Vocational Major

Students in Victoria can access two senior Certificates: VCE and VCE VM. You should think carefully about which of these programs are going to best suit your skills, interests and pathway choice. 

Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects can be selected as part of your VCE program but must be included if you choose a VCE VM program. 

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the most common Certificate selected by students in their senior years. It provides a pathway to university, TAFE or the workforce. The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is an equivalent Year 11 and Year 12 qualification and is suited to students with a clear vocational pathway or for those who prefer hands-on, project-based learning. VCE VM provides a pathway to TAFE, employment and university through alternate pathways without an ATAR score. 

You can combine your VCE VM program with a School Based Apprenticeship through the Head Start program. 

The VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM)

The VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce. The VCE VM can be tailored to the needs and interests of the student, to keep them engaged while developing their skills and knowledge. 

At Warrnambool College the VCE VM has a structured timetable which includes a half day VET enrolment, one day of structured workplace learning and  three and half days at school. 

Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Further Education (FE) form an integral part of the VCE VM. VET courses are a compulsory requirement for completion of VCE VM certificate. 

To achieve your VCE VM, you must successfully complete at least 16 VCE units over a minimum of 2 years, which must include:

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

• 2 x VCE Mathematics units 

• 2  x VCE VM Work Related Skills units

• 2 x VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and

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

You must also complete at least 3 other unit 3–4 sequences. This means 3 other full year studies at a year 12 level. 

Students can also include other VCE subjects and Structured Workplace Learning to count towards the minimum 16 unit requirement.

Students enrolled in VCE VM unit 3 & 4 subjects will also complete the GAT.

Is VCE Vocational Major for you?

There are some subjects that are compulsory for you to include in your VCE VM program but you still have some decisions about your areas of interest. You must include Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development and Work-Related Skills, as well as a VET subject. Your choice of VET should be based on your vocational interest and your skills. 

Consider your choices carefully, read the information provided on each subject and use the following ideas to help you. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please make sure you speak to the Senior School or Careers staff.

• VCE – Vocational Major supports pathways into vocation and further education. 

• Develops skills for entry into the workplace as well as an apprenticeship or traineeship.

• A VET course is included in the VCE Vocational Major to support the development of industry skills and exposure to work related activity. 

• VET course attendance may require students to make their own way to the location of the course (at own expense) including a compulsory holiday week block. 

• Work placement can be linked to your VET studies or current employment in order to achieve a credit towards your VCE. 

• Attendance at school, VET studies and work placement is vital  for success in completing your VCE certificate.

• Students are required to complete the GAT as part of their VCE Vocational Major. 

The Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC)

Victorian Pathways Certificate students require 12 credits over the two-years and engage with literacy, numeracy, PDS and WRS; VET is optional.

The VPC will replace VCAL at the Foundation level but is only available at year 11 & 12 level. It provides an enriched curriculum and excellent support for students to develop the skills, capabilities, and qualities for success in personal and civic life. This inclusive Year 11 and 12 standards-based certificate will meet the needs of a smaller number of students not able or ready to complete the VCE, including the VCE Vocational Major. The VPC will be delivered to students on an as-needs basis. Discussions about the VPC’s suitability for a student will be conducted between the school, the student and their family. 

 Students complete at least 12 units including: 

• 2 Literacy Units 

• 2 Numeracy Units 

• 2 Work Related Skills (WRS) Units 

• 2 Personal Development Skills (PDS) Units 

Students can also include VET, VCE units and Structured Workplace Learning. 

VCE Vocational Major Work-Related Skills 

VCE VM Work Related Skills allows students to understand and apply concepts and terminology related to the workplace and understand the complex and rapidly changing world of work and workplace environments. It helps students understand the relationship between skills, knowledge, capabilities, and the achievement of pathway goals. The study enables students to develop effective communication skills to enable self-reflection and self promotion and to practically apply their skills and knowledge. Students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained from this study in the classroom environment and through Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). 

The study of Work Related Skills (WRS) leads to opportunities across all industries and areas of work as well as in further education and provides young people with the tools they need to succeed in the future. 

