Where To Now? 2020 - Guide to the VCE, VCAL, VET, Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

Where to Now? 2020 explains senior secondary options available in Victoria and the pathways open after school. It compares VCE and VCAL, outlines how students can also include VET and school-based apprenticeships or traineeships, and introduces Head Start for apprenticeships and traineeships through more paid, on-the-job training. The booklet offers guidance on making informed choices for Years 11 and 12, including special provision support and practical advice for structuring the VCE program.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Welcome

Senior secondary qualifications overview

Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships

VCE: structure and course planning

What studies can I choose?

􀀞􀀝 􀀜 􀀝 􀀛􀀚􀀙􀀚􀀘􀀗 􀀖􀀕􀀖􀀕 􀀞􀀝􀀜􀀛 􀀙􀀘 􀀙􀀗􀀛 􀀖􀀕􀀔􀀓 􀀖􀀕􀀒􀀑􀀓 􀀖􀀔􀀐􀀓􀀒􀀏􀀏􀀎􀀛􀀍􀀙􀀝􀀌􀀛􀀋􀀗􀀝􀀏􀀋 􀀊􀀍􀀜 􀀐􀀎􀀊􀀝􀀍􀀛􀀛􀀋􀀗􀀝􀀏􀀋 VICTORIAN CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY This booklet contains information about the senior secondary qualifications available in Victoria and where these can lead after you’ve finished school. Before you decide what you want to study, make sure you talk to your VCE or VCAL coordinator or careers counsellor; they will help you make the best choices. If you want to do the VCE or VCALand you have additional requirements associated with an illness, a disability or personal circumstances, there are many support options. This is called Special Provision. Your school is best placed to tell you what’s available to help you complete your VCE or VCAL studies. 2 Where To Now? 2020 6 18 24 29 34 VCE VCAL VET Apprenticeshipsand traineeships Glossary [www.vcaa.vic.edu.au](www.vcaa.vic.edu.au) 3 4 Where To Now? 2020 Welcome As you approach the final years of your school life you’re probably already thinking about the future and the career you would like to pursue. There are many options and pathways available for school leavers to attain their goals. In the Education State we create opportunities for every Victorian school student to obtain the skills, knowledge and experience they need to achieve excellence. The final years at school demand determination, hard work and resilience. The information in this book – Where to Now? Guide to the VCE, VCAL, VET, Apprenticeships and Traineeships – will provide you with advice to help make informed decisions about what pathway to take in Years 11 and 12. You can choose from two senior secondary qualifications – the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). They both mark the successful completion of secondary schooling in Victoria. You can also undertake a Vocational Education and Training (VET) certificate or school-based apprenticeship or traineeship as part of your VCE or VCAL. In 2019 we introduced Head Start, which is a new model for apprenticeships and traineeships for school students. Head Start students spend more time doing important, paid, on-the-job training in priority industries while completing their VCE or VCAL at school. In the first year, students will spend one or two days per week in paid employment, and this increases to three or four days per week in paid employment in the final year. Head Start pathways are currently being offered in over 100 government schools. There have never been more choices available to Year 12 graduates, including university, TAFE, traineeships and work. The VCE is a world-class qualification, recognised throughout Australia and around the world for entry to university. You can include VET in your VCE. The VCAL is a hands-on option that helps you develop knowledge and skills in preparation for apprenticeships, traineeships and employment, as well as further education and training. It gives you practical work-related experience, along with proficiency in literacy and numeracy, and opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork and other vital capabilities for work and later life. You can include VCE studies in your VCAL. I encourage you to read the stories in this booklet from students who have completed the VCE, VCAL, VET and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. They have experienced the challenges and triumphs of the senior secondary years and they have great advice that can help you to decide what you want to study. I am confident that whichever path you choose, the education you have received will lay the foundations for a fulfilling and productive career. I wish you all the best in your final year and beyond. The Hon. James Merlino MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Education [www.vcaa.vic.edu.au](www.vcaa.vic.edu.au) 5 VCE Victorian Certificate of Education The VCE is a senior secondary certificate that provides pathways to tertiary

FAQs

What senior secondary qualifications are covered in this guide?

The guide explains two Victorian senior secondary qualifications: the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). It also describes how students can undertake VET and school-based apprenticeships or traineeships as part of their pathway.

What is Head Start and how does it affect apprenticeships and traineeships?

Head Start is a model introduced in 2019 that increases paid, on-the-job training time in priority industries while students complete their VCE or VCAL. Students spend one or two days per week in paid employment in the first year, increasing to three or four days per week in the final year.

How is the VCE structured?

The VCE course is made up of studies and units, with some studies requiring a sequence. Each study has four units (Units 1–4), typically completed over two years, with Units 1 and 2 in the first year and Units 3 and 4 in the second year.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel