Published: 3rd February 2022.
Written by Jodie Magrath
VET qualifications have been incorporated into the high school curriculum for several decades in Australia, but in recent years state governments have been very proactive in encouraging students to complete a vocational training course before they graduate.
More and more courses are on offer, and each year brings greater opportunities to explore new career paths and enjoy heavily subsidised training.
If you’ve ever wondered about school-based VET, this article will answer all your questions. No matter where you live or go to school in Australia, we’ve provided plenty of information so you can plan out your senior years and find subsidised training courses in your local area.
VET Qualifications and Leaving Certificates
What is a VET Qualification?
But before we get too far into this, let’s take a brief moment to unpack what a VET qualification actually is, and how it differs from the certificate you receive when you graduate high school.
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training and refers to qualifications, skill sets, and short courses that prepare you for the workforce and help you get a job. A VET qualification could be a one-day first aid course taught by an off-duty paramedic, or a Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology delivered as part of a 3 year apprenticeship.
No matter what course you do, VET qualifications all have three important features. They are always:
- developed by industry experts, and reflect the very latest equipment, methods, and workplace technologies.
- taught by people who have real qualifications and have actually performed the work they will teach you.
- issued and managed by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and TAFE Colleges who are regulated by the government.
In Australia, there are VET qualifications for every job or industry group you can imagine — even newer occupations like 3D gaming, renewable energies, social media, and alternative medicines. So whether you want to become a fashion designer, an Instagram marketer, or an electrician, there is a VET qualification out there to teach you how.
Leaving Certificates vs VET Qualifications
When you graduate high school in Year 12 you’ll receive a leaving certificate that summarises your overall performance and ranks you against the other students in your state.
VET qualifications on the other hand, are competency-based and don’t issue grades or pit you against other students. For example: if you are studying a Certificate II in Hospitality you might be required to demonstrate pouring a glass of wine and correctly using a glass-washer. If you get it wrong your instructor will work with you until you can do it correctly.
A high score on your leaving certificate is useful if you’re planning to study at university as soon as you leave school. Ungraded VET qualifications are focused on employment skills, but, can still help you get into a university degree if the scores on your leaving certificate aren’t what you’d hoped.
In the next section we’ll look at how (and why) you might consider completing a VET qualification while you’re still at high school. There are many benefits for taking this path and we’ll delve into these as well.
DID YOU KNOW? According to the 2020 ‘Australian Vocational Education and Training Statistics’, approximately 240,200 high school students completed a nationally recognised qualification in the 2020 school year.
Three ways to study VET at school
There are currently three ways of achieving a VET qualification while you are completing high school. (Please note that your options can sometimes be limited by the location and resources of your high school.)
1. School registered training organisation (RTO)
Many high schools are also registered with ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) as an RTO and are able to deliver nationally recognised VET training and qualifications. If your school is a registered training provider they will have a list of available courses that you can complete as part of your Year 9-12 curriculum.
In most cases, the full cost of these qualifications will be included in your school fees and will be taught by your high school teachers at the school.
BENEFITS:
- Included in your curriculum and study timetable
- Usually no additional fees
- Available to younger students
LIMITATIONS:
- Choice of courses can be limited
- May have to attend some training offsite if the school doesn’t have the required facilities and equipment
2. External RTO
Another way to get a VET qualification while you are in high school is to find an RTO or TAFE college in your local area who is willing to collaborate with your school. Studying with an external course provider gives you a much wider choice of courses and skills sets. The only problem is you will have to negotiate the fees and charges directly with the RTO.
Fees can be paid:
- via a government training subsidy. This is usually arranged by the RTO and you’ll pay the balance (if any).
- directly to the RTO or TAFE college.
BENEFITS:
LIMITATIONS:
- May have to pay the full cost of the qualification
- Can be challenging to incorporate the training schedule into your school timetable
3. Apprenticeship or Traineeship
- Many students in Years 10-12 opt for a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. In fact, in 2020 around 17,800 high school students completed a school-based apprenticeship.
- It’s a great option as you’ll be working on-the-job and earning money while completing your leaving certificate. And even better, when you finish your apprenticeship, you’ll be a fully qualified tradesperson, ready to obtain your trade licence.
- The training component of your school-based apprenticeship or traineeship will be undertaken with an external training provider, and your study times (as well as your work hours) must be incorporated into your school timetable.
BENEFITS:
- Earn award wages while completing your senior years
- Employer pays the full cost of the training
- Finish high school with your leaving certificate, a nationally registered qualification, AND a trade licence
LIMITATIONS:
- There may be additional costs for things like uniforms, equipment, textbooks, transport and travel
- It may be challenging to incorporate the work and training schedule into the school study timetable
- Juggling full-time work, training, and the high school curriculum all at the same time can be challenging
10 Benefits of School-based VET
There are so many benefits for grabbing a VET qualification while you are still in school it’s hard to narrow them all down, but here’s our top 10.
