VCE/VM Subject Selection

Vocational Major (VM) Pathway

VM Design

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning at Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College is offered and accredited to the senior level.  The course is full time.  The timetable is structured to enable VM students to satisfy the Industry Specific strand through their VET training and related Work Placement off campus for 1 week per term. Students undertake VET training through a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation for School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

 

What is the VM?

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VM) is a hands-on option for Years 11 and 12 students.

 

The VM gives you practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the development of personal skills that are important for life and work.  Like the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VM is an accredited Secondary Certificate, which is managed and overseen by the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA).  Pathways open to students who do VM are at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes, traineeships and employment. 

 

The VM’s flexibility enables you to undertake a study program that suits your interests and learning needs.  Accredited modules and units are selected for the following compulsory strands:

 

  1. Literacy Skills
  2. Numeracy Skills
  3. Industry Specific Skills (VET) 
  4. Work Related Skills
  5. Personal Development Skills 
  6. VCE Subject.

 

If you successfully complete your VM, you will receive a Certificate and a Statement of Results from VCAA.

 

What I Need to Know:

 

Why would I choose to do the VM?

Just like the VCE, the VM is an accredited senior secondary school certificate undertaken in Years 11 and 12.  The VM is based on hands-on learning, also referred to as ‘applied learning’.  If you choose to do the VM, you will gain practical experience and employability skills, as well as the skills you will need to go onto further training in the workplace or at a TAFE institute.

 

When can I do the VM?

You can begin your VM program in Year 11 or Year 12 of secondary school.  The VM is also available at TAFE institutes and a number of Adult and Community Education (ACE) centres.

 

How long will VM take me to complete?

The VM has been developed for Years 11 and 12 students and the time it takes varies depending on how your VM program is structured.  A VM Intermediate and Senior certificate will usually take a year each to complete.

 

What do I get after successfully completing VM?

If you successfully complete your VM program you will receive a VM certificate at Intermediate and Senior levels, depending on the VM level you choose to complete.  You will also receive a Statement of Results from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), listing all completed VM, VCE and Vocational Education and Training (VET) units, as well as a Statement of Attainment from the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for VET or Further Education (FE) training you have completed.

 

What Do I Study?

With the help of your teacher or careers counsellor, you can develop a VM program that suits your particular learning needs and interests.  You have the choice of selecting units and modules from each of the following four VM strands.

 

  • Strand 1 – Literacy and Numeracy Skills - Your VM program must include literacy and numeracy subjects. 
  • Strand 2 – Industry Specific Skills - Your VM program must include industry specific units from VET certificates.  You may have the opportunity to undertake various modules or units of competence from a range of VET certificates to meet the VM requirements, and gain experience in a range of vocational areas.  
  • Strand 3 – Work Related Skills - In order to develop employability skills, VM gives you the choice of undertaking a structured workplace learning placement or a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship and/or part-time work.  You will also study units and modules that will help prepare you for work, e.g. occupational health and safety and job interview skills.
  • Strand 4 – Personal Development Skills - As part of your VM program you will participate in community-based projects and/or structured activities that will help develop your teamwork skills, self-confidence and other skills important for life and work.

 

What must I do to be awarded a VM Certificate?

To be awarded a VM certificate, you must successfully complete a learning program of 1000 nominal hours that is designed to comply with the following credit requirements.  The learning program must:

  1. Be made up of a minimum of ten credits
  2. Include curriculum components to fulfil each of the four VM curriculum strands
  3. Include:
  • A minimum of two VM units
  • A minimum of one credit for Literacy and one credit for Numeracy; and in each of the remaining three strands, components to the value of at least one credit.
  • Include components to the value of six credits at the level of the VM award or above, of which one must be for Literacy and one credit must be for a Personal Development Skills unit.

 

Will the VM get me ready to enter a trade?

Once you have completed your VM, you will have knowledge and skills that are a useful preparation for a trade or industry certificate.  The knowledge and skills you have learnt in VM may also count towards a traineeship or apprenticeship.  Many students include a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship as part of their VM.

 

 

Assessment

A range of assessment methods will be used for VM units to enable students to demonstrate successful completion of the learning outcomes within this curriculum. Assessment will be based on authentic situations linked to the project or activity the student is undertaking.

 

Assessment will also be designed so that students are able to demonstrate that they can apply and integrate the knowledge and skills developed in the Learning Program.

 

Units in the Personal Development and Work Related Skills Strands will have learning outcomes and criteria designed to cover such application and integration, using approaches such as portfolios, projects and assignments.

 

Certification

The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority will award the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning to students who have successfully completed the VM course requirements at the appropriate level.

 

The student will receive:

  • A VM Certificate
  • A Statement of Results

TAFE institutions and other the Registered Training Organisations for successful completion of VET or Further Education curriculum will provide additional Statements of Attainment or certificates. Students who begin the VM Learning Program but do not complete it will still receive a Statement of Results at the completion of each year of study.

 

Australian School Based Apprenticeships (ASBA) 

The Australian School Based Apprenticeships (ASBA) for Secondary School Students Program involves the student undertaking their VCE and normally a VM program as well as being employed and trained.  This program can be undertaken in a variety of work placements, e.g. office administration, sport and recreation, hospitality, community services and retail.

 

Students are employed 1 day per week and must complete the required allocated work modules related to their individual programs.  Australian School Based Apprenticeships generally provide the same contribution to the VCE as their related VET in the VCE Program.

 

Our College is committed to promoting and developing multiple pathways and transition opportunities for our students and therefore provide the opportunity for the students with specific pathway needs to undertake a VET program through a variety of Registered Training Organisations.  Some of the certificates being undertaken this year are outlined below:

 

Certificate III in Business Studies

Certificate II in Business Studies

Certificate III in Community Services 1

Certificate III in Events Management

Certificate III in Hospitality

Certificate II in Hospitality

Certificate II in Animal Studies

Certificate III in Allied Health

Certificate III in Tourism

Certificate III in Children’s Services

Certificate III in Hairdressing

Certificate III in Make Up Services