The Victorian Government is giving senior secondary students more opportunities to expand their technology skills and build the skills they need for in-demand jobs of the future.
Government secondary school students will have access to tech-enhanced TAFE courses from Term 4 as part of the Head Start Tech Futures pilot, giving them the chance to develop their skills with on-the-job training while completing their VCE or VCAL.
The new and improved curriculum is part of the Head Start School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship program, making sure students can get quality, industry-endorsed qualifications that meet the emerging needs of workplaces – and ultimately providing employers with committed and skilled trainees.
The Government has invested $4.7 million over four years to deliver the project, which has seen two existing courses modified to incorporate additional digital and technology skills.
Certificate II in Integrated Technologies has been revised by Swinburne Institute of Technology to include a new traineeship option, allowing students to be employed in the technology field while completing their studies – while Chisholm TAFE has revised Certificate III in Business.
Students from Hallam Secondary College will be among the first to pilot the Certificate II in Integrated Technologies, while the Certificate III in Business has seen enrolments across a number of schools, including Warragul Regional College.
Two new tech-specific Certificate III courses are also being developed by The Gordon TAFE and Holmesglen TAFE, to be piloted from February, 2022.
The four courses will initially be available to students in selected Head Start schools as part of the pilot before being rolled out across the state, with potential for uptake by adult learners in future – allowing students to gain employment in subjects like coding, cybersecurity, web development, robotics and telehealth administration.
The Head Start Tech Futures qualifications complement the Government’s senior secondary reforms following the Firth Review into vocational pathways for students – which recommended more action be taken to make vocational and applied learning in schools high-quality, relevant to the needs of employers, and available to all students.
The reforms, which are currently before the Parliament, include the move to a single senior secondary certificate incorporating VCAL into VCE – supporting more students to graduate with the skills they need for Victoria’s growing industries.
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As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
“We’re getting Victorian students ready for the jobs of the future, making sure they have the opportunity at school to develop the skills that employers will really value in years to come.”
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
“These high-quality training and apprenticeship pathways for students that in turn supply the industries of tomorrow with enthusiastic and dedicated employees.”
