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Who Are We?

The WASM VET Cluster is a partnership between 16 regional secondary schools, RTOs, the Department of Education, and Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN. Through the cluster, member schools have access to a diverse range of vocational education and training opportunities. Bringing regional students together helps to make vocational education and training more viable and sustains meaningful training and workforce development for our region. The WASM VET Cluster is coordinated by Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN (WSMLLEN) on behalf of the participating schools.

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Member Schools:

  • Ararat College

  • Birchip P-12 School

  • Dimboola Memorial Secondary School

  • Edenhope College

  • Goroke P-12 College

  • Holy Trinity Lutheran College

  • Hopetoun P-12 College

  • Horsham College

  • Horsham Special School

  • Kaniva College

  • Murtoa College

  • Nhill College

  • Rainbow P-12 College

  • Stawell Secondary College

  • St Brigid’s College

  • Warracknabeal Secondary College

Vocational Education & Training (VET) programs are nationally recognised vocational (work) certificates. A VET course provides specialised industry training that focuses on practical skills and knowledge for a specific career. VET courses are designed with industry professionals to ensure training meets current job demands and are approved by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Each VET course is broken down into ‘units of competency’. Units of Competency are a set of skills that students will learn as they complete their course. They are like the ‘building blocks’ towards obtaining the qualification.

What Is VET?

Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VDSS) is a program that facilitates senior secondary students to undertake a VET course while still at school. The design of VDSS means that the VET course is endorsed for recognition in the students preferred senior secondary pathway i.e. Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Vocational Major (VM) or the Victorian Pathway Certificate (VPC). Students should engage with their schools careers practitioner to help decided which pathway is best for them.

What Is VDSS?

  • A nationally recognised qualification

  • Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a nationally recognised qualification.

  • Students may receive a Statement of Attainment for Units of Competency successfully completed if the full certificate is not completed.

  • The qualification and/or units of competency successfully completed may pathway directly into further education and training upon leaving school or successfully obtaining a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.

What Will I Get?

Currently course costs are subsidised through the Department of Education and your school through the Victorian Training Guarantee. Subsidies may also extend to the cost of transport to and from the RTO. Students may have to pay some material or book fees depending on the course. You can see the costs when exploring course information on this website, please note that the fees are subject to change without notice.

What Will  It Cost?

​Different VET courses have different levels of workload. Whilst VET programs incorporate a high level of hands-on-learning, they also include significant theory-based training. Some VET courses also require higher levels of literacy and/or numeracy. Students should always talk to their schools’ careers practitioners and their family before enrolling. If a student is eligible for funding to provide education support within their school, the school will also organise education support within the VET class.

How Much Work  Is There  In VET?

  • Practical Skills: Gain hands-on experience and practical skills directly applicable to real-world jobs.

  • Early Career Start: Start building a career pathway while still in school, giving you a head start in the workforce.

  • Industry Connections: Build connections with industry professionals and potential employers through work placements and training.

  • Increased Employability: Improve your job prospects with nationally recognised qualifications that make you stand out to employers.

  • Flexible Learning: Enjoy a variety of learning options that can be tailored to your interests and career goals.

  • Pathway to Further Education: Use your VET qualifications as a stepping stone to higher education or advanced training opportunities.

Why Should I Do A VET?

​The Department of Education provide funding through the Statewide LLEN network to run a free VET Transport system for VDDS students to ensure all young people have access to vocational education and training. You will be asked if you will be attending by bus during the application process and if so, provided with route information and bus timetables before starting your VET course.

VET Transport

VET information can be found on this website, however, if you’d prefer, you can download a VET handbook by clicking here.

Need a course handbook?

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