Vocational education
Vocational education and
training (VET) is training that prepares you for a specific trade,
occupation or vocation. It is traditionally non-academic and heavily focused on
one’s ability to perform set tasks. Every VET course
in Australia is part of a national training package. Every training package
outlines specific skills a person needs to demonstrate when performing a given
set of tasks. VET also includes a component of theoretical knowledge to ensure
students have a sound understanding of the fundamentals of the subject area
they are studying.
In
Australia the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) defines all nationally
recognised qualifications. Within the VET sector the following qualifications
can be issued:
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Certificate I
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Certificate II
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Certificate III
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Certificate IV
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Diploma
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Advanced Diploma
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Vocational
Graduate Certificate
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Vocational
Graduate Diploma
The most popular qualifications are Certificate III and
Certificate IV courses. A Certificate III course
is usually an entry level qualification meaning that it is the minimum formal
qualification a worker needs in order to enter a specific industry. Workers
with a Certificate III qualification will have some relevant theoretical
knowledge; they will apply a range of well-developed skills; be able to find
solutions to a variety of predictable problems; and take limited responsibility
for of others.
Let’s take the Certificate III in Aged Care as an example. This
very popular community services course is for people who work or want to work
in a range of residential aged care facilities. It teaches people about the
aged care sector and the specific skills required to perform personal care,
support for older people, and how to communicate with them within a residential
setting.
A Certificate
IV course is a higher level qualification that is beyond the entry-level
content of the Certificate III. At this level students are required to
demonstrate understanding of a broader range of theoretical concepts; apply a
greater range of skills, analyse and evaluate information, find solutions to a
range of unpredictable problems, and take greater responsibility for others.
Using the aged care example again, a Certificate IV in Aged Care is also for people who work or who want to work in aged care work within a residential facility but it also includes those who have prior experience in this field and want to develop their knowledge and skills. It does not qualify students to provide direct care services to clients, to do this you will need to complete CHC30208 Certificate III in Aged Care or CHC30308 Certificate III in Home and Community Care.
With Certificate IV training workers are able to work independently and undertake a team leader role within an aged care facility or centre-based service.
Today, the VET sector provides a great deal of flexibility when it comes to when, where and how learning can take place. Students are not restricted to having to attend classrooms at set dates and times but can choose to study using a blended approach of online and classroom based learning or they can study an entire course online – without ever having to see anyone else and with the convenience of studying in their own home, at their own pace. There are other ways to attain or Certificate or Diploma qualification; it can be through work-based training, or what is referred to as a traineeship. You complete a course at your own pace while you continue to work and earn money. The other option is recognition. If you have prior qualifications, work or life experience you can apply for recognition and cut down on your study load.
Gaining a qualification has never been easier. There are hundreds
of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) including National College
Australia that deliver nationally recognised training in all of the
qualifications listed above – for more information on qualifications available
in the VET system and the RTOs that offer them go to ntis.gov.au.