Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Courses

Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses are offered as part of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) or Record of School Achievement (RoSA). VET courses are designed to deliver workplace-specific skills and knowledge and cover a wide range of careers and industries. VET courses for secondary students are developed by NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) and are based on national training packages.

VET courses allow students to gain both HSC or RoSA qualifications and a national qualification or a statement of attainment as part of the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). These qualifications are widely recognised by industry, employers and tertiary training providers and universities and will assist students to progress to various education and training sectors and employment.

Public Schools NSW, RTO is accredited to deliver and assess VET qualifications to secondary students.

It is mandatory for all students studying a VET course to create a Unique Student Identifier (USI) upon enrolment. Students will require a form of identification for the creation of the USI. Examples include a Medicare Card, Australian Birth Certificate, Driver’s License or a valid Passport.

Assessment in all VET courses is competency based. The student is assessed on what they can do (the skills) and what they know (the knowledge) that will equip them in the workplace. Students are either deemed “competent” or “not yet competent” by the teacher. Students who have successfully achieved competency will have the skills and knowledge to complete workplace activities in a range of different situations and environments, to an industry standard of performance expected in the workplace.

Competency-based assessment materials are designed to ensure each learner has the opportunity to achieve all the outcomes (skills and knowledge) to the level of the qualification. Students will receive documentation showing all competencies achieved for the VET course undertaken.

Board Developed VET courses can contribute to the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). These courses have an optional HSC examination. Students wishing to include a VET course in the ATAR calculation must sit the HSC examination after they have completed a minimum of 4 Preliminary and/ or HSC units.

Board Developed VET courses have specified workplace requirements and include 70 hours of industry specific mandatory work placement or simulated workplace hours as determined by NESA.

Stage 6 Board Endorsed VET Courses count towards the HSC or RoSA but do not have HSC examinations therefore do not count in the calculation of the ATAR. Board Endorsed VET Courses have mandatory or recommended industry specific work placement.

Due to the specific requirements of a VET course it is recommended students speak to the VET Coordinator or Careers Adviser before choosing the course to ensure they are fully aware of the requirements and the course is suitable for their individual needs, knowledge and skills. 

Externally delivered Vocational Education and Training (EVET)

Students in Years 9–12 have the option of studying VET courses either at school, or through external, accredited training providers such as TAFE NSW. VET courses delivered by an external RTO/training provider to school students are known as EVET courses. Several small training providers also deliver VET training to school students.

VET courses can assist students to plan their career pathway and:

• gain practical, work-related skills to enhance employment opportunities.
• complete units that count towards school qualifications such as RoSA and HSC.
• start or complete a nationally recognised qualification while still at school.

VET assessment is competency based and students must completely satisfy all assessment requirements and be deemed competent by a qualified trainer in order to satisfy qualification requirements. Students successfully completing a VET course and achieving a Statement of Attainment may be eligible to apply for credit transfer in other courses in a similar industry after leaving school by providing their transcript to the relevant tertiary institution. All students studying a VET course must obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and provide this to the training provider at the commencement of the course.

Categories of EVET courses

Board Developed Industry Curriculum Framework (ICF) Courses include Automotive, Business Services, Construction, Electrotechnology, Entertainment Industry, Financial Services, Hospitality, Information Technology, Human Services, Primary Industries, Retail Services and Tourism, Travel & Events. They mostly count for 4 units of HSC credit, include 70 hours of mandatory work placement and have an optional HSC examination.

Board Endorsed Courses (BECs) are courses based on national industry Training Packages that are endorsed by NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for inclusion as an elective in Year 9 or 10 or in the Higher School Certificate. These courses include Animal Studies, Beauty Therapy, Fashion Design Hairdressing, Laboratory Skills, Plumbing, Sport and Recreation and Warehousing. Stage 6 BECs mostly count for 4 units of HSC credit, they do not count towards the ATAR and there is not a HSC exam. Stage 6 BECs may also be studied by Year 10 students as Early Commencement of Stage 6.

Delivery patterns of EVET courses

Students should investigate the delivery pattern of the EVET courses they are interested in so they are aware of what the commitment will be and also to understand how the EVET course will fit in with the total pattern of study. There are several options for the delivery of EVET courses e.g. 120 hours, 2 units x 1 year courses; 180 hours, 3 units x 1 year courses; and 240 hours, 4 unit courses which can be offered over one or two years. A small number of EVET ICF courses also offer specialisation units to complement 240 hour courses. Students who successfully complete all units may be eligible for a full Certificate qualification, rather than a Statement of Attainment.

The EVET courses that are on offer at Blackwattle Bay are:

• Business Services (Certificate III in Business)
• Construction (Certificate II in Construction Pathways + Statement of Attainment towards Certificate II in Construction)
• Entertainment ( Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services) 
• Cookery (Certificate II in Cookery) 
• Hospitality (Certificate II in Hospitality)
• Retail Services (Certificate III in Retail)