The Andrews Labor Government is supporting more students to pursue their passion with Victoria named the only Australian state to increase its number of school students in Vocational Education and Training.

The news comes as our year 10 students excitedly choose their next steps, with many taking advantage of the Government’s reforms to senior secondary schooling – setting themselves up for future success.

Schools across the state are holding information nights and providing other resources for students and parents to help them understand their options in the VCE, including VET subjects and the new VCE Vocational Major.

Latest figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research show students in VET in secondary schools rose 1.1 percent to 52,350 last year in Victoria.

Nationally, numbers were down by 3.3 percent. The only other jurisdiction to record an increase was the Northern Territory.

Our secondary school students get tailored advice to consider whether VET is right for them. They complete a personal Morrisby career diagnostic profile, receiving subject and career counselling before choosing their senior secondary pathway.

We are supporting schools across Victoria to offer a core set of VET options in 12 in-demand sectors like health, construction and creative industries, so students can select VET that matches their strengths and interests.

The VCE Vocational Major is a new course within the VCE that sees students pursue their career goals while building skills for work and life. The curriculum includes literacy and numeracy skills, work-related and personal skills, and practical experience in one or more industries through VET.

While every VCE Vocational Major student does VET, any VCE student can include VET in their program.

Since 2018, the Victorian Government has invested a total of $639 million in the senior secondary education system. This includes the transformation of career education, and ongoing improvements in school students’ access to VET.

For more information about the changes to senior secondary education, visit vic.gov.au/oneVCE