Course Counselling Information

VCE

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the main senior secondary certificate in Victoria. It recognises successful completion of secondary education and provides a valuable pathway to tertiary study and employment.

A VCE program includes a number of different VCE studies (or subjects), with the majority consisting of four units that can be completed over the two years (a unit represents one semester or half a year of work). Units 1 and 2 are typically taken in Year 11, while Units 3 and 4 are usually completed in Year 12. Many schools provide the opportunity for students to study Units 1 and 2 of some VCE studies in Year 10 and Units 3 and 4 in Year 11.

VCE VM

The VCE Vocational Major is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. The VCE VM will give students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.

It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce.

The purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by:

equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals; and
empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real-life workplace experiences.

The VCE VM curriculum (Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development Skills and Work Related Skills) is engaging, based on real life and gives students in-demand skills needed for the future world of work.

Applied learning teaches skills and knowledge in the context of ‘real life’ experiences. Students apply what they have learnt by doing, experiencing and relating acquired skills to the real world. It enables flexible, personalised learning where teachers work with students to recognise their personal strengths, interest, goals, and experiences.

This is a shift from the traditional focus on discrete curriculum to a more integrated and contextualised approach to learning. Students learn and apply the skills and knowledge required to solve problems, implement projects or participate in structured workplace learning.

Students must complete a minimum of three other Unit 3–4 sequences as part of their program. Units 3 and 4 of VM studies may be undertaken together over the duration of the academic year to enable these to be integrated.

VET

What is VET?

As part of your senior schooling, you can now study courses that not only contribute towards your VCE, VCAL and ATAR (with certain restrictions) but also give you an industry-recognised qualification when you complete that course. The courses are called Vocational Courses and can be studied at school or through another Registered Training Organisation such as TAFE.

These Vocational courses form part of the Australian Qualifications Framework. This is the national standard of training and means that a qualification you receive here, is recognised anywhere in Australia. The courses are also “Competency Based” – this means that you move through the course and achieve the relevant qualification by demonstrating that you have the knowledge and can perform the skills required for that qualification. So, the faster you can learn and demonstrate these, the quicker you can complete the qualification.

Head Start

Head Start Program is a model for apprenticeships and traineeships for school students, creating new and exciting possibilities.

Head Start students spend more time doing important, paid, on-the-job training while completing their VCE or VCAL at school.

The program helps students to develop skills and experience that employers value. Head Start helps students to get the best start in their career.

Students can choose to take an extra year to complete their VCE or VCAL but that is not a requirement of the program. Head Start apprentices and trainees spend significant time in the workplace.  This means more time spent training and on the job so that skills and knowledge are applied.

Each Head Start student has a program designed for them. For many students in their first year, they will spend one or two days per week in paid employment. This will increase to three or four days per week in paid employment in the final year which is averaged with full-time work during school holiday periods.

Depending on the requirement of the employer, it is expected that at a minimum students will undertake:

• one day per week paid employment in year 10
• two days per week paid employment in year 11
• two-three days per week paid employment in year 12 (which may be undertaken over two years if required)

Students as they undertake Work Experience or Structured Workplace Learning can request the Head Start team to contact their hosting employer to discuss possible ongoing apprenticeships or traineeships.

To find out more contact the Head Start team in the Pathways space. We support young people to begin their career while at school.

Hear from students, parents and industry professionals who have all benefitted from the Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program:

• Girls in Trade – Aisha (Cambridge Plumbing)
• Girls in Trade – Caitlyn (United Lifts)
• Girls in Trade – Chantelle (Agriculture – Dairy Farm)
• Girls in Trade – Holly (McCartney Electrical Solutions)
• Girls in Trade
• Compilation of Industry, students and parents
• Employer – Caroline Springs Landscaping
• Hearing from our parents
• Hearing from our students