Orange High School

Honour the Past; Create the Future

Telephone02 6362 3444

Emailorange-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Vocational Education & Training

As part of your HSC, you are now able to study courses that not only contribute towards your HSC and ATAR (with certain restrictions), but also give you an industry recognised qualification when you complete that course.

The courses are called Vocational Courses and can be studied at school or through TAFE through the TVET (TAFE Delivered VET) program.

These Vocational courses form part of the Australian Qualifications Framework. This is the national standard of training and means that a qualification you receive here, is recognised anywhere in Australia. The courses are also "Competency Based" - this means that you move through the course and achieve the relevant qualification by demonstrating that you have the knowledge and can perform the skills required for that qualification. So, the faster you can learn and demonstrate these, the quicker you can complete the qualification.

There are a number of courses that can be delivered by school or TAFE that are known as "Industry Curriculum Framework" courses. As well as counting towards your HSC, they can count towards your ATAR (if you choose to sit for the optional HSC exam) and also give you an industry recognised qualification (usually at Certificate I or Certificate II level).

There are courses available in:

  • Automotive
  • Business Services
  • Construction
  • Electrotechnology
  • Entertainment Industry
  • Financial Services (through TAFE)
  • Hospitality
  • Human Services
  • Information and Digital Technology
  • Metal and Engineering
  • Primary Industries
  • Retail Services
  • Tourism, Travel and Events

These courses involve undertaking a compulsory work placement (35 hours per year) in the relevant industry to your course and are delivered either at school or TAFE.

 

TAFE Delivered VET Courses (TVET):

There are also a large range of Endorsed VET Courses that count towards your HSC, but not your ATAR and still give you an industry qualification when you complete the course. These are normally delivered by TAFE (through TVET) and in some cases, Private Training Providers and schools. Some of these courses include:

- Animal Studies
- Aviation
- Beauty
- Community Services
- Hairdressing
- Horse Industry
- Maritime Operations

- Media
- Music Industry
- Property Services
- Telecommunications
- Warehousing
.... and many more ........

 

See me if you are interested in studying any of these courses and I will tell you what you have to do. I can also let you know what other courses might be available.

The fantastic thing about all these courses is that not only do they contribute towards your HSC (and some will count towards your ATAR depending upon your pattern of study), but you will also gain an nationally recognised industry qualification. This means that if you choose to go to TAFE when you leave school, and continue your study in that same area, you will be deemed to have completed part of that TAFE course already (you did it while still at school!).

Not only that, but employers see that qualification as being very valuable and it can really help you with getting a job.

School Based Traineeships and Apprenticeships:

The VET courses can also form part of a School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeship. School Based Apprenticeships allow senior high school students to commence an apprenticeship while at school. While studying for their HSC, school based apprentices work part-time and undertake the first stage of their formal or off-the-job apprenticeship training. Both the on-the-job apprenticeship training undertaken by school based apprentices can contribute to their HSC. For information on School Based Traineeships and Apprenticeships,click here.

For answers to all your questions on School Based Traineeships and Apprenticeships,click here.