Teaching and Learning > Secondary School > Vocational Education

Students at St Margaret’s are provided with the opportunity during their senior years to include in their educational program, study of vocational education subjects that may link to future employment options or areas of specific interest.

They may select vocation education options as part of the following pathways:

• Students who wish to gain an OP may include a vocational subject as their sixth subject or undertake a School-based Traineeship.
• Students who wish to follow the Non-OP course of study with or without the addition of a School-based Traineeship.
• Students who may choose a modified pathway and who wish to gain credits towards the Queensland Certificate of Education.

 

What is Vocational Education?

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is nationally recognised training offered in schools throughout Australia that provides students with the chance to complete their secondary education, acquire work sills and to gain partial or complete VET qualifications. There are various VET pathways available to students, from programs offering a few hours per week to part-time school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, which combine training and paid work.

Qualifications under the VET system students are able to achieve a variety of qualifications while still at school. Qualifications include certificates I, II, III & IV and diplomas.

Certificates I & II provide students with basic vocational skills and knowledge, preparing them for entry level employment in a wide range of jobs such as florists, sales assistants, bank officers, Certificates III and IV prepare students for employment in roles as diverse as animal attendants, beauty therapists, accounts clerks, graphic designers and systems analysts.

Teaching and Assessment in the VET area differs from more traditional school subjects in that it is based on teaching industry standards and learning outcomes. This approach is known as ‘competency-based’ training and assessment. Under this system students are considered to be competent when they can apply their knowledge and skills to successfully complete work activities in a range of situations and environments that meet the standard of performance expected in the workplace.

Recognition of Prior Leaning (RPL) recognises prior skills that may have been gained by students through informal or formal training, experience in the workplace (part-time work for students), voluntary work or other work related activities. Whole or part qualifications can be awarded to students on the basis of these skills without further study.

School-based Traineeships and Apprenticeships bring together training and employment under a legal contract between the apprentice and trainees, training providers (such as TAFE) and employers. Apprentices and trainees receive a training wage. Traineeships are available in areas outside the traditional trade apprenticeship model, and include areas such as sales, retail, hospitality, service and clerical occupations and agriculture.