State and Territory Activities - Victoria

State and Territory Activities - Victoria

Victoria

Access to education and training

Up to the age of 20

  • All young people in Victoria are entitled to free education at a government school up to the age of 20.
  • Young people between 15 and 19 years of age are also entitled, through the Victorian Training Guarantee, to a place in a government-subsidised qualification at any public or private provider that meets the conditions required to offer government-subsidised training. This includes one of the eighteen TAFE institutes or many Adult, Community and Further Education providers located across Victoria.
  • In all cases, enrolment is subject to a place being available and the young person meeting course requirements.

Ages 20-24

  • An entitlement to a government-subsidised place for 20 to 24 year olds who are either undertaking foundation level qualifications or upskilling is also delivered through the Victorian Training Guarantee. Victoria’s eighteen TAFE institutes, as well as registered training organisations including Adult, Community and Further Education providers that are contracted to deliver Victorian Government subsidised training, also provide training to this cohort.

Further information is available at:

Skills Victoria

Adult Community Education and Further

Options available

  • Young people have many options for achieving Year 12 or its equivalent, both within school and with other education and training providers. Victoria offers a choice of senior secondary certificates (Victorian Certificate of Education, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and International Baccalaureate).
  • Vocational Education and Training in Schools can be included as a component of either the VCE or the VCAL. In addition, School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships offer students enrolled in the VCE or VCAL the option of combining part-time paid employment, school and nationally recognised vocational training.
  • Many TAFE institutes and Adult, Community and Further Education providers also deliver the VCE and VCAL. These and other registered training providers also provide a range of nationally accredited vocational education and training qualifications.
  • The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)  regulates all education and training providers in Victoria from home schooling to higher education and including overseas secondary student exchange organisations. The VRQA maintains a register of all education and training providers in Victoria and the accredited qualifications they offer. It also ensures that minimum standards are maintained by the providers it has registered.

Find out more at:

Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority 

Years 10 to 12 

Beyond School

Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Leaving School before End of Year 12

Youth Central Studying & Training.

Technical Education Centres

  • Since 2007, young people aged between 16 and 19 years have had the opportunity to access education and training at a Technical Education Centre (TEC). TECs provide senior secondary students with access to high-tech, modern facilities, teachers with current industry knowledge and a learning environment, on a TAFE site, that is catered specifically to young people.
  • TEC students can choose from a range of vocational and training programs including VCAL, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and traineeships.
  • TECs have been established at Ballarat, Wangaratta, Heidelberg and Berwick. The former Australian Technical Colleges at Geelong, Bendigo and Bairnsdale/Sale are now also operating as TECs.

Find out more at: 

Skills Victoria Technical Education Centres.

Assistance in choosing options and pathways

  • Effective careers and transition programs are a vital component of strategies to improve student engagement and increase school completion. Managed Individual Pathways (MIPs) funding supports Victorian Government schools’ careers and transition programs, including ensuring all students aged 15 years and over in government schools are provided with an individual Career Action Plan (pathway plan) and associated support as a means of making a successful transition through the post-compulsory years of education, to further education, training or full-time employment.
  • Koorie young people receive MIPs assistance earlier, from Year 8. Schools are also funded through MIPs to provide additional support to students at risk of disengaging or not making a successful transition to further education, training or secure employment.

MIPs aim to help young people to:

  • develop their knowledge and understanding of education, training and employment  options, and
  • develop skills to effectively manage their careers and pathways throughout their lives.

The MIPs funding supports a key strategy in the Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development to improve the transition from school by strengthening school responsibility for monitoring young people’s pathways until they complete Year 12 or equivalent.

For further information on MIPs, see: Managed Individual Pathways

Students participating in youth pathways programs in TAFE institutes or Adult and Community Further Education institutions can also have pathways plans.

A set of initiatives to further improve career development services available for young people in Victoria has been funded under National Partnerships. For details, see: Youth Career and Transitions Programs

Additional general advice for young people on jobs and careers is provided online at Youth Central.

Find out more at: Youth Central Jobs and careers