An education officer meets with a Chinese-speaking parent seeking information about the Australian education system.
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 1
感謝你抽空回答我關於澳大利亞教育系統的問題。首先我想問的是，在澳大利亞，教育是聯邦政府的責任，還是州級政府的責任？
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions about the Australian education system. First, I’d like to ask whether education in Australia is the responsibility of the federal government or the state governments.
- Education Officer · turn 2
Each state government manages the school system within its state. This means that state governments provide funding for and regulate their schools. Each state and territory also has its own vocational education and training system. However, the federal government plays a major role in funding universities. VET, TAFE and universities all form part of Australia’s tertiary education sector.
每個州政府都負責管理本州的學校體系，也就是說，州政府為學校提供資金並進行監管。每個州和領地也有自己的職業教育與培訓體系。不過，聯邦政府在大學撥款方面擔當重要角色。VET、TAFE和大學都屬於澳洲高等教育界別的一部分。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 3
中國的教育系統有三級，即初級教育、中等教育及高等教育。中國還實行九年義務教育。請問澳大利亞也是採用類似的模式嗎？義務教育有幾年呢？
China’s education system has three levels: primary, secondary and higher education. China also has nine years of compulsory education. Does Australia follow a similar model? How many years of education are compulsory?
- Education Officer · turn 4
Yes, Australia follows a broadly similar model, with primary, secondary and tertiary education. School education includes primary and secondary education, and schooling is compulsory for children and young people within the age range specified by each state or territory. Students attending government schools generally receive free education through to Year 12, although families may still have to pay for things such as uniforms, excursions and certain materials.
是的，澳洲大致採用類似的模式，分為小學、中學和高等教育。學校教育包括小學和中學，而各州或領地規定年齡範圍內的兒童及青少年必須接受學校教育。公立學校的學生一般可免費接受教育至十二年級，但家庭可能仍需支付校服、校外活動和某些教材等費用。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 5
哦，這跟中國不太一樣。我們的九年義務教育，也就是小學和初中，是強制的。那你們中小學的課程大綱是由州教育部編寫的嗎？
Oh, that’s rather different from China. Our nine years of compulsory education, comprising primary school and junior secondary school, are mandatory. Are your primary and secondary school syllabuses developed by state education departments?
- Education Officer · turn 6
Not exactly. Curriculum arrangements involve both national and state or territory authorities. There is an Australian Curriculum, while each state and territory has its own curriculum and assessment authority responsible for implementing curriculum requirements, developing syllabuses or supporting materials, and administering certain assessments and senior secondary qualifications.
不完全是。課程安排涉及國家以及州或領地的主管機構。澳洲設有澳洲課程，而每個州和領地也有自己的課程與評估機構，負責實施課程要求、制定教學大綱或輔助材料，以及管理某些評估和高中畢業資格。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 7
也就是說，全國有一個基本的課程框架，但是各州和領地仍然可以按照自己的制度來實施，是這個意思嗎？
So, there is a basic national curriculum framework, but each state and territory can still implement it according to its own system. Is that correct?
- Education Officer · turn 8
That’s right. There are national standards and learning areas, but the way the curriculum is implemented and assessed can vary between jurisdictions. Senior secondary qualifications also have different names. For example, in Victoria, students can complete the Victorian Certificate of Education, commonly known as the VCE.
是的。全國設有統一標準和學習領域，但各司法管轄區實施和評估課程的方式可能有所不同。高中畢業資格也有不同名稱。例如，在維多利亞州，學生可以修讀維多利亞州教育證書，通常簡稱為VCE。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 9
說到 VCE，它是不是指澳大利亞的大學入學考試，就如同中國的高考呢？在學生課程方面，有怎樣特別的安排呢？
Speaking of the VCE, is it Australia’s university entrance examination, like the Gaokao in China? What special arrangements are there for students’ courses?
