Vocational courses, also known as Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses are nationally accredited courses that place a strong emphasis on practical training that equip students with practical skills and knowledge to gain employment.

VET trainers possess actual experience in their fields of expertise and have to maintain the currency of their knowledge and experience. They will then modify the courses to reflect changing industry focus and needs. This ensures that you will not only acquire the theoretical knowledge from your studies, you will also be able to gain real life knowledge of the industry to prepare you for employment.

Popular Courses

They are hundreds of VET courses on offer. Some popular courses are:

• Accounting
• Aged Care
• Business Management
• Business Administration
• Child Care
• Cookery
• Finance
• Graphic Design
• Hospitality / Hotel Management
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Patisserie
• Sports and Fitness
• Travel and Tourism

Qualifications

The different Certificate and Diploma qualifications available are:

• Certificate I
• Certificate II
• Certificate III
• Certificate IV
• Diploma
• Advanced Diploma

VET schools offer flexible timetables. Some offer evening and weekend classes. Classes are held over 2 to 4 days per week, depending on the school and the course you enrol in.

Work-Based Training / Work Placement

Many VET courses include a training component in the workplace. This allows you to gain invaluable skills and experience and gain an insight into the industry to ensure that you are work ready at graduation.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of getting any previous relevant experience, which includes working, training and volunteering, to be formally recognised towards a qualification. This may reduce the length and cost of your VET course. You will need to submit payslips, letters from employers or other relevant documents to support your request for RPL.

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is when a VET provider allows you to count previous education or training in a similar field or topic towards part of your qualification. This may reduce the number of units you have to complete to gain your qualification. You will need statements of academic achievement to support your request for credit.

Quality Assurance

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for Australiam’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. ASQA regulates all institutions and courses to ensure that nationally approved quality standards are met.

In Australia, only education institutions who are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) can enrol and deliver education services to students on a student visa. Australia also provides protection for international students through the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 which sets out the legal framework governing delivery of education to international students in Australia on a student visa. Australian education institutions also have to adhere to the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code), which sets nationally consistent standards for the delivery of courses to overseas standards.