Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
The VCAL program at YHSC is a hands-on option for Year 11 and 12 students, offering practical work-related experience and learning. This program has unique opportunities, challenges and demands for each student that is undertaking the program.
Our VCAL program is designed to develop and extend pathways for young people from school to further education and work.
Like the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), VCAL is an accredited secondary certificate. Students attend classes at school, TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutes and also receive work experience in their chosen field through work placement. Being able to manage your time well together with being able to move between educational and work environments is an essential skill for all VCAL students to demonstrate. At YHSC students begin VCAL in Year 11 (or occasionally in Year 12) and students can complete a school based apprenticeship or traineeship part-time while at school doing the VCAL.
The program provides opportunities for students to develop personal, social and work-related skills to foster a commitment to learning and to prepare them for the world of work.
The VCAL Learning Program comprises four Curriculum Strands:
Strand 1 – Literacy and Numeracy
Students undertake a number of units of work that focus on the development of relevant mathematical and literacy skills to support their work placement and TAFE components.
Strand 2 – Industry Specific Skills (Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs and (SBA) School Based Apprenticeships)
Industry specific skills are developed through work placement (2 days per week). VCAL gives students the opportunity to undertake a structured work placement, a school based apprenticeship or part-time work, as part of their VCAL program. and the VCAL program also includes components of nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) programs completed 1 day per week at a TAFE institute.
Strand 3 – Work Related Skills
Together with a student’s part-time work, apprenticeship, traineeship, work experience or work placement students will undertake units and modules such as occupational health and safety or planning for employment etc. and aim to make the student employable.
Strand 4 – Personal Development Skills
This includes structured activities to help develop self-confidence, teamwork and other skills important for life, employment and active citizenship.
Upon successful completion of a VCAL program students will receive a VCAL certificate and a Statement of Results/Certificate from the TAFE institution they attend.
Students who successfully complete the VCAL can choose from several career options, including: continuing onto further education through TAFE and other learning institutions; completing an apprenticeship or traineeship; and starting a job once school has finished.
Further general information can be found on Victorian Government’s Department of Education and Training website or from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority:
- http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/parents/secondary/Pages/vcal.aspx
- http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vcal/students/index.aspx
A VCAL Policy is available to download from the link below.
- VCAL Selection Policy
For further VCAL information please contact our VCAL Co-ordinator:
Phone: (03) 9839 8800 or
Email: yarra.hills.sc@education.vic.gov.au