If you are looking to move forward into the workforce or to take an initial step in your tertiary education, you might want to start by choosing a professional course to help build up your career. An Australian vocational education or vocational education training (VET) qualification can take you where you want to go. They train you for a specific profession and have strong practical content.
The VET sector in Australia is based on partnerships between industry and governments. VET qualifications are provided by private institutions and government institutions called Technical and Further Education (TAFE). The fund, policies, and regulation and quality assurance of the sector is provided by the federal and state government of Australia.
VET courses are the best choice for those who want to find a job in a specific sector in Australia. This is because certain jobs in Australia require a level of further education to be considered for the job role.
VET provided the skills to help people to:
· Rejoin the workforce after a break
· Join the workforce for the first time
· Move into a different career
· Upgrade kills in the chosen field
The VET courses are offered primarily by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). These include Technical and Further Education institutes and private colleges. In some universities, VET courses are added to higher education courses. Each Australian territory or state registers these organizations to:
· Deliver courses developed with industry
· Provide quality training
· Issue a nationally recognized qualification
Types of VET education
The VET sector includes the following types of qualification:
1. Certificate I to IV: These courses provide introductory skills and training. They teach skills in communication and industry-specific knowledge, numeracy and literacy, and teamwork. The course duration varies from six months to two years
2. Diploma: These courses prepare students for enterprise, industry, and paraprofessional careers. The course duration requires one to two years of full-time study.
3. Advanced diploma: An advanced diploma provides a high level of practical skills for paraprofessional work or advanced skills in areas such as building design, accounting, and engineering. The course duration varies in length from 1.5 to two years of full-time study.
4. Vocational graduate certification /diploma: the vocational graduate certificate and diploma are the equivalents of the higher education graduate certificate and diploma. They provide employment-related knowledge and skills. This course usually requires one to two years of full-time study.
5. English language courses: VET institutions also offer English language courses. The course duration varies in length from around four to 48 weeks.
How do VET courses differ from higher education courses?
VET courses are known to provide practical and work-oriented occupational skills, whereas university courses or higher education courses are focused on providing professional career paths and theory-based knowledge. There are many exceptions to this rule because VET offers a wide range of different qualifications and courses. They are:
· Basic life skills, even numeracy and literacy training such as foundation studies or pre-vocational training.
· Basic vocational skills for particular occupations such as automotive and floristry.
· Semi-professional vocational training such as occupational health and safety, and business advertising.
· Study areas with a practical focus such as music, viticulture, and hospitality.
VET courses at the diploma and advanced diploma level often lead to higher education courses such as bachelor’s degrees. The curriculum for this course is the same wherever you study them, so you can transfer your credits to a different organization with an identical program.
