VCE Vocational Major

The VCE Vocational Major is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years, developing a well-rounded set of technical, employability and social skills.

• Vocational and Applied Learning incorporates the teaching of skills and knowledge in the context of 'real life' experiences. It allows students to discover how to apply what they have learned by doing, experiencing and relating required skills to the real world.

At its core, the purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by:

1. Equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals; and

2. Empowering them to make informed decisions about the next states of their lives through real life workplace experiences.

The VCE VM will give students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life. It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways), or directly into employment.

Why undertake the VCE VM pathway?

The benefits of vocational and applied learning for students include:

• gaining genuine work experience while still at school

• enabling them to explore a range of potential careers aligned to their interests

• learning a range of 21st century technical and employability skills

• developing soft skills like communication and self management

• developing social awareness through community involvement and civic participation

• clear pathways into post-school vocational education and training (VET) opportunities

• opportunities to enter university through alternative entry (non-ATAR) pathways.

Additionally, the VCE VM offers a differentiated learning experience, with:

• a supportive, collaborative classroom environment

• learning in 'real life' settings in the community, explicitly linking students' learning to real world applications

• personalised student-led learning, aligned to their strengths, interests and learning needs

• a more relaxed, self-paced learning environment with practical, demonstrative assessments.

Would you be well suited for the VCE VM pathway?

While vocational and applied learning is a beneficial inclusion for students undertaking all senior secondary pathways, it is particularly well suited for students who:

• 'learn by doing'

• are interested in training at a TAFE institute, starting an apprenticeship, or getting a job directly after completing school

• may not need an ATAR for their university course of choice

• are building their learning confidence and thrive with more personalised support

Subjects

To be eligible to receive the VCE VM, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units, including:

• 3 VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3-4 sequence)

• 2 VCE VM Numeracy or VCE Mathematics units

• 2 VCE VM Work-Related Skills units

• 2 VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and

• 2 VET credits at Certificate II level or above (180 nominal hours)

• a minimum of three other Unit 3-4 sequences as part of their program.

All VCE VM students will also undertake Work Experience & Structured Workplace Learning placements as part of their studies, with the opportunity to undertake a School-Based Training & Apprenticeship (SBAT) placement.

• An SBAT combine part-time, practical experience in the workplace with recognised, structured training from a Registered Training Organisation. Students undertaking an SBAT would continue their regular school attendance, combined with at least one timetabled day per week spent on the job or in training during the normal school week.

In 2023, Year 11 students will complete Units 1-2 of Literacy, Numeracy, Work-Related Skills & Personal Development Skills, along with a VET subject of their choice, and Units 1-2 of VCE Industry and Enterprise.

• Students currently enrolled in Intermediate VCAL in 2022 will receive credit for units successfully completed into the VCE Vocational Major. In 2023, their enrolment will be transferred to the VCE Vocational Major, completing Senior VCAL Curriculum subjects in 2023 in Year 12.

Links to the VCE VM-specific subjects can be found below:

VCE VM Literacy

VCE VM Numeracy

VCE VM Work-Related Skills

VCE VM Personal Development Skills

Assessment & Certification

Unlike other VCE studies, there are no external assessments for VCE VM Units 3-4 sequences, and VCE VM studies do not receive a study score, and the VCE VM studies do not contribute to the ATAR.

Completing the VCE VM requirements means that students have also completed the requirements of the VCE.

• Upon satisfactory completion of the VCE VM, students receive recognition through the appellation of 'Vocational Major' on their Victorian Certificate of Education and a Statement of Results.

• Successful completion of VET units of competency are recognised by additional statements of attainment or certificates provided by the Registered Training Organisation.

Flexible Delivery

The VCE VM subjects have been designed so Units 1 and 2 can be undertaken as standalone units or concurrently. Units 3-4 of Literacy, Numeracy and Personal Development Skills can also be undertaken concurrently.

• Units 3 and 4 of VCE VM Work-Related Skills must be undertaken as a sequence.

Each unit has been designed to complement the full suite of VCE Vocational Major studies to ensure it is possible to deliver the units in an integrated approach. Flexible delivery of the VCE Vocational Major units allows for integration of complementary outcomes across the studies.

Where applicable, teaching programs can will flexibly structured so that students can undertake programs and projects that combine acquisition and application of knowledge and skills across several of the VCE VM units.

• Integration of teaching and learning materials and activities can increase understanding and application of general concepts, develop multiple perspectives and points of view, and increase the ability of the student to make decisions, think critically and creatively, and build skills in problem solving.

• It may also enhance a learner’s ability to transfer knowledge learnt in one study to other aspects of their life. Through integration of units and outcomes, it will be possible to create greater opportunities for collaboration and team projects.

In an integrated, flexible program students will still need to meet the individual outcomes, including key knowledge and key skills, for each of the units of study, although these outcomes may be taught concurrently.

• Teachers will keep clear documentation of each student’s achievement of the individual outcomes within any integrated teaching and learning program.

• An assessment task used to demonstrate achievement of one outcome in one VCE Vocational Major unit cannot be used to demonstrate achievement in any other VCE Vocational Major unit, Victorian Pathways Certificate unit, VET unit of competency or VCE study.