Careers Corner

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)

As the admissions cycle approaches, students are encouraged to keep these important dates front of mind, including course applications, scholarships, equity schemes, results release and change of preference periods.

Reminder of Key Dates

July – Get ready! Use VTAC Course Search to browse suitable courses for you. 

3 August – Course applications open, including Equity Schemes and Scholarships applications deadline

28 September – Timely application deadline   

9 October – Equity Schemes and Scholarships applications close     

10 December – VCE results and ATAR released   

12 December – Change of Preference closes for December offer round  

18 December – IB Notional ATAR released   

23 December – December course offers released

24 December – Change of Preference closes for January round   

12 January – January Round 1course offers released

For more information, please visit VTAC website and learn about the application process: https://vtac.edu.au/

Victorian Early Leaver Connection Initiative

Supporting Victorian young people who leave school without completing Year 12.

In the Education State, every young person matters. The Victorian Early Leaver Connection Initiative (VELCI) helps early school leavers stay engaged in education and training. 

Career help for early school leavers

This can include successfully completing a Year 12 or a vocational education and training certificate.

Career Advice Service (CAS), which is part of the Department of Education’s Victorian Early Leavers Connection Initiative (VELCI) and delivered through TAFE Skills and Jobs Centres.

The CAS is a free support service for students:

• under 17 years of age who have been formally exempted from school and are undertaking an approved alternative pathway
• aged 17-20 who have been exited from school and have not completed Year 12.

The service offers one-on-one consultations with a qualified careers practitioner who provides:

• Ongoing support and regular check-ins
• Advice regarding education, training, and employment options
• Guidance with career planning and goal setting
• An independent and supportive contact for career-related questions or concerns

If you recently left school without completing Year 12, the VELCI Career Advice Service is available to help you.

TAFEs have a Skills and Jobs Centre that deliver the Career Advice Service. If the Career Advice Service is not a good fit for you, they can still help you find other support. They offer qualified, independent advice and support on training, career planning and finding a suitable job.

• Somebody to text or call if you have any questions, or if you are worried about your education, training or work.
• Help with making appointments at other support organisations, if you need it.
• There is extra help available if you are First Nations or have a disability. Your school or the Skills and Jobs Centre can help you decide if the extra help is right for you.  

Connect through school

If you have left school without completing Year 12, your school can:

• tell you about the Career Advice Service
• give the local Skills and Jobs Centre your contact information, such as your phone number and email address.

If you are under 17 years old, you will need a formal exemption from school before engaging with the Career Advice Service. This help is free and optional for you to take up. The Skills and Jobs Centre will ask for your permission and your parent or guardian’s permission to help you.

If you tell the Skills and Jobs Centre that you do not want this help, they will stop calling, texting or emailing you, and delete your contact information. They will keep a record of your conversation about the service.

If you are under 17 and you do not want help from the Career Advice Service, they will notify your most recent school. This is so the school can tell you about other options for getting help.

Get help now

You can call your local Skills and Jobs Centre at any time to talk about options for education and training. Find your closest Career Advice Service for early school leavers in the list below.

Career Advice Service providers

Most Skills and Jobs Centres provide the Career Advice Service for early school leavers.

Career Advice Service Centres

You can book an appointment using the contact details below.

Local Career Advice Service Centres include:

Holmesglen

Contact details: Phone: 03 9564 2755

Email: velci@holmesglen.edu.au

Locations:

Chadstone Corner of Batesford & Warrigal Roads Chadstone, VIC 3148

Glen Waverley 595 Waverley Road Glen Waverley, VIC 3150 Building 12, open Tuesdays

Moorabbin 488 South Road Moorabbin, VIC 3198 

Building 4, open Tuesdays

Swinburne

Contact details: Phone: 03 9726 1450

Email: velci@swin.edu.au

Location

John Street Hawthorn, VIC 3122 

Box Hill Institute

Contact details: Phone: 03 8892 1340

Email: cas@boxhill.edu.au

Location

465 Elgar Road Box Hill, VIC 3128 

Ground floor, Building 7

Career Advice Service

Sometimes the change from secondary school to another education, training or work pathway can be challenging. The Career Advice Service will help you keep pursuing education, training and work that fits your strengths and interests. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the Careers and Pathways Coordinator for assistance. 

Chris Kotsonis 

Careers and Pathways Coordinator

Email: Chris.Kotsonis@education.vic.gov.au

Careers and Pathways Expo for Koorie Students

The Department of Education is hosting a Careers and Pathways Expo for Koorie students on Thursday, 18 October. First Nations students from Years 7-12 are invited to attend the event, where they will connect with culturally-safe education, training and employment opportunities and meet with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models, employers and industry representatives. 

Please see the attached flyer for details and email Ms. Karen Eap if you are interested in attending.