Victorian students have shone in the VCE Vocational Major in 2023, with the new stream seeing over 22,000 enrolments in the career-focused program in its first year – highlighting the many diverse talents in our schools.
The Vocational Major’s popularity shows how passionate students are about getting hands-on training during the final years of school, with the opportunity to undertake real work placements to get them job-ready.
The VCE Vocational Major is a brand-new specialisation that sees participating students get a start on their career goals sooner by building literacy and numeracy skills, work-related and personal development skills, and practical experience in one or more industries through Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs.
The success of the new Vocational Major program is shown in the growing interest by students in vocational education, with building and construction, sport and recreation and creative industries subjects attracting the largest number of students.
Any VCE student can include VET in their study, with the Andrews Labor Government supporting schools across Victoria to offer subjects in 12 in-demand sectors, supporting all students to pursue their interests and passions.
A $120.2 million investment is making it easier for our schools to access materials to boost student learning and gives all access to VET programs to create local work pathways for students – no matter where they live.
The Head Start school-based apprenticeships and traineeships program is also helping year 10 to 12 students to complete training during their final years of school through a $69.4 million investment – rolling out in all government secondary schools by the end of 2023 to give every student the opportunity to kickstart their career.
Through the Labor Government’s once-in-a-generation One VCE reform, all VCE students have the support they need to pursue their dreams, with practical and vocational options for students to open the door to their career sooner or follow pathways to further study.
Since 2018, the Labor Government has invested $639 million in the senior secondary education system, including the transformation of career education, and ongoing improvements in students’ access to VET.
As stated by Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
“The VCE Vocational Major is the biggest reform to senior secondary schooling in a generation and ensures all students can pursue world-class vocational and applied learning or choose a path to higher education studies within the VCE.
“We knew there was huge demand for vocational training for in-demand fields like health, construction and engineering, which is why we’re making sure they have access to their dream careers sooner.”
“Victorian students are some of the best and brightest in the nation and we’re proud to support these leaders of tomorrow as they grasp their future with both hands.”
