Vocational Education And Training (VET)
VET What is it?
Vocational education and training is "education
and training for work". It exists to develop and recognise the
competencies or skills of learners. These work related skills provide a
wide range of options for students while they are still attending school and
much more post school.
VET provides students with a start to their
careers. The pathways that students can start at school at Certificate I
and II level can progress them as far as a degree with recognition of
achievement throughout. Alternately, students can enrol in VET courses
after leaving school.
Major objectives of vocational education
& training (VET) in schools
The major objectives of
VET in Queensland schools include:
- delivering subjects that have
recognised and valued outcomes
- meeting the curriculum needs
and interests of young people and making school learning experiences more
relevant to their lives and aspirations
- enhancing the career and
employment opportunities for young people by maximising post-school
education, training and employment pathways
- helping to prepare young people
for employment and the world of work more broadly
- raising the profile of VET
within post-compulsory schooling and thereby increasing the likely uptake
of more advanced VET programs after school
- recording student achievement
in recognised VET programs on the Senior Certificate as the major record
of student achievement in post-compulsory schooling in Queensland
- maximising the efficient and
effective use of public resources allocated to these programs
- Contributing to the future
skills base of Queenslanders, and enhancing the competitiveness of
Queensland business and industry.
The Australian Qualifications Framework
All of the VET programmes offered by this college can
lead to nationally recognised qualifications – a certificate if you complete
all of the requirements of the qualification, or a statement of attainment for
those parts that you do successfully complete (if you do not complete the full
qualification). This certificate/statement of attainment will be
recognised in all eight States/Territories in Australia.
This is because in Australia we now have a national
qualifications framework called the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
There are 12 different types of qualifications you can obtain. They are
shown in the diagram below. Those that are bolded are the ones that you
have the opportunity to fully or partially complete through the VET programmes
you are undertaking at this school.
AQF Qualifications by Educational Sector
|
Schools Sector
|
Vocational Education and Training Sector
|
Higher Education Sector
|
|
Senior Secondary
Certificate of Education
|
Advanced
Diploma
Diploma
Certificate IV
Certificate III
Certificate II
Certificate I
|
Doctoral
Degree
Masters Degree
Graduate Diploma
Graduate Certificate
Bachelor Degree
Advanced Diploma
Diploma
|
School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SAT's)
Vocational Pathways may begin as early as Year 10 with the opportunity
for students to engage in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. This
usually means that participating students spend one or two days at a workplace
where they are earning at trainee rates and learning on the job skills and from
certificate course work delivered by the local TAFE or a private provider.
There are many vocational areas that are covered by these arrangements.
These include traineeships in Retail Operations, Hospitality Operations,
Horticulture, Business Administration, Auto Mechanics and Servicing, and Early
Childhood, and apprenticeships in Auto Mechanics, Heavy Vehicle Diesel Fitting,
Carpentry, Commercial Cookery and Sheet Metal Fabrication.
These are great opportunities for students to take part in career
focused learning while they continue their study at school.