WRS Unit 1 and 2: Focus on Careers and learning for the future and workplace skills and capabilities 

WRS Unit 3 and 4: Focus on Industrial relations, workplace environment and practice and portfolio preparation and presentation 

VCE Vocational Major Personal Development Skills 

Personal Development Skills (PDS) units take an active approach to personal development, self-realisation and citizenship by exploring interrelationships between individuals and communities. PDS focuses on health, wellbeing, community engagement and social sciences, and provides a framework through which students seek to understand and optimise their potential as individuals and as members of their community. PDS explores concepts of effective leadership, self-management, project planning and teamwork to support students to engage in their work, community and personal environments. Through independent and collaborative activities, PDS builds the capacity of students to set personal goals and participate in their communities with confidence, respect, safety and resilience. 

PDS Unit 1 and 2: Focus on healthy individuals and connecting with community 

PDS Unit 3 and 4: Focus on leadership, teamwork and community projects

VCE Vocational Major Literacy 

VCE Vocational Major Literacy focuses on the development of the knowledge and skills required to be literate in Australia today. The Literacy units focus on developing students’ everyday literacy skills through thinking, listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing to meet the demands of the workplace, the community, further study and their own life skills, needs and aspirations. Students will participate in discussion, explore and analyse the purpose, audience and language of text types and content drawn from a range of local and global cultures, forms and genres, including First Nations peoples’ knowledge and voices, and different contexts and purposes. They will discuss and debate the ways in which values of workplace, community and person are represented in different texts and present ideas in a thoughtful and reasoned manner. 

Literacy Unit 1 and 2: Focus on Literacy for personal use, understanding and creating digital texts, understanding issues and voices and responding to opinions 

Literacy Unit 3 and 4: Focus on accessing and understanding informational, organisational and procedural texts, creating, and responding to organisational, informational or procedural texts, understanding and engaging with literacy for advocacy and speaking to advise or to advocate. 

VCE Foundation Mathematics

Unit 1 and 2 cater for a range of student interests, provide preparation for the study of VCE General Mathematics at the Units 3 and 4 level and contain assumed knowledge and skills for these units. Areas of study are: 

1. Algebra, number and structure 

   • Estimation, ratios and percentages

2. Data analysis, probability and statistics 

   • Data analysis

3. Discrete mathematics 

   • Financial and consumer mathematics

4. Space and Measurement

   • Metric system

   • Shape and location

Unit 3 and 4 focus on real-life application of mathematics and consist of the following areas of study:

1. Algebra, number and structure 

   • Algorithmic and computational thinking

   • Representation of formal mathematical expressions

2. Data analysis, probability and statistics 

   • Collection, presentation and analysis of data

3. Discrete mathematics 

   • Financial and consumer arithmetic

4. Space and Measurement

   • • Applications of the Metric system

     • Precision and error

Structured Work Placement (SWL) 

A structured work placement is an opportunity to gain practical experience in a workplace as part of a VCE enrolment. It involves on-the-job training in which students are required to master a designated set of skills and competencies related to VCE VET programs.

SWL experiences help students relate theory to a real world work environment while developing their skills. It provides improved understanding of the work environment and employers' expectations. Increased self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence, especially in the workplace. 

Host employers supervise and instruct the students as they practise and extend the industry skills they have learned in the classroom.  Students are required to complete a minimum of 80 hours of Structured Work placement Learning (SWL) as an essential part of their learning. 

It is the student’s responsibility to seek out an appropriate work placement. Assistance may be given via the Careers & Pathways team; however students are encouraged to use their networking skills to find an appropriate placement. It is advisable that you begin with focusing on contacts you or your family or friends know. By doing this you are more likely to be given a more meaningful placement that will be more satisfying and rewarding. 

There are numerous legal issues concerning work placement and work experience. Students must make sure the relevant legal forms are completed before commencing a placement. Students must also consider travel arrangements when organising their work placement. 

Further information:

Head of Vocational Programs:  Phil Dennis