Vocational Education in Schools
Since 1995 there has been an enormous development in secondary school
curriculum to bring VET programs into the VCE, usually at Year 11. Schools
are now offering one or more of up to 32 different programs in a broad
range of industry areas. The impetus behind expanding school curriculum
in the senior years to add a Certificate 2 (in most cases) or Certificate
3 program include:
· increasing student interest in post compulsory years study
· providing students with more 'job-ready' skills and certification
· helping 'students at risk' (of leaving school before completing
Year 12) find study options more suited to their interests and vocational
directions
· expanding students' post-school pathways, by providing VET courses
that link into higher level VET courses
The VET programs now also underpin Year 11 and 12 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) programs in Victoria.
The most popular VET courses are Information Technology and Hospitality. Around 50% of our members have an allotment that includes Careers Coordinator duties plus VET Coordinator duties.
There are over 28,000 Victorian secondary students enrolled in VET in
schools programs.
Information on Apprenticeships Pathways can be found on the below site. The charts are particularly helpful for illustrating broad ranges of related programs. http://www.aajobpathways.com.au/
2006 National Prizes for VET Practitioners and Students
State finalists have now been announced for the VETnetwork VET Practitioner Awards 2006 and the National Winner was Penny Vakakis, Inner Melbourne VET Cluster. Announced 15 October in Cairns at the VETNETwork Biennial Conference.
Contact:
Sandra Kenman
VETnetwork Australia Executive Officer
Tel 07 32541431 Fax 07 33585881
PO Box 1029, New Farm QLD 4005
www.vetnetwork.org.au
vetnetwork@bigpond.com
WORLD SKILLS 2006
The national competitions were held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, May 2006, with TAFE and VETis students competing in various categories.
http://www.worldskills.org.au/ In 2007 the local, regional and state finals will be held, leading into 2008 national finals.
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 Panel beating competition |
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Part-time Apprenticeships/Traineeships for School Students
Some students are completing traineeships as part of their VCE. This entails
a student combining VCE or VCAL studies plus paid work with training on
and sometimes off the job. The most popular areas are:
· retail
· business administration
· hospitality
· agriculture
This is an ideal pathway for a young person who learns in 'doing' rather than prior to 'doing'. Employers benefit as they nurture young employees who develop a two-year paid employment history with them. There is a minimum number of hours required, and if done over 2 years it requires a commitment of around 15 hours per week. If done over 36 months it is an average of 10 hours a week.
Delivery of VET modules can be conducted within secondary schools or
at the local TAFE provider or with private VET providers.
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Australia http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/
