Early school leavers
Join over 3,500 students from ages 16-19 at VU who have not yet completed Year 11 or Year 12. You could be studying a great course or taking part in a program that gives you the skills to either get into work, or into further study.
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Minimum age
Victoria University believes that the best place for a young person to learn is secondary school. However, we know that sometimes school doesn't work out for everyone. That's why we provide a range of Youth Options that can get you a Senior Secondary qualification, a Trade, or a Vocational qualification.
VU has recently set the minimum age of 16 for all courses. This means that a young person must be 16 years of age, or have completed a Year 10 course of study. There are some exemptions. For further information phone +61 3 9919 7772 or email youthoptions@vu.edu.au.
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)
The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a ‘hands on’ option for Year 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. You can choose from a wide range of study areas including carpentry, cabinet making, electrotechnology, multimedia and games development, plumbing, hair and beauty.
For further information phone +61 3 9919 7772 or email youthoptions@vu.edu.au.
Pre-apprenticeships
Bricklaying pre-apprenticeship
Prepare for entry into an apprenticeship with a pre-apprenticeship course. You get training here at VU, as well as work experience with an employer. A pre-apprenticeship provides valuable workplace experience that helps you develop important job skills and gain a more realistic expectation of the work involved in a particular trade.
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
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 where English is not the first language.
Our programs are designed to develop important English language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Contact
Faye Hadden
Phone: +61 3 9919 8573
Email: youthprograms@vu.edu.au
Work Education
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.
Tree planting work experience
Contact
It is best to apply directly through the Program. Please contact:
Leon Cox, Program Manager
Phone: +61 3 9919 7076
Email: leon.cox@vu.edu.au
Career and course advice
Victoria University provides a free career and course counselling service called Youth Options. It is the first point of contact for young people, school career advisors, welfare coordinators and youth service providers.
Youth Options helps young people move from school to TAFE or to get back into education and training. A range of appointment times and locations are available across campuses and the western metropolitan area.
Contact Youth Options
Call Youth Options on 9919 7772 for general course information, or email youthoptions@vu.edu.au.