Pathways

Parents Victoria senior secondary options webinar in Term 3, 2025

More options for your child in years 10 to 12

Senior secondary education in Victoria is changing. Join a webinar to learn about the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major, Victorian Pathways Certificate and vocational education and training (VET) at school. 

There are more options than ever for students in years 10 to 12. 

If your child is in Year 9 or Year 10, join this webinar to learn more about the vocational and applied learning options available to them during their final school years.

At this webinar, representatives from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Department of Education will tell you about:

• the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM)
• the VCE VM Work Related Skills and VCE VM Personal Development Skills studies
• VCE VET subjects and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships
• the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).

There will be time at the end of the webinar for your questions about students’ options for senior secondary education.

You can register to attendone of 2 webinars:

• 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Wednesday 13 August 2025
• 11 am to noon on Thursday 14 August 2025.

About the VCE Vocational Major

The VCE Vocational Major is a 2-year applied learning program within the VCE that replaced Intermediate and Senior VCAL in 2023. Last year, more than 26,600 Victorian students undertook the VCE Vocational Major.

The VCE Vocational Major supports students to pursue their goals and aspirations with confidence, and provides them with skills and knowledge for work and life. 

Completing the VCE Vocational Major means:

• being ready to take on more learning after school, especially at TAFE or in an apprenticeship or traineeship
• working towards one or more VET qualifications 
• having an employability edge after school.

Students complete 4 core subjects (Numeracy, Literacy, Work Related Skills and Personal 

Development Skills) and VET.

About VET for school students

Your child can work towards one or more VET certificates in their VCE (including the VCE VM) or VPC. 

With VCE VET subjects, students learn practical skills they can apply to work or in further education and training. VET students also get to try professions before leaving school.

Depending on local training providers, VCE VET options are available in many priority industry areas, including:

• Building and construction
• Community services and early childhood education
• Digital technologies
• Health
• Hospitality, events and tourism
• Renewable energy and engineering.

About school-based apprenticeships and traineeships and Head Start

A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) gives a student paid on-the-job training while they complete secondary school, as part of their VCE or VPC.

Head Start is a program that supports students in years 10 to 12 to participate in a SBAT. These students develop skills, capabilities and confidence that employers in growth industries need, setting them up for success in post-school training and work.

About the Victorian Pathways Certificate

The Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) is a flexible Year 11 and 12 course designed for a small number of students who, for a range of reasons, are not able or ready to undertake the VCE (including the VCE Vocational Major). Suitability for the VPC is based on agreement between the student, their parents and their school.

To learn more about the VCE, VCE VM, VCE VET and the VPC, refer to: vic.gov.au/vce

For more information, please contact the Brentwood Pathways Team

Brentwood Pathways Expo.

Thank you for attending the Brentwood Pathways Expo. You may find the presentation slides attached on the Brentwood Pathways website here: https://www.brentwoodpathways.com/news-jobs/pathways-expo. 

Please take the time to explore the website for other information you require as well, such as the subject maps that are under each year level. 

Are you studying a Unit 1/2 or 3/4 Language outside of school?

If you are enrolled in a VCE Language course external to Brentwood you need to let Ms Janelle Pentreath know (PEN@ms.brentwood.vic.edu.au) - please ensure you forward your confirmation of enrolment to her. There is required paperwork to be completed so we can ensure you get credits towards your VCE. 

Brentwood Pathways Team

The Brentwood Pathways team aims to empower students and their families with all the latest information to explore a broad range of career opportunities, build skills and prepare them for the global marketplace, equipped with competitive 21st-century skills to pursue productive, sustainable careers.

The Brentwood Pathways team is located in the SLC building. We are open from 9 am to 3 pm on all working days. We appreciate students checking the availability of our team members via Teams and booking an appointment before seeing us in the Pathways Office.

Our team members:

Director of Pathways & VCE: Mr. Peter Vlahos

Pathways Manager: Mr. Timothy Li / Deepika Kapadia

Pathways Counsellor: Ms. Bridget Dowling

VASS, VET & VM Administrator: Ms. Rebecca Buck

VASS Administrator (VCE) and Attendance: Ms. Janelle Pentreath

Brentwood Pathways Website

Our team has launched a brand-new website: www.brentwoodpathways.com. 

This will be a one-stop shop for all year-levels for subject selections and future pathways queries, including Morrisby, Work Experience, VTAC etc.

Please email your feedback and suggestions to improve the website further to pathways@ms.brentwood.vic.edu.au

Brentwood Pathways Newsletter

Don't forget to check out our weekly Brentwood Pathways Newsletter. Click here to access the latest issue: https://www.brentwoodpathways.com/news-jobs/pathways-newsletter 

It is a great way for parents and students to keep up to date with Pathways-related programs, including subject selections, work experience and many more.