Vocational education and training in schools

Vocational education and training in schools (VET in schools) has dramatically increased in importance over the past 10 years and is undoubtedly one of the success stories of Australia’s national training system. However, variations in registration, delivery and terminology among the eight state and territory government jurisdictions make it somewhat complex and diverse. This article provides a basic overview of vocational education and training in schools, and highlights some of these state and territory differences.

What is vocational education and training in schools?

Vocational education and training in schools is nationally recognised training that is made available to secondary school students as part of their normal school curriculum. This can be done in two main ways:

  • through institution-based course or subject programs
  • through school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (Australian School-based Apprenticeships), where students become paid employees under a training contract.

Students completing a vocational education and training in schools program have the opportunity
to complete their secondary education with the following:

  • a senior secondary certificate
  • (in some states and territories) a university entrance score
  • practical work skills and credit towards, or attainment of, a vocational education and training qualification.

What is the role of vocational education and training in schools?

Vocational education and training in schools improves the employability skills of young people, equipping them to value the area of work they are involved in and to either find employment or go on to further vocational training or university.

The importance of this pathway is highlighted by the fact that around 70 per cent of Australians do not wish to or are unable to go to university. As a result, vocational education and training in schools has developed from a marginal activity to an established part of senior secondary school education.

How many students are involved?

More than 95 per cent of Australia’s schools with senior students now offer vocational education and training. The number of students who participate in it has increased from about 60,000 in 1997 to 202,900 in 2003, which represents approximately 48 per cent of all secondary school students (National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 2004). The number of students participating in Australian School-based Apprenticeships is also increasing each year.

What are the state and territory differences?

The eight states and territories have adopted widely differing practices in the way that vocational education and training in schools is organised and in the language used to describe these arrangements.

This stems from the differences among the jurisdictions in the arrangements for secondary education in general, and the senior secondary certificate in particular. It is a case of eight separate education systems interlinking with a single national vocational education and training system. These differences contribute to the following state and territory variations:

The delivery method—some jurisdictions deliver a vocational education and training qualification or competency as a separate ‘stand alone’ course, while others ‘embed’ the competencies within a general course curriculum, and some jurisdictions offer a combination of these delivery methods.

Registered training organisation status and external provider involvement—some jurisdictions allow all schools to become registered training organisations in their own right, others provide an administration unit (registered training organisation) for a cluster of schools, while others have auspice arrangements with an external provider.

Recognition of vocational education and training for tertiary entrance purposes—some states require the completion of an additional exam by vocational education and training students, while in others the courses automatically contribute to a tertiary entrance score; and some states do both*.

Access to Australian School-based Apprenticeships—access varies markedly between the states and territories.

* Not all vocational education and training in schools programs are recognised for tertiary entrance purposes.

Australian Technical Colleges

The Australian Government funds 28 Australian Technical Colleges across Australia in areas where there are skills needs, a high youth population and a strong industry base. The colleges cater for Year 11 and 12 students who wish to study for their Year 12 certificate and start an apprenticeship whilst still at school (Australian School-based Apprenticeship). The colleges support students in both their academic and trade training through mentoring, career advice and business and employability skills. These courses are all developed with industry input to ensure that the training offered will be relevant for local needs.

The colleges provide an incentive for more students to stay on at school and encourage more students to pursue a trade qualification. They expand student choice by providing another pathway to a career involving trades. Facilities and educational services offered by the colleges are high quality, establishing them as centres of excellence in trade training, thereby raising the profile of vocational education and training in schools and strengthening the training system as a whole. The colleges play an important role in expanding Australian School-based Apprenticeships, particularly in traditional trade areas.

Next article: delivery basics