VCAL

VCAL – Careers and looking to the future.

One of the key elements of the VCAL Program is for students to explore a program that will lead them towards an Applied Learning vocation when they leave school.

Although many students don’t have a clear direction of where they want to go when they leave school, the option of up to 40 days a year doing work experience allows students to try a variety of different workplaces. Consider it a ‘try before you buy’ option.

And, a key to this strategy is building strong relationships with employers who can provide work experience and local providers that support future pathways.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Late in term 1, and early in term 2, VCAL had students where encouraged to sign up for a one week Work Experience.

Mr Cook addressed students about what the future world of work may look like, and some students were quick into action to find suitable placements, many aligned to individual passions.

 Matt loves cars, so worked at PJ Tyres. Tarlesha, who wants to work with young children, spent a week at Berkely St Kindergarten. Courtney wants something to do with cars but isn’t sure what yet, so spent a week at a mechanics at Wesley Hill. Renee wants to work in hospitality so she spent a week at the Doveton Café. Jesse wants to do something building and ‘hands-on’ so spent a 3 weeks near Shepparton working on a film set.

Thomas applied to VOSOLO in Castlemaine to gain experience in metal fabrication. They couldn’t take him on, but made a phone call and found him a placement near his home in Harcourt.

Students will be encouraged to do as much work experience as they legally can so they can gain first hand insight to inform them of their futures when they have finished at CSC.

CVGT- Central Victorian Group Training Company

A Group Training Company is a concept that assists young people gaining either an apprenticeship or traineeship. Rather than an employer training a young person for 3 years and doing all the required legal paperwork, and Group Training Company does the admistration side of an apprenticeship and finds and employer to teach the particular trade.

The other benefit is an employer might only commit to 6 months of training and the Group Training Company finds a different employer to take on the next 6 months. By the time the person finishes their apprenticeship, they may have experienced a number of different settings.

Every Thursday, Sophie McEvoy from CVGT comes and work individually with VCAL and FLO students. Sophie assists students writing resumes, finding employers to take on Work Experience and, where possible helps set up School Based Apprenticeships.

Bendigo TAFE

Another partnership being developed is with Bendigo TAFE who are providing TAFE Taster programs in 1) Building and Construction and 2) Business Studies. Taster Programs involve students visiting TAFE one day per week for 10 weeks and gaining insight into a different industry each week. At the end of the 10 weeks, CVGT assist with providing a Work Experience in one of the areas (eg: plumbing), and if the student is really keen CVGT will assist with setting up either a School Based Apprenticeship, or a full-time apprenticeship.

The TAFE Taster Programs allow students complete many f the VCAL Outcomes in the Work Related Skills Strand.

Yr 11 VCAL students and FLO students recently spent half a day visiting both TAFE Campuses in Bendigo as a lead in to one of their Experience Days.