- Education Officer · turn 10
The VCE isn’t a single university entrance examination like the Gaokao. It is Victoria’s senior secondary qualification. Students normally undertake it in Years 11 and 12 and must successfully complete the required units to obtain the certificate. Depending on the subjects they take, they may also sit external VCE examinations and complete school-based assessments.
VCE並不像中國高考那樣是一次統一的大學入學考試，而是維多利亞州的高中畢業資格。學生通常在十一和十二年級修讀VCE，並必須成功完成規定的單元才能取得證書。視乎所選科目，他們也可能需要參加校外統一VCE考試及完成校內評估。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 11
那學生能進什麼樣的大學、讀什麼樣的專業，是不是由 VCE 考試的成績決定的呢？VCE 的考試成績又是怎麼計算的呢？
Are the universities and degree programs available to a student determined by their VCE examination results? How are VCE results calculated?
- Education Officer · turn 12
Not exactly. A student’s results may include both school-based assessments and external examinations, although the weighting varies between VCE subjects. These results contribute to study scores, which can then be used to calculate the student’s Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR. Universities generally use the ATAR, together with any subject prerequisites and other admission criteria, when considering applications for undergraduate courses.
不完全是。學生的成績可能包括校內評估和校外考試，但兩者的比重會因VCE科目而異。這些結果會計入科目成績，再用來計算學生的澳洲高等教育入學排名，也就是ATAR。大學審核本科課程申請時，一般會使用ATAR，並同時考慮科目先修要求和其他入學條件。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 13
原來 ATAR 才是申請大學時很重要的一個排名，而不是說參加一次全國統一的大學入學考試。那如果一個學生的 ATAR 不夠理想，是不是就完全沒有機會上大學了？
So, the ATAR is an important ranking when applying to university, rather than the result of a single national university entrance examination. If a student’s ATAR isn’t high enough, does that mean they have no opportunity to attend university at all?
- Education Officer · turn 14
No. The ATAR is only one pathway into higher education. Depending on the university and course, students may be able to enter through alternative admission schemes, complete a bridging or enabling course, or study a VET qualification first and later apply for university. Some institutions may also give credit for previous study.
不是。ATAR只是進入高等教育的其中一條途徑。視乎大學和課程，學生可能可以透過其他招生計劃入學、完成銜接或預備課程，或者先修讀VET資格，之後再申請大學。有些院校也可能承認以往的學習並給予學分。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 15
那你可以再說說澳洲的高等職業教育嗎？我聽說職業教育在這裡非常受歡迎，很多孩子十年級畢業後就直接讀職業教育。而且藍領工人的薪水往往比白領們還要高，這在中國是不可想像的。
Could you tell me more about vocational education in Australia? I’ve heard that vocational education is very popular here and that many students enter it directly after completing Year 10. I’ve also heard that blue-collar workers often earn more than white-collar workers, which would be unimaginable in China.
- Education Officer · turn 16
Vocational education and training, or VET, is certainly an important part of Australia’s education system. VET courses are delivered by Registered Training Organisations, or RTOs. These include public TAFE institutes as well as private and community-based training providers.
職業教育與培訓，也就是VET，確實是澳洲教育體系的重要組成部分。VET課程由註冊培訓機構，也就是RTO提供。這些機構包括公立TAFE學院，以及私營和社區培訓機構。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 17
那 TAFE 和 VET 到底有什麼區別？我經常聽到這兩個詞，有時候還以為它們是同一回事。
What exactly is the difference between TAFE and VET? I hear these two terms frequently and sometimes think they mean the same thing.
- Education Officer · turn 18
VET refers to the vocational education and training sector as a whole, whereas TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education. TAFE institutes are generally public providers of VET courses. So, TAFE is part of the broader VET system rather than a separate type of education.
