I am seeking information on how courses become accredited in
Australia.  I.E. how various institutes qualify their courses as a
Cert IV or Diploma course.

<To get accreditation for a course in Australia, the organisation
providing the course needs to become a Registered Training
Organisation (RTO). Evidence needs to be provided that the
organisation meets nationally agreed standards of quality assurance,
financial management, training delivery and assessment practises and
the competency of staff.

Applications are made with the Office of Training and Tertiary
Education (OTTE) through a training recognition consultant (TRC). The
TRC will oversee the application and conduct a pre-registration audit.
Any approved TRC may be used (see link below). The cost of the
application is agreed with the TRC. Costs include an initial
application fee and an annual fee. Annual fees are $500 for schools
and community based organisations. For other providers they are $1000.
Registration is valid for five years.

A step by step guide is given at 
http://www.otte.vic.gov.au/registration/index.htm

Training recognition consultant (TRC?s).
http://www.otte.vic.gov.au/registration/registration/trclist.htm

Sample application
http://www.otte.vic.gov.au/registration/registration/application.htm

Registration fees
http://www.otte.vic.gov.au/registration/registration/fees.htm>


<Search strategy:>

<"office of training and tertiary education">
<://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22office+of+training+and+tertiary+education%22>


<Hope this helps.>

This answer was exactly the information i was looking for and was
explained exceptionally well.   Thanks.