Local VET in Schools program named best in the State!
19 August 2003
Whittlesea VET students
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks digs in.
A VET in Schools partnership between a local TAFE and secondary college has been recognised in the Victorian Training Awards, the State Government’s highest recognition of the vocational training sector.
The partnership between Whittlesea Secondary College, Kangan Batman TAFE, and the North West Work Education Development Group (a division of Kangan Batman TAFE) won the McDonald's VET in Schools Excellence Award. The award is for the best VET in Schools program in the State, and comes with a $10,000 prize which will be used to further enhance the program.
The Victorian Training Awards were announced by Education and Training Minister, the Hon. Lynne Kosky MP, at an awards dinner held on Thursday 14 August at Crown Casino.
“We are thrilled to have won this award, which recognises both our and Kangan Batman TAFE’s commitment to VET in Schools and to providing students with a smooth pathway from school to work or further education”, said Avril Salter, Principal of Whittlesea Secondary College.
Whittlesea Secondary College’s VET in Schools program has grown from having just one automotive student in 1996, to this year catering for 592 students across areas including horticulture, automotive, hospitality, music industry skills, general construction, community services, sport and recreation, engineering, multimedia, clothing design and production, retail, IT, CISCO, furnishing, equine studies, and financial services.
Kangan Batman TAFE provides a number of specialist staff to deliver programs on-site at the secondary college, and has also provided resources to assist in program delivery, such as equipment for automotive training.
Kangan Batman TAFE is one of Victoria’s largest providers of VET (vocational education and training) in Schools programs, and currently provides training and services for approximately 80 schools.
Structured work-placement is an essential component of all VET in Schools programs, and for Whittlesea SC, this is organised through the North West Work Education Development Group (WEDG). The North West WEDG is part of Kangan Batman TAFE and liaises with industry to organise suitable work-placements for VET in Schools students on behalf of 30 schools.
“We believe the size of Whittlesea’s VET in Schools program is due to our vision of ‘mainstreaming’ vocational education in the total school program,” explains Ms Salter.
“We aim for every student to participate in VET in Schools, and we remove any financial restraints to ensureequality of opportunity for all of our students.”
“Employers and industry groups actively seek our students, as they attain an advanced level of skills. This can substantially reduce the period of time required to complete apprenticeships and training,” she said.
“The community, parents and students consider the VET programs to be equal to other VCE studies. Academic students are also encouraged to select these options as they gain recognition in nationally accredited programs. Successful completion also contributes to their VCE and ENTER score.”