VET是指整個職業教育與培訓界別，而TAFE則代表技術與持續教育。TAFE學院一般是提供VET課程的公立機構。因此，TAFE是整個VET體系的一部分，而不是一種獨立的教育類型。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 19
明白了。那學生在 TAFE 或其他職業教育機構裡，主要可以取得哪些學歷或者資格呢？
I understand. What types of qualifications can students generally obtain from TAFE or other vocational education providers?
- Education Officer · turn 20
VET qualifications range from certificates through to diplomas and advanced diplomas. The level depends on the occupation and the complexity of the skills involved. Many courses have a strong practical component and are designed around workplace skills and industry requirements.
VET資格從證書到文憑及高級文憑不等。資格級別取決於相關職業及所需技能的複雜程度。許多課程都包含大量實務內容，並以職場技能和業界要求為基礎而設計。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 21
這樣看來，職業教育和大學教育的教學方式應該有很大的區別吧？
In that case, there must be significant differences between the teaching methods used in vocational education and university education, correct?
- Education Officer · turn 22
Yes. Studying in the VET sector has several advantages, particularly for students who prefer applied learning. There is generally a stronger focus on practical and job-related skills rather than abstract theory. Training may include workshops, simulations, work placements or learning directly in the workplace.
是的。修讀VET有多項優點，尤其適合偏好應用學習的學生。課程一般更着重實務和工作相關技能，而不是抽象理論。培訓可能包括工作坊、模擬訓練、工作實習或直接在職場學習。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 23
那如果一個學生先讀了職業教育，以後又改變主意想上大學，之前讀的課程是不是就浪費了？
If a student studies vocational education first and later changes their mind and wants to attend university, will their previous study have been wasted?
- Education Officer · turn 24
Not necessarily. One of the advantages of the Australian system is that there can be pathways between different qualifications. For example, a student might complete a diploma at TAFE and then apply for a related bachelor’s degree. Depending on the institution and the course, the university may grant credit or advanced standing for some of the student’s previous study.
不一定。澳洲教育體系的其中一項優點，是不同資格之間可以設有銜接途徑。例如，學生可以先在TAFE完成文憑課程，然後申請相關的學士學位。視乎院校和課程，大學可能會就學生先前的部分學習給予學分或高年級入學資格。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 25
這種銜接方式確實很靈活。也就是說，在澳洲，大學並不是高中畢業以後唯一的選擇，學生可以根據自己的興趣和職業規劃選擇不同的道路。
This type of pathway is certainly very flexible. In other words, university isn’t the only option after completing secondary school in Australia; students can choose different pathways according to their interests and career plans.
- Education Officer · turn 26
Exactly. Some students go directly to university, some enter VET or undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship, and others work before returning to study later. The important thing is to choose a pathway that suits the student’s abilities, interests and career goals. There are also opportunities to move between vocational education and higher education later on.
完全正確。有些學生直接升讀大學，有些進入VET或參加學徒或見習培訓，另一些則先工作，之後再重返校園。重要的是選擇適合學生能力、興趣和職業目標的途徑。日後也有機會在職業教育與高等教育之間轉換。
- Chinese-speaking Parent · turn 27
謝謝你的介紹。現在我對澳洲的小學、中學、大學以及職業教育之間的關係清楚多了。尤其是 VET、TAFE、VCE 和 ATAR 這幾個概念，我之前一直很容易混淆。
Thank you for the explanation. I now have a much clearer understanding of the relationship between primary school, secondary school, university and vocational education in Australia. I used to find the concepts of VET, TAFE, VCE and ATAR particularly easy to confuse.
- Education Officer · turn 28
You’re welcome. It can seem complicated at first because education is administered across different levels of government and the terminology varies between states and territories. Once you understand the distinction between school education, VET and higher education, the overall system becomes much easier to follow.
不客氣。由於教育由不同層級的政府管理，而且各州和領地使用的術語有所不同，最初可能會覺得很複雜。一旦明白學校教育、VET和高等教育之間的分別，整個體系就會容易理解得多。
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