1. Nationally recognised qualification
VET qualifications are recognised by businesses, employers, government departments, universities, and schools Australia-wide, and in some foreign countries too. They never expire and are specifically matched to actual job roles and employment areas.
2. Credit toward your leaving certificate
Most VET qualifications actually count towards the final ranking on your leaving certificate. This is great news if academia, essays, and exams just aren’t your thing.
3. Finish school job-ready
In the 21st century workplace, every Australian employee needs to have a solid understanding of on-the-job safety and sustainable work practices. And whether you drive a truck at an underground coal mine or greet customers at a nail salon you need to be able to communicate with your co-workers and follow procedures.
All VET qualifications are aligned to specific job roles and cover these critical components, so when you graduate you’re ready to start work.
4. Work Experience
Experience counts in today’s competitive job market and VET qualifications often involve a work placement. The exposure to a live workplace moves you beyond mere student, and you’ll actually be solving problems and communicating with customers and colleagues in the real world. Work experience greatly enhances your employability, not to mention your self-confidence and composure.
5. Wide range of industries
A lot of students think that school-based VET training is limited to trade qualifications, hospitality and cooking. But they could not be more wrong. Imagine spending Year 11 and 12 studying aged care, veterinary nursing, sport and recreation, or IT? In some states you can even study at Certificate IV level and higher.
6. Articulation with university
Many students choose a VET qualification because they aren’t interested in studying at university. But you may find down the track you change your mind. A nationally recognised qualification will help you gain entry to a bachelor’s degree, and in some cases you’ll even gain credits for the work you have already done.
7. Earn an income while studying
Did you know that school-based apprentices and trainees earn full award wages while studying? This is a big deal if you are saving to buy a car or wanting to backpack around Europe in your gap year.
8. Study what interests you
Not everyone’s academically minded, so choosing a hands-on VET qualification in commercial cooking, computing, or construction work — rather than taking extra units in Science and Maths — can make school so much more enjoyable.
9. Explore career paths
Having to map out your entire career path while still in your teens can be totally overwhelming, but a VET qualification while at school can ease the pressure. School-based VET gives you the opportunity to experiment with different occupations and find out what you’re good at.
10. Enjoy heavily subsidised courses
Finally, you’ll have access to free and heavily subsidised qualifications that would normally cost thousands of dollars. And you’ll still be eligible for the under 25s training subsidy after you graduate.
Government funded training? Yes please.
You may not be aware that the cost of many school-based qualifications are subsidised by the government. Depending on where you live, the course you want to study, and personal circumstances, your course may be significantly discounted.
The fastest way to find subsidised VET qualifications is to jump on our Job Starter page. Enter your postcode (or the location where you want to study) and we’ll quickly list the subsidised courses closest to you.
STATE-BY-STATE: quick links to school-based VET qualifications
Every Australian state and territory has different education and training systems, so in this section we’ve provided a state-by-state overview, as well as links to the relevant state government website. Let’s start with the Sunshine State.
Queensland
High school students living in Queensland have the opportunity to complete nationally recognised qualifications under their VET in Schools (VETiS) program.
Vist the VETis website to get more information about the Queensland government’s Priority List of qualifications — i.e. heavily subsidised courses that support state skill shortages and employment needs.
New South Wales
School-based VET in NSW is available to students in Years 9-12 and is governed by NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority). Visit the NESA website to view the list of VET qualifications authorised for delivery to NSW high school students.
Victoria
The Victorian government has invested $8.5 billion in school-based VET training. To learn more about the courses on offer for VCE and VCAL students, visit the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority website.
South Australia
The government in South Australia has an active school-based VET program, overseen by the SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) Board of Directors. Visit the SACE website to view their VET Recognition Register and information about SACE credits.
Western Australia
VET for secondary students in Western Australia is regulated by the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development. Visit their website to view their VET in schools guidelines.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Education oversees the VET in schools program in our nation’s capital. Visit their website for more information about how students in Years 10-12 can achieve nationally recognised Certificate II and Certificate III courses to support their Year 12 Leaving Certificate.
Northern Territory
The NT Department of Education oversees the VET in schools program which allows high school students from Years 9-12 to get a VET qualification wile studying for their Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET). Visit the NT government website for more information.
Tasmania
School-based VET in Tasmania is for Year 11 and 12 students and is implemented by the Tasmanian Department of Education. Visit the EducationTAS website for more information.
Taking a step into VET
If you think a VET qualification might be a good fit for your final years at high school there are a few steps you can take to make it happen.
- Jump on our Job Starter section. Check out qualifications near you that are subsidised by the government and make a list of courses and career paths that sound promising.
- Research possible career paths. Now do some googling on the career paths from your list. The website https://joboutlook.gov.au is a great place to get this information.
- Request information from RTOs near you. Use the ‘enquire now’ button on our website to get in touch with training organisations and find out if the course you like is eligible for school-based delivery in your area.
- Talk to the school. Finally, make a time to see the school career counsellor or VET co-ordinator. They can advise you on the courses that will suit your career aspirations and the subjects you’ll need to make it happen.