Minimum age for vocational enrolments

Are you 16-19?

Victoria University believes that the best place for a young person to complete their compulsory education is in a secondary school. For this reason, our courses for young people are focused on post-secondary provision of vocational studies with the exception being VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) - a senior secondary qualification for Year 11 and 12 students.

Victoria University believes that very young students should be supported and encouraged to stay in school or access education providers who are equipped to support the completion of compulsory education.

What about a Hospitality pre-apprenticeship?

After considerable consultation, Victoria University has set the minimum age of 16 for all courses. This means that a young person seeking to enrol after 1 January 2012 must be 16 years of age, or have completed a Year 10 course of study.

There are some exemptions to this recommendation. For further information please telephone 9919 7772 or email youth@vu.edu.au

On this page - a range of Youth Options. Call us for a copy of this nifty Youth Options brochure

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

SportWest VCAL student

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a ‘hands on’ option for Years 11 and 12 students. All VCAL programs focus on real world projects where you build your industry-based skills while developing core skills in literacy, numeracy and work readiness.

Like VCE, the VCAL is a recognised senior secondary qualification. All VCAL courses include VET (Vocational Education and Training). Courses run at Footscray Nicholson, City King, Werribee and Harvester Technical College

Footscray Nicholson Campus VCAL courses

• Automotive
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Pathways

City King Campus VCAL courses

• Hair and beauty

Contact

Faye Hadden - Youth Transitions Unit
Email: youthprograms@vu.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9919 8573

Harvester Technical College VCAL courses

Harvester Technical College

• Animal studies
• Building and construction (carpentry, bricklaying or flooring)
• Cabinet making/furnishing
• Creative industries (media, multimedia, games development)
• Electrotechnology
• Engineering (mechanical or fabrication - welding)
• Hospitality
• Plumbing (undertaken over two years)
• SportsWest VCAL (sports, recreation and fitness)

Contact

Harvester Technical College
Phone: +61 3 8311 5555
Email: admin@harvestercollege.vic.edu.au

Pre-apprenticeships

Bricklaying pre-apprenticeship

Prepare for entry into an apprenticeship with a pre-apprenticeship course. You get some off-the-job training here at VU, and this is supported by work experience with an employer. A pre-apprenticeship helps you gain a more realistic expectation of the work involved in a particular trade, helps you develop important basic skills and helps you get some experience.

Often employers strongly prefer that applicants undertake a pre-apprenticeship before they will consider taking them on as an apprentice.

Pre-apprenticeship courses

• Bricklaying
• Carpentry
• Engineering - Fabrication
• Engineering - Machining
• Joinery/Shopfitting/Stairbuilding
• Plumbing
• Signage

Vocational Certificates

If you’re a young person who doesn’t have Year 12, we have a range of certificates that you can enrol in.

A Vocational Certificate will start you on a path to a job in a range of exciting work-areas.

Certificate II

• Certificate II in Animal Studies
• Certificate II in Business
• Certificate II in Sign Writing
• Certificate II in Transport and Logistics (Warehousing and Storage)

Certificate III

• Certificate III in Aged Care
• Certificate III in Business
• Certificate III in Children's Services
• Certificate III in Fitness
• Certificate III in Information Technology
• Certificate III in Sport and Recreation (Traineeship)

Find more courses

We have more training options open to you - search for a course now.

You can also email youth@vu.edu.au and let us know about your interests. We can help find the best option for you.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL students

We offer English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to young people from a range of countries - Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Burma, China, Vietnam and many others - where English is not the first language.

Our programs are designed to develop important English language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. You can also access a range of VU support services to help with housing, settling into a new country, managing your money and finding a job.

Contact

Faye Hadden +61 3 9919 8573 or email youthprograms@vu.edu.au

Work Education

The Program of Work Education prepares young people with a range of special learning needs for employment or vocational education. Through the program, students are prepared for work in the real world.

Work experience in the community

tree-planting work experience

Recently, Work Education students helped with a tree planting project at a park in Yarraville. The students attended two weekly sessions and planted over 300 native species, working with Council park crew and volunteers. One volunteer organiser said “it was an excellent day, the students were really keen and loved the planting tasks. It was a pleasure to work with them. One student returned as a volunteer on National Tree Day.”

Participating students were undertaking a Horticulture Vocational Elective, as part of the Certificate I in Work Education.

Contact

Emilia Gigliuto
Email: emilia.gigliuto@vu.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9919 8797

Leon Cox
Program Manager
Email: leon.cox@vu.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9919 7076

Youth Community Gateways

Not sure what to do? Victoria University provides a free career and course advice service called Youth Community Gateways, to help you make the transition from school to TAFE or to get back into education and training. A range of appointment times and locations are available across the western metropolitan area. Make an appointment to meet with a Youth Gateway counsellor:

Phone: +61 3 9919 6100
Email: gateways@vu.edu.au