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What is VET in Schools?
Vocational Education and Training in Schools are programs undertaken by school students as part of the senior secondary certificate that provide credit towards a nationally recognised VET qualification within the Australian Qualifications Framework. The training that students receive reflects specific industry competency standards and is delivered by a Registered Training Organisation or a school in partnership with a Registered Training Organisation.
A key success of VET in Schools is the integration of vocational options within the traditionally academic studies at the senior secondary school level. VET in Schools programs allow Year 11 and 12 students to:
- develop industry specific skills;
- gain nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training qualifications and units of competency while still completing their senior secondary school qualification;
- develop employability skills and an understanding of the world of work, and;
- gain an understanding of the world of work which is valuable experience to assist with planning and pursuing their career pathways.
Key Policies
Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians
On 5 December 2008, State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers of Education meeting as the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA), released the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians which sets the direction for Australian schooling for the next 10 years. The Melbourne Declaration supersedes the Adelaide Declaration released in 1999.
MCEETYA Four Year Plan 2009 – 2012
A Four Year Plan has been developed to accompany the Melbourne Declaration.
The strategies and actions supporting the commitment in the Melbourne Declaration are aligned to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) targets, including the commitment to Lifting the Year 12 or equivalent attainment rate to 90% by 2015, and are supported by all State and Territory governments through COAG.
Framework for Vocational Education in Schools - agreed in 2001
In response to the 1999 Adelaide Declaration, a New Framework for Vocational Education in Schools (comprising policy directions and an implementation plan), was developed and agreed to in 2001 for implementation by 2004.
An important aspect of the Framework for vocational education in schools is that it directs the efforts of the school sector to develop and incorporate vocational education offerings across all years of schooling and to expand the offerings from what had largely been programs directed to the provision of industry recognised skills.
Published Data
VET in Schools Data
Data on Vocational Education and Training in Schools is reported annually and is available on the MCEECDYA website.
My School
The My School website was launched on 28 January 2010.
The website includes a report card for almost 10,000 Australian schools. Each report card provides performance and contextual information about each individual school, including two indicators for engagement in Vocational Education and Training in Schools.
For more information visit the My School website.
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