VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. VET gives people workplace skills and technical knowledge.
A Training Centre (TC) is a specialised educational facility where students have access to a wider range of vocational education and training (VET) opportunities. Training Centres at Sydney Catholic Schools include Saint Yon Trade Training Centre (LaSalle Catholic College), St Joseph Trades Skills Centre (Good Samaritan Catholic College), and Southern Cross Catholic College. All senior students across Sydney Catholic Schools may access courses available at our Training Centres.
A school-based apprenticeship usually combines the final two years of school with paid part-time work. This enables students to finish the first year of their trade whilst completing the HSC. Post-school, students then go onto the second year of their full-time apprenticeship, usually with the same employer.
A school-based traineeship is undertaken and completed within in two years whilst at school, providing students with the HSC, a VET qualification, a Certificate of Proficiency and paid experience in the workplace.
A school-based apprenticeship and traineeship combines paid work and learning and are contractual agreements lodged with Training Services NSW.
Being offered an apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity. It is possible, however, to lose an apprenticeship for a variety of reasons including: the economy, illness or injury, or poor performance. Statistics show students are more likely to complete their apprenticeship if they stay at school as a school-based apprentice; given the support to set the student up to flourish, and successfully complete the apprenticeship.
Work placement is a mandatory component of most vocational education and training courses. It provides students with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in the classroom to a real workplace setting.
Students must complete the minimum work placement hours required to be eligible for their HSC, should their VET course contribute to the minimum units required for the HSC credential. Students will receive an N-Award for their respective VET course if the minimum mandatory work placement hours are not completed, as NESA course requirements have not been met.
Some VET courses also require work placement hours to achieve the qualification. If requirements are not met, the student will not achieve the qualification.
There may be fees which are outlined during the subject selection and enrolment process.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available. Students must talk to their VET Teacher and VET Co-ordinator about the process, and submit the form and documentation required.
Yes, vocational education and training qualification delivered at Sydney Catholic Schools are recognised nationally.
All 240-hour VET Industry Curriculum Framework courses include an HSC examination which provides the opportunity for students to have this HSC examination mark contribute to the calculation of their ATAR. Students may study multiple Industry Curriculum Framework courses, and these may contribute to the calculation of the ATAR.
VET courses are competency-based. This means that a student’s performance is judged against a prescribed standard contained in each unit of competency. In competency-based assessment, students are either competent or not yet competent. Teachers will gather information and make judgments about a student’s achievement on a continuous basis.
All HSC courses require a similar level of commitment in order to succeed. Most VET courses have a work placement component, so it is important the number of VET courses undertaken, and the work placement commitment requirements.
Yes, students may undertake more than one VET course as part of their HSC pattern of study. Students should be aware of HSC packaging rules to ensure NESA requirements are met.
For example, a minimum of six board-developed units must be selected, however, if a student wishes to obtain an ATAR, a minimum of ten board-developed units must be selected in Year 11 and 12. Preliminary students must study a minimum of 12 units; whereas, HSC students must study a minimum of 10 units.
Students should select courses based on their interests. If students do well in their HSC Exam, this will contibute to a favourable outcome.