Media releases

Federation TAFE is supporting more young people to pursue Vocational Education and Training (VET) with numbers of Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary School (VETDSS) students increasing by over 9 percent in 2023. 

VETDSS gives senior high school students practical and industry relevant training as they study a nationally recognised TAFE qualification alongside the VCE, VCE Vocational Major or Victorian Pathways Certificate, and a head start on tertiary studies or a career.  

The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research shows the numbers of VET students in Victorian schools is up by 1.1 per cent, while the national trend of a decrease in VETDSS students of 3.3 per cent. This is in contrast to Federation TAFE, where there was a significant increase of 9.5 per cent, with 735 VETDSS students enrolled across Ballarat and the Wimmera in 2023, up from 671 in 2022. 

Federation TAFE offers 14 Certificate II and III VETDSS qualifications in a range of in-demand areas including agriculture, automotive, building and construction, engineering, healthcare, and hospitality, with courses delivered and taught by industry experienced practitioners.  

Students undergo training in a simulated industry environment one afternoon or day per week at Federation, or at one of 44 partnership schools under the auspices of Federation. The number of students in the partnership schools have also increased significantly, up 9.1 per cent from 492 in 2022 to 537 in 2023. 

While VETDSS courses are customised for school aged students, the curriculum is drawn directly from the certificate program on which it is based so reflect industry competency standards.  

Quote attributable to Federation University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive TAFE, Mr Liam Sloan 
 
“Federation TAFE recognises that VET in schools gives young people with an interest in a more practical occupation a head start on a rewarding career. To reach more of these students and improve access to vocational education and training for high school students, Federation TAFE recently expanded both the choice of VETDSS courses available and the number of classes within each course offering and the demand is there. Federation TAFE is helping students to develop the skills that employers and industry need.”