VET (Vocational education and training) at KSC in 2007
Peter Walsh is the VET coordinator in 2007.
INTRODUCTION
What is VET ?
V.E.T (Vocational Education and Training) is about giving students the opportunity to study their VCE and at the same time study for a nationally accredited certificate in a chosen area at a TAFE college or any other registered provider. It also involves students experiencing work placements alongside their study. This hopefully will assist students to gain employment.
Courses Available – 2007
| VET Course | Study Location |
|---|---|
| Certificate II Engineering | Leongatha Secondary College |
| Certificate II Hospitality | Virtual Campus On-Line Delivery, Central Gippsland TAFE & practical work in an industrial kitchen |
| Certificate II Automotive | Gippsland Group Training, Korumburra |
| Certificate II Building & Construction | Gippsland Group Training, Korumburra |
| Certificate II Horse Studies | McMillan College, Leongatha |
| Certificate II & III Interactive Multimedia | Impact Creativity Centre, Wonthaggi |
| Certificate II Community Services | Gippsland TAFE, Leongatha |
| Certificate II Agriculture | McMillan College, Leongatha |
| Certificate II Hairdressing | Gippsland TAFE, Leongatha |
| Certificate II Beauty | Gippsland TAFE, Leongatha |
| Certificate II Retailing | On-Line Delivery |
| Certificate III Computer Networking | Impact Creativity Centre, Wonthaggi |
| School Based New Apprenticeship | Most VET Areas |
Why has VET come about?
With the decline in the youth labour market and interest in keeping students at school to the completion of Year 12, there has been a push to enhance students' employment opportunities in areas not catered for in the mainstream VCE curriculum.
It is a nation wide development given impetus by the Federal Government.
VET is also a response to changes occurring in the economy and society, global changes in labour markets, industry and employment, and increases in part- time and casual work.
What benefits are there in completing a VET course?
It broadens the existing curriculum with the introduction of areas like building & construction, engineering, hospitality, automotive studies, information technology, agriculture, sport and recreation, retail and electronics. There are approximately 42 programs in total.
It gives students more experience in the world of work.
Students actually gain real workplace and industry competencies.
Workplace learning can enhance a student's self-esteem and confidence.
Through VET in school programs, students will hopefully fast track into employment.
What is a School Based New Apprenticeship?
A School Based New Apprenticeship involves a student being engaged in their VCE as well as being employed and paid on a part time basis within the relevant trade industry.
School Based New Apprenticeships are being conducted in the following areas: Agriculture , Automotive, Community Services, Engineering, Hospitality, Information Technology, Office Administration, Retail.
In many cases, there are subsidies for employers who agree to take on a student as a SBNA.
1. How does VET operate at Korumburra Secondary College?
Any student in Year 10 or Year 11 can study a VET course. A student has to be 15 years of age to embark on a new apprenticeship.
In previous years Korumburra Secondary College had approximately 60 Year 10, 11 and 12 students involved in VET courses and School Based New Apprenticeships in the areas of Automotive Studies, Farm Studies, Interactive Multi Media, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Community Services, Hospitality and Engineering. In 2007 it is hoped that a greater range of VET courses and School Based New Apprenticeships will operate.
If a student enters a VET course or School Based New Apprenticeship, he/she may need to select VCE subjects that complement the particular VET course or School Based New Apprenticeship.
A student studying VET Automotive would be required to select Design & Technology, English, Information Technology, a Maths and Industry and Enterprise.
At KSC, a student combining a VET course or School Based New Apprenticeship with their VCE studies obviously takes on a greater workload and it is ultimately their responsibility to meet the attendance requirements for both courses and to keep up with the additional work load.
The College does its best to accommodate problems in this regard. If a student has to attend a TAFE college when relevant VCE classes operate, he/she must negotiate with their VCE teachers to adjust work demands.
2. Work Placement
This is encouraged for VET students at Korumburra Secondary College. If a student is not studying the VCE study Industry and Enterprise, a VET student would need to consider a work placement relevant to their VET course, particularly in Building & Construction and Community Services.
If a student is studying Industry and Enterprise, their semester length work placement could be considered sufficient to complement their VET course work placement.
Work placements provide a context for enhancing skill development, the practical application of industry knowledge, or the assessment of selected modules as determined by the R.T.O. (Registered Training Organisation).