In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –

aggregated information means information contained in participation records that could not reasonably be expected to result in the identification of any of the persons to whom it relates;

approved form means a form approved by the Secretary;

attending , in relation to a provider, means complying with the provider's attendance requirements in the relevant way stated in section 10(2) or (3) ;

Australian Qualifications Framework means the policy of that name, defining all qualifications recognised nationally in post-compulsory education and training within Australia, endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs so as to commence on 1 January 1995, as amended from time to time;

authorised officer means the Secretary or a State Service employee or State Service officer authorised to be an authorised officer under section 47 ;

certificate III means a qualification by that name issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework;

dispensation means a dispensation granted under section 20 that fully or partially excuses a young person from participation in an eligible option;

distance education means education provided where students and teachers are not regularly in the presence of each other for that purpose but communicate with each other in writing, by print or by electronic means or other like means;

eligible option has the meaning given by section 7 ;

external program means –

(a) an educational instruction, other than in a school or by home education or distance education, determined under section 38(3) of the Education Act 1994 ; or

(b) another program or course for which the provider's requirements do not include physically attending, at particular times, at the provider's premises or another place;

full-time , in relation to participation in one or more eligible options, means participation at a level that is full-time under section 11 ;

guardian means a person who is recognised in law as having all the duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that, by law, parents have in relation to their children;

higher education award means –

(a) an award of a diploma or advanced diploma; or

(b) an award of a graduate diploma or graduate certificate; or

(c) an award of an associate degree, bachelor degree, masters degree or doctoral degree; or

(d) any other award specified in the Australian Qualifications Framework as a higher education award; or

(e) a prescribed award –

but does not include a qualification that is awarded or issued in respect of vocational education and training within the meaning of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1994 ;

higher education course means a course of study that entitles a person who satisfies the course requirements to the conferral or issue of a higher education award;

information includes a document;

notice means written notice;

parent includes a guardian;

participating , in an eligible option, has the meaning given by section 10 ;

participation record means a participation record opened under Division 2 of Part 5 ;

participation record phase has the meaning given by section 30 ;

planning activity means –

(a) monitoring the operation and effectiveness of this Act; or

(b) carrying out planning relating to the matters dealt with under this Act; or

(c) developing strategies to better achieve the objects of this Act;

principal , of a registered school with no position by that name, means the person responsible for the school's day-to-day management;

provider means a person who provides an eligible option, including a home educator;

Qualifications Authority means the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority established under the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority Act 2003 ;

re-engagement activity means –

(a) identifying young persons in the required participation phase who are not participating full-time in an eligible option; or

(b) giving such young persons information about the options available to them; or

(c) encouraging such young persons to participate in a way that achieves the best learning outcomes for them; or

(d) encouraging and helping the parents of such young persons to play a role in the activities referred to in paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) ;

registered school has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1994 ;

required participation phase has the meaning given by section 8 ;

Secretary means the Secretary of the Department;

Secretary (families) means the Secretary of the Department responsible for the administration of the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 ;

State school means a State school within the meaning of the Education Act 1994 ;

unpaid employment includes voluntary, charity or community work that is not paid;

young person means a person who –

(a) has not yet attained the age of 16 years; or

(b) is in the required participation phase.