VCE VM

The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is a hands-on, practical option for students who are committed to completing Years 11 and 12, and are exploring pathways like apprenticeships, traineeships, work, or TAFE. 

Why Choose the VCE VM?

• You prefer to learn in practical ways 
• You don't need an ATAR for your goals  
• You want to develop confidence in the workplace  
• Pathways like apprenticeships, traineeships, work or TAFE study are being considered 
• You are committed to completing Year 11 & 12 

What You Receive 

After 2 Years of VCE VM Students will receive: 

• A VCE certificate with the additional words ‘Vocational Major’ 
• A Statement of Results from the VCAA 
• A Statement of Attainment from your VET training provider 
• Your VET qualification 
• Variety of Work Placement Experiences 
• Assessment Instead of an ATAR, students are assessed through a range of school-based activities. You will not take part in exams (other than Part A of the GAT). 

What VCE VM Looks Like 

• Classroom learning in a supported, smaller group setting 
• Dedicated time learning workplace skills such as group work, problem solving and communication 
• Project-based learning which encourages students to have agency over learning
• Opportunities for out of the classroom learning

A typical VCE VM program at Donvale

A typical week in the VCE VM program at Donvale

VCE VM Literacy

Literacy empowers students to read, write, speak and listen in different contexts. Literacy enables students to understand the different ways in which knowledge and opinion are represented and developed in daily life in the 21st Century. The development of literacy in this study design is based upon applied learning principles, making strong connections between students’ lives and their learning. By engaging with a wide range of content drawn from a range of local and global cultures, forms and genres, including First Nations knowledge and voices, students learn how information can be shown through print, visual, oral, digital and multimodal representations.

Along with the literacy practices necessary for reading and interpreting meaning, it is important that students develop their capacity to respond to information. Listening, viewing, reading, speaking and writing are developed so that students can communicate effectively both in writing and orally. A further key part of literacy is that students develop their understanding of how written, visual and oral communication are designed to meet the demands of different audiences, purposes and contexts, including workplace, vocational and community contexts. This understanding helps students develop their own writing and oracy, so that they become confident in their use of language in a variety of settings.

VCE Foundation Maths

As part of the VCE VM program, students will be completing VCE Foundation Maths. It equips students with practical mathematical knowledge and problem‑solving skills grounded in everyday, workplace, community, and study contexts. Across Units 1–4, learners work with core areas—Algebra, Number & Structure; Data Analysis, Probability & Statistics; Discrete Mathematics; and Space & Measurement to interpret, model, and solve real-life problems involving ratios, financial decisions, data interpretation, measurement, and estimation. Unit 1 introduces the fundamentals, while Unit 2 extends the application of formulas, symbolic expressions, and data analysis. Units 3 and 4 build further on this foundation, requiring all four content strands to be completed over these two units to support mathematical reasoning in broader and global settings.

VCE VM Personal Development Skills 

The VCE VM Personal Development Skills study focuses on helping students develop personal identity and individual pathways to optimal health and wellbeing. It begins with concepts of personal identity and the range of factors that contribute to an individual’s perception of self. Students will investigate health in their community and play an active, participatory role in designing and implementing activities to improve community health and wellbeing.

Students will examine community participation and how people work together effectively to achieve shared goals. They will investigate different types of communities at a local, national, and global level. Students will look at active citizenship and they will investigate the barriers and enablers to problem-solving within the community. Students understand different perspectives on issues affecting their community, they will also plan, implement and evaluate an active response to community need.

The study examines interpersonal skills and social awareness in different settings and contexts. Students will examine leadership qualities and the characteristics of effective leaders and how these qualities can be applied to the achievement of goals within personal and community contexts. Students participate in an extended project relating to a community issue. Students will identify environmental, cultural, economic and social issues affecting the community and select one for an extended community project. Students will reflect on how community awareness of their selected issue can be improved.

VCE VM Work Related Skills

VCE VM Work Related Skills allows students to understand and apply concepts and terminology related to the workplace and further studies to understand the complex and rapidly changing world of work and workplace environments. It helps students understand and develop their skills, knowledge, capabilities and attributes as they relate to further education and employment, to develop effective communication skills to enable self-reflection and self-promotion and to practically apply their skills and knowledge.

This subject requires students to think about and investigate potential employment pathways, to develop a career action plan, to seek appropriate advice and feedback on planned career and further study objectives. Students are required to consider the distinction between essential employability skills, specialist, and technical work skills; to understand transferable skills and identify their personal skill and capabilities and promote them through development of a cover letter and resume and through mock interviews.

Students also learn about healthy, collaborative and productive workplaces, workplace relationships and investigate key areas relating to workplace relations, including pay conditions and dispute resolution. Students look at how teamwork and effective communication contribute to a healthy, collegiate workplace. Students also learn about promoting themselves and their skills by developing an extensive professional portfolio to use for further education and employment applications.