Develop basic skills and knowledge in literacy and numeracy to assist you in the workplace, and gain industry-specific skills to help your professional development.

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) (Foundation) is a senior secondary school certificate recognised within the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) that focuses on hands-on training and practical skills relevant to work and life.

This course develops practical skills by focusing on:

• literacy and numeracy
• work related skills
• industry specific skills
• personal and employability skills.

You can study Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of this course, allowing you to complete VET modules and/or certificates as part of the VCAL.

You can also complete a Pre-Apprenticeship or a School Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship as part of the program.

• Location:
  Footscray Nicholson
• Other locations:

  Harvester Technical College, 76 Suffolk Road, North Sunshine 3020

• College:
  VU College
• Delivery mode:
  On campus
• Course code:
  VCALFND001
• Duration:
  1 year
• This information is for Australian residents.
  Click here to search for courses available to non-residents

How to apply

Core units
LIT011 Literacy skills foundation reading and writing
The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop skills and knowledge to read and write simple or short texts. Texts will deal with mainly personal and familiar topics but may include some unfamiliar aspects.
At this level students, often with support, use the writing process with an awareness of the purpose and audience of the text.
In reading students are able to identify the main point of the text, some key details and express an opinion about the text as a whole as well as some of the details.
At the end of the Foundation Reading and Writing unit students will be able to read and comprehend a range of simple short texts and write a range of short texts in a number of contexts which may be interrelated.

LIT012 Literacy skills foundation oral communication
At the end of this unit students will be able to use and respond to spoken language, around everyday subject matter which may include some unfamiliar aspects, for a range of purposes in a number of contexts which may be interrelated.

NUM011 Numeracy skills foundation
The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop the confidence and skills to perform simple and familiar numeracy tasks and to develop the ability to make sense of mathematics in their daily personal lives. The mathematics involved includes measurement, shape, numbers, and graphs that are part of the students' normal routines to do with shopping, travelling, cooking, interpreting public information, telling the time etc.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to perform everyday mathematical tasks which involve a single mathematical step or process. Their communication about mathematical ideas would mainly be spoken rather than written responses.

PDS011 Personal development skills unit 1 (foundation)
The purpose of this unit is to focus on the development of organisation and planning skills, knowledge, practical skills, problem solving and interpersonal skills through participation in experiences of a practical nature. The focus of the learning program for Foundation Unit 1 includes:
- subject specific knowledge applicable to a relevant personal, social, educational and/or community goal
- skills applicable to a relevant personal, social, educational and/or community goal
- development of an understanding of social issues and civic responsibility
- introduction to problem-solving skills
- introduction to skills for planning, organising and working in teams.

PDS012 Personal development skills unit 2 (foundation)
The purpose of this unit is to focus on the development of organisation and planning skills, knowledge, practical skills, problem solving and interpersonal skills through participation in experiences of a practical nature. The focus of the learning program for Foundation Unit 1 includes:
- subject specific knowledge applicable to a relevant personal, social, educational and/or community goal
- skills applicable to a relevant personal, social, educational and/or community goal
- development of an understanding of social issues and civic responsibility
- introduction to problem-solving skills
- introduction to skills for planning, organising and working in teams.

WRS011 Work related skills unit 1 (foundation)
The purpose of this unit is to focus on the development of appropriate skills and knowledge in order to provide the necessary OH&S preparation for the workplace.

WRS012 Work related skills unit 2 (foundation)
This unit provides a focus for the development of work related and pre-vocational skills in the context of practical work related experiences, through:
- integrating new learning about work skills with prior knowledge and experiences
- enhancing the development of employability skills through work related contexts
- developing basic critical thinking skills that apply to problem solving in work situations
- developing basic planning and work related organisational skills developing transferable skills for work related contexts.

To be awarded the VCAL, students must complete a learning program which contains a minimum of ten credits (1000 hours total). This will include units from the above list and units from one of the streams below. Each unit is equal to 100 credit hours.

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Foundation) - Return to Study
This return to study program includes subjects from the VCE, the VCAL and VET, work placements and individualised vocational pathway planning. The course focuses on developing "learning to learn" skills, continuing literacy and numeracy learning and preparation for further study and/or employment. As part of the program students may opt to include a VET subject selected from a range of VET programs offered at VU. Information Technology (IT) and multimedia projects are also offered as core VET units for all students undertaking this program. Students study at Footscray Nicholson campus.

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Foundation) - Try a Trade
This program is designed to give young people the opportunity to experience a range of trades in the form of 'taster' programs. Students study different trade areas, undertake work placement and continue to work on communication skills, literacy and numeracy. Trade areas include: Metal Fabrication; Automotive; Bricklaying; Painting & Decorating; Sign Writing; Carpentry; Transport & Distribution; Welding; Spray Painting. Students study at Harvester Technical College.

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Foundation) - ESL
This program is designed to support the learning and employment needs of ESL youth. Students learn about work opportunities and practices and undertake a supported work placement. They undertake community projects and participate in a health and recreation program. Concurrently, students receive intensive English language tuition and support and individualised vocational pathway planning. Students study at Footscray Nicholson campus.

• Student entry point is dependent on a pre-course assessment and would start at the level which matches needs and abilities.