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Delivery Arrangements

Youth Guarantee
Select entry schools
Specialisations
Tech wings
Community VCAL and re-engagement programs
Australian Technical Colleges
Trade Training Centres

There are a range of delivery arrangements that enable young people to take advantage of the broad range of qualifications and subjects available. These include provision in schools, TAFE and Adult Community Education (ACE).

Youth Guarantee

The guaranteed place in TAFE or other public provider is aimed at improving pathways for young people. Young people aged under 20 who haven’t completed Year 12 or equivalent vocational studies are guaranteed a place at a TAFE or other public training provider.

See: Frequently Asked Questions

Select entry schools

Some secondary schools offer Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) programs to students capable of working at a faster pace than their peers. Work in core subjects is accelerated for students in these programs, and opportunities for in depth study are provided. Students usually complete years 7-10 in three years, giving them an extended range of options for their final years of schooling. Students may subsequently choose to complete additional VCE units, enabling them to accrue a greater breadth of subjects. Some students undertake VCE Extension Studies.

Enquiries about SEAL programs should be made the year before a student's Year 7 placement. Entrance exams are usually held in May and each school determines its own selection criteria.

Two existing selective entry schools – Melbourne High School and Mac Robertsons Girls’ High School provide academic pathways for highly able students from Year 9-12. Entry is through an examination conducted during the Year 8 year. Details on enrolment processes can be found on the schools’ websites; Melbourne High School (http://www.mhs.vic.edu.au/) and Mac Robertson Girls' High School (http://www.macrob.vic.edu.au/) .

Two new selective academic schools will be developed over the next few years. One will be in North Melbourne and the other in the outer east of Melbourne.

For more information, see: Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) Programs

Specialisations

There are a range of existing schools that offer specialised delivery to young people. Examples include NTEC at Northland Secondary College, which provides specialised vocational training to young people. Others will include the new John Monash Science School in Clayton and a new sports school as part of redevelopment of the Maribyrnong Secondary College.

Tech wings

The Tech Wing initiative provides $35 million for new state of the art trade wings at 30 government secondary schools, and $15 million for equipment grants of up to $100,000 to all other government secondary schools to modernise existing trade classrooms. The purpose of the initiative is both to increase the quality of delivery by ensuring that students have access to industry standard training facilities and equipment and to increase the quantum of delivery in high priority industry areas. Implementation of this initiative is expected to commence from 2008.

Community VCAL and re-engagement programs

Many secondary schools have introduced re-engagement programs for post compulsory students both to retain students at high risk of disengaging from education and training and to re-engage students who have already left school. These programs are delivered entirely away from the mainstream school campus and may involve partnerships with external providers that are registered and authorised to deliver a senior secondary qualification. Satellite VCAL programs are where the home school continues to deliver part or all of the VCAL at the external location. Community VCAL is where the school enters into an arrangement with an external, registered and authorised provider to deliver 100 percent of the VCAL on behalf of the school. During 2008 a review of community VCAL arrangements was undertaken by the Department and this has resulted in the statement: Future Directions for Community VCAL Programs. This statement sets the direction for how Community VCAL arrangements will be shaped for 2010 and beyond and addresses issues across five key areas. These are:

The Need for a clear Policy Framework
Identification of Community VCAL Students, Their Characteristics and Outcomes
Accountability Arrangements
Funding
Promotion of Good Practice.

Copies of the review that was conducted by the University of Melbourne in 2008, together with the Future Directions for Community VCAL Programs statement, are available for download at the following links:

If you are interested in finding out more about re-engagement programs that include Satellite and Community VCAL arrangements, please contact your Regional Office

For more information, see: Student Resource Package

Australian Technical Colleges

Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs) are for students in Year 11 and 12. They are a Commonwealth initiative and provide both academic and vocational technical education, as well as the opportunity for each student to commence a School-Based Apprenticeship in a trade. ATCs are located at Eastern Melbourne, Sunshine, Warrnambool, Gippsland (Bairnsdale/Sale), Geelong and Bendigo.

For more information, see: Australian Technical Colleges (http://www.australiantechnicalcolleges.gov.au)

Trade Training Centres

The Trade Training Centres (TTC) in Schools program is a major Commonwealth Government initiative aimed at addressing skill shortages in trades and emerging industries areas and to improve Year 12 or equivalent completion rates. Through the initiative $2.5 billion in capital funding is available over a ten year period. Schools may apply for up to $1.5 million to purchase equipment, carry out minor facility upgrades or for major capital works. The TTC initiative is managed in partnership with the States and Territories.

In order to support all Victorian schools in developing quality applications when applying for TTC funding, DEECD organised a TTC Statewide Conference which was held on Tuesday, 24 March at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Presentations from this day are linked. If you have any queries please contact the DEECD Support Service by e mail trade.training.centre@edumail.vic.gov.au

Full information regarding the TTC initiative including program guidelines are on the DEEWR web site at www.tradetrainingcentres.deewr.gov.au