Senior School Handbook

VCAL

VCAL

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a hands-on option that is best suited to students who enjoy more practical based subjects and who are interested in pursuing a vocational pathway such as a traditional trade based apprenticeship, or more modern type apprenticeships including traineeships in the areas of:

 

  • Building and Construction (Electrical, Plumbing, Concreting, Bricklaying, Building etc.)
  • Hospitality
  • Business Administration
  • Community Services (Child and Health Care)
  • Education Support
  • Horticulture
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Retail

Students who elect the VCAL option should be aware of the following:

 

  • VCAL is not a course for students needing an ATAR score
  • It is a course suited for students who wish to gain an apprenticeship or traineeship or who have a pathway that the VCAL Program caters to
  • If intending on going onto TAFE at the end of Year 12, students should carefully check that they are able to qualify for their TAFE course by completing VCAL. In most cases this won’t be a problem
  • Students must complete a minimum of 90 hours of a VET/TAFE course as part of their VCAL certificate
  • Although the VET/TAFE component of the VCAL program is heavily subsidised by Government funding, students will have to pay costs to cover materials costs (see individual VET course details)
  • Students must be prepared to complete ongoing work placement one day per week. This means they will attend school either three or four days per week and work placement one day. (days at school will be dependent on VET course undertaken)
  • Work placement will need to be linked to the VET/TAFE course you are enrolled in.
  • Although students will be completing more practical subjects, there is still a writing/theory component to all classes including VET/TAFE
  • The VCAL Program is a community based program and therefore students are required to attend up to a dozen excursions throughout the year, each of which relate directly to work undertaken in class. All attempts are made to keep these costs to a minimum. Continued failure to attend excursions will make it difficult to meet the requirements of the course
  • VCAL / VET carries a 90% attendance requirement

 

VCAL students will undertake the following:

1 x VCE subject

1 x VET subject (either internal or external)

4 x VCAL strands (Numeracy, Literacy, Work Related Skills, Personal Development)

VCAL LITERACY

Reading and Writing

The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes to read and write a range of texts on everyday subject matters that include some unfamiliar aspects or material. At this level students, once they have identified the audience and purpose of the text, use the writing process to produce texts that link several ideas or pieces of information. In reading, students identify how, and if, the writer has achieved his or her purpose and express an opinion on the text, taking into account its effectiveness. At the end of the unit, students will be able to read, comprehend and write a range of texts within a variety of contexts.

 

Oral Communication

At the end of this unit, students will be able to use and respond to spoken language, including some unfamiliar material within a variety of contexts.

VCAL NUMERACY

Unit 1

The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop everyday numeracy skills to make sense of their daily personal and public lives. The mathematics involved includes numbers and data, financial literacy, time and location, and measurement and design. It also includes the use of software tools and devices applied to tasks that are part of the students’ normal routine but extends to applications outside their immediate personal environment such as in the workplace and the community.

At the end of the unit, students will be able to attempt a series of both single- and multi-step operations or tasks with some confidence, select the appropriate method or approach required, and communicate their ideas both verbally and in writing. They will be at ease with performing straightforward calculations either manually and/or using software tools and devices.

 

Unit 2

The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop, refine, extend and apply numeracy knowledge and skills through an investigation in a familiar industry area linked to the VET units in their VCAL program or employment. The numeracy involved focuses on Number, Measurement, Financial Numeracy, and Probability and Statistics.

This unit seeks to extend students’ understanding of how numerical knowledge and skills can be transferred to an industry area. The key processes involve identifying mathematics, applying it and communicating the results.

Students develop an understanding of the practical components of planning and undertaking an in-depth numeracy-based project, linked to a familiar industry area. Students will also develop key project management skills in a numeracy context, such as stating key aims, setting specific tasks, establishing timelines and milestones, identifying and managing risk, and communicating results. Students will be encouraged to develop and apply their skills of creative and critical thinking in the planning and completion of the numeracy-based project that will be negotiated with their teacher/trainer.

At this level, students also share their knowledge and work independently and in teams.

On completion of this unit, students should be more confident in their ability to explore, develop and apply numeracy related to employment in an industry area.

VCAL WORK RELATED SKILLS

Unit 1

The primary purpose of this unit is to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of OHS in the workplace. It introduces students to a range of knowledge, skills and attributes required for different workplace settings. The unit provides opportunities for students to explore career and employment options and to develop job application skills.

 

Unit 2

This unit provides a focus for the development of employability skills in the context of complex, practical work-related experiences. It provides students with the opportunity to develop skills that are transferable in work-related contexts.

VCAL PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Unit 1

Unit 1 focuses on the development of appropriate knowledge, skills and attributes in relation to:

• resilience, self-esteem and efficacy

• health and wellbeing

• family and social connectedness

• environmental awareness

• critical and creative thinking

• planning and organisational skills

• problem solving and interpersonal skills

• collaborative skills

• leadership and decision making skills for group work or teamwork.

 

Unit 2

Unit 2 focuses on the development of appropriate knowledge, skills and attributes in relation to:

• community engagement

• social and environmental awareness

• participation in a democratic society

• social connectedness

• critical and creative thinking

• planning and organisational skills

• problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

VCAL INDUSTRY SPECIFIC SKILLS

The purpose of the VCAL Industry Specific Skills Strand is to develop student skills, knowledge and

attributes related to one or more vocational contexts in preparation for progression to further learning or employment. The learning program used to meet this strand should focus on vocational contexts, in order for learners to explore available pathway options through the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Vocational Education and Training (VET), Further Education (FE) and employment.