Delivery Arrangements
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, often referred to as “Community VCAL” programs, are typically delivered away from the mainstream school campus and involve partnerships with Adult Community Education (ACE) providers and/or other community organisations. From 2007, changes to the Student Resource Package (SRP) allow late enrolments in these programs to be funded for eligible students.
If you are interested in finding out more Community VCAL and reengagement programs, 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)