
Indenture	The contract by which a person, such as an apprentice, is bound to service. It is now known as a contract of training or training agreement.
Itinerant worker	A person who travels from place to place working at various jobs.
Job sharing	An arrangement where one full-time job is shared by two or more employees. The hours of work are arranged to suit the employees and the particular job.
Key competencies	Any of several generic skills or competencies considered essential for people to participate effectively in the workforce. They include: collecting, analysing and organising information; communicating ideas and information; planning and organising activities; working with others and in teams; using mathematical ideas and techniques; solving problems; and using technology.
Labour market	A term used to describe the number of people who are willing and able to work.
Leave loading	An extra payment given to some employees when they take annual leave.
Lecture	Usually formal instructional classes involving large groups of students.
Living away from home allowance	An allowance paid to an employee who is prevented by employment from living at their normal place of residence.
Long service leave	An additional period of leave, usually three months, granted to an employee who has worked for the same employer for 10–15 years.
Maternity/paternity/parental leave	Granted to parents by employers to cover a period of several weeks before and after the birth of a child. Unpaid leave of up to 12 months may be granted and in some cases a limited period of paid leave may be granted.
Minimum wage	The lowest wage which may legally be paid to an adult employee.
Net pay	Pay after deductions (tax, superannuation, etc.) have been taken out.
Off-the-job training	Instruction that takes place away from an individual's normal work situation.
On-the-job training	Instruction that takes place in a normal work situation while workers are doing their normal job.
Over award payments	Payments over the minimum rate specified in the award are referred to as 'over award' payments.
Overtime	Time worked in excess of the daily/weekly hours prescribed by an award or determination.
Part-time (P/T) work	Work for significantly fewer hours than for full-time work under the same award. Hours are set. Part-time workers are eligible for annual leave, sick leave, etc. in proportion to the time worked.
PAYG (Pay As You Go) Summary	A yearly statement of an employee's earnings issued by the employer for taxation purposes. Formerly known as a group certificate.
Penalty pay	An additional amount of money that must be paid according to some awards to some employees for working nights, weekends or public holidays.
Pension	A regular government payment, usually made to people to meet social welfare needs such as an age, carer's, widow's or invalid pension.
Personnel officer	An employee of a government department or large business concerned with all matters affecting staff, such as recruitment, welfare, training, wages and salaries.
Piecework	Work for which pay is based on the number of 'pieces' or goods that are completed or produced, e.g. garments made or fruit picked.
Prerequisite	A subject or qualification required to be eligible for entry to a particular course of study.
Pre-vocational course	Introductory course aimed at giving participants a range of underpinning skills (including literacy, numeracy, communication) needed to be ready for employment or more specific skills-based training.
Probation/probationary period	A trial period that enables an employer to assess a person's suitability for a job.
Promotion	Advancement to a job of higher rank or position that attracts higher pay.
Quota	A limit which a college or university places on the number of students who can enter a course at any one time.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)/Recognition of Current Competency (RCC)	Credit given for previous experience or training, used for entry to, or credit towards, formal education or training.
Recreation leave	See Annual leave.
Redeployment	Movement of an employee between jobs for greater efficiency or when some tasks are no longer needed, for example, when machinery takes over some jobs.
Redundancy pay/severance pay	Compensation paid by an employer to an employee whose services are no longer required because of the introduction of automation or other technological changes, or a decrease in the demand for goods/services provided by the company.
Reference	A statement about personal qualifications, character and dependability from a responsible person (referee) familiar with the job applicant.
Registered Training Organisation (RTO)	Any training organisation registered to provide vocational education, training and/or assessment services.
Resignation	Formal notice of an employee's intention to cease working for an employer. The conditions under which a person may resign are contained within the relevant Award or Agreement for each position. Normally at least one week's notice must be given when resigning.
Resumé	A written summary of educational qualifications, employment history and personal details. This can also be called a Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Retainer	A basic fee or wage paid to salespeople. A commission is usually paid as well.
Retirement	The end of employment, generally due to the worker reaching a certain age.
Retraining	Instruction which is given so that an employee can take another job.
Rostered Day Off (RDO)/paid day off	A paid day's leave granted instead of payment for extra hours worked in a fixed period, e.g. a fortnight or month. Some awards and agreements provide an RDO as part of the normal hours of work.
Salary	A fixed amount of money paid to an employee for work performed. This can be expressed as an annual, monthly, fortnightly or weekly amount.
Scholarship	A lump sum grant designed to help maintain a student. There may or may not be conditions attached to the grant. For example, you may have to work for a specified time for the organisation granting the funds.
Seasonal work	Work that is only done at certain times of the year, such as fruit picking or shearing.
Selection test	A method used by employers to determine suitable applicants. Selection tests may vary in length and subject matter. Generally they are based on speed and accuracy combined with knowledge of the subject area.
Self-employment	A person who works for themselves rather than for an employer.
Seniority	A worker's position in the workplace according to their level of experience or the responsibility of the position they hold.
Shift work	In some industries, work may be rostered over a 24-hour period into two or three shifts.
Sick leave	Paid leave granted to an employee who cannot attend work because of illness or injury. There is a limit to the amount of sick leave that can be taken.
Special leave	Paid leave granted to cover special situations such as the death of close relatives, attending jury service, undertaking private study or attending to trade union affairs.
Structured work placement	Students learn practical skills through structured experience and practice in the workplace. The outcome of this on-the-job training contributes to the senior secondary school certificate and an industry recognised qualification.
Study leave	Leave given to employees to attend courses of study that are approved by their employer.
Superannuation (super)	A savings scheme funded by employers and employees. The total (plus interest) is paid out either in full or as a continuing pension to the employee on retirement.
Supervision	Workload is allocated to members of a team by a supervisor. Some positions are closely supervised while others allow for a more flexible, independent and self-motivated approach. In every job there is an element of supervision.
TAFE	Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes provide Vocational Education and Training courses.
Taxable income	The portion of a person's income remaining after any tax-free allowances have been deducted. It is normally less than gross income.
Tertiary education	Post-secondary courses offered by universities, private providers and TAFE institutes.
Trainee	A person who is receiving instruction.
Traineeship	Traineeships combine practical work with structured training to provide a nationally recognised qualification and experience. Participants earn while they learn. Referred to as Australian Apprenticeships in some states.
Training	The development of skills, knowledge and aptitudes necessary to perform a job.
Training Packages	Blueprints developed by industry and endorsed by government to ensure that Vocational Education and Training meets industry standards and is consistent across states and territories.
Tutorial	A class that is smaller than a formal lecture, which provides students with the opportunity to discuss the lecture material or other associated topics in greater depth with their tutor and fellow students.
Union	An association of people doing the same or similar work or working in the same industry who have come together collectively to further their common interests by negotiating with employers.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)	Post-compulsory education and training, excluding degree and higher level programs delivered by higher education institutions, which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills.
VET in Schools	Vocational Education and Training courses undertaken as part of a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.
Voluntary work	Work that is done for no payment, such as delivering Meals on Wheels or hospital visiting.
Wages	Payment for services which is usually made on an hourly, daily, weekly or piece basis (see Salary).
Work experience	Any unpaid participation in the workforce designed to provide an experience of working life. Many schools arrange work experience for secondary students as part of career education programs.
Workers compensation	Money paid to an employee for losses (financial and physical) caused by an injury or disease that occurs at work.
Workers agreement	Individual agreements between employers and workers, and sometimes their representatives, for a particular workplace that set out the conditions of employment.
Workplace bargaining	The process in which the employer and employees or union(s) work together to develop an agreement on wages and conditions which apply to that organisation.