👷VET Pathways & WPL
VET/WPL News
With only six weeks left in Term Three for our Year 12 students, you may have noticed your son feeling both excited and a little anxious as he prepares for this new chapter. I’ve put together a few key points to help support you and your family during this important time.
A Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Next Step
Not every young person leaves school knowing exactly what they want to do. Some need time to explore options, gain life experience, and develop skills before committing to a university degree or apprenticeship. That’s perfectly okay—there are still many valuable pathways to success.
It’s normal for school leavers to take 12–18 months to find the right fit. During this time, the focus should be on:
- Building work experience – last opportunity to be covered by the school is in Term 4 - Week 1 & 2.
- Developing employability skills – using casual work to develop and expand on skills.
- Exploring career interests – using MyFuture to complete career quiz.
- Staying connected to peers through regular catch ups – join the Mazenod Old Boy Association, play a sport or join a club together
Pathways in 2026
A. Vocational Education & Training (VET)
- Certificate II–IV courses at TAFE or private Registered Training Organisations.
- Short duration (6–18 months) and focused on practical, job-ready skills.
- Areas include trades, hospitality, business, IT, health, and more.
- Can lead directly to employment or higher-level study later.
- Full-time applications open for TAFE in September – students are required to submit resume, reports, qualifications – some courses are highly competitive – be prepared for a mid-year intake. Speak to the Jobs and Skills Centre at your local TAFE.
- Examples of Private Providers are College of Electrical Training, Fremantle Education Centre, SAE, Next GenSkills to name a few.
B. Apprenticeships
- The employer will enrol your son into RTO. Depending on availability will complete block learning or one-day a week at a nominated location.
- Support is available to all employees through the Australian Government Apprenticeship Support.
- Don’t forget that all apprentices entering the Building & Construction Industry are entitled to payments throughout their apprenticeship through the CTF.
- Make sure you supply your Certificate II qualifications so you can get RPL (recognition of prior learning).
C. Traineeships
- Paid employment combined with nationally recognised training.
- Usually 12–24 months.
- Examples: Business Administration, Retail, Community Services, ICT.
- More flexible than traditional apprenticeships and available in a wider range of industries.
- For more information reach out to MEGT or Defence Industry Pathway Program.
D. Employment & Entry-Level Jobs
- Roles in retail, hospitality, warehousing, customer service or labouring can provide income, work discipline and transferable skills.
- Employers value reliability, communication skills and willingness to learn—qualities that can be developed in any job.
- Create an account through SEEK to find specific jobs in your local area.
E. Gap Year with Purpose
- Working gap year: Save money, build work history, go travelling.
- Volunteering: Local community programs, environmental work, sporting clubs.
- Travel programs: Some organisations offer work-and-travel schemes, particularly in agriculture or hospitality.
- Go rural: Register with AgCareer Start.
- Defence Force Gap Year Program: Great opportunity to explore the Defence Force, travel and get paid for one year without an ongoing commitment.
F. Starting University
- Your son will have 6 weeks before they will be charged for the course they are studying – encourage your son to speak to the course counsellors prior to changing.
- Ensure that your son is maintaining a healthy balance between study, work and social life.
- Remember open communication is key with lecturers so deadlines must be followed otherwise 0 mark can be applied.
- If your son thinks they may want to attend university, all the universities have a free six month enabling course – contact the university for more details.
- There is the opportunity to course switch depending on enrolled degrees – speak to the uni to discuss the requirements.
G. Short Skills Courses
- First Aid, RSA, White Card, Barista, Forklift licence, ICT micro-credentials.
- Quick to complete (days to weeks) and improve employability.
How Parents Can Support
- Stay positive and patient—career decisions take time.
- Encourage goal setting—help your son plan for 3–6 months at a time.
- Promote networking—talk to friends, family and community contacts for opportunities.
- Help build a work-ready resume—include school activities, volunteer work and any part-time jobs.
- Keep learning in the mix—even short courses maintain momentum.
Remember we are always here to support our Year 13s – please feel free to reach out for support at any stage – we love hearing from all our students.
VET IN SCHOOLS COURSES FOR 2026
Enrolments are now open for North & South TAFE! Visit their website to explore available courses and learn about the application process. Keep in mind that the process may take some time. These close in a few weeks.
Your son will need a resume and a USI (Unique Student Identifier), which can be created at usi.gov.au.
COLLEGE OF ELECTRICAL TRAINING
The College of Electrical Training will be opening up the "Expressions of Interest" for the PreApprenticeship in Electrotechnology on 18 August – I will speak to all students regarding this opportunity and send through information.
KEY DATES
Year 12 WPL – Term Four:
Week 1 & 2 - Monday 3 - Thursday 13 October (optional for students who have an apprenticeship in 2026)
Year 11 WPL – Term Four:
Week 6 & 7 - Monday 17 - Friday 28 November
Year 10 I&E – Term Three:
Week 10 - Monday 22 September - Friday 26 September
Year 10 I&E – Term Four:
Week 7 & 8 - Monday 24 November - Friday 28 November
Mrs Johnson & Mrs Paduano