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Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools

The procedure is quite simple, especially if only the final assessment is done under auspices of ACAS. In this case, ACAS doesn't intrude into the teaching process at all.

The same process can also be used for a variety of VET studies e.g. languages, community services, music, sport, outdoor ed., and Christian Studies.

The steps to run a VET program in a school are:

  • Met with ACAS and clarify what you want to do.
  • The school affiliates with ACAS.
  • The teachers involved (a) review their own proficiency levels and qualifications (b) fill in the ACAS induction form and (c) gain the training sector assessment qualification.
  • Students apply to ACAS and by filling in the form and paying a fee.
  • Staff are free to determine the assessment process, as long as it meets VET protocols.
  • Staff fill in and file assessment forms and report results to ACAS.
  • ACAS sends the Statements of Attainment or certificates to the school.

Tricks and traps

  • Affiliate as an association of schools; this will reduce your costs.
  • Take the program by assessment only. Towards the end of the final year, students apply for the qualification by assessment only.
  • Staff may make assessment notes during normal class activities or their ordinary school assessments.
  • The VET assessment form is a carbon underneath the normal school assessment form.
  • Many requirements overlap with the Curriculum Framework.
  • Integrate work experience with VET.
  • Under Western Australian government rules, you may only let high school students take a Certificate II. However, it is reported that they may take units in a higher qualification provided that they do not graduate with it while at school.
  • Maintaining workplace standards is difficult for some schools and in some fields of study.

The ACAS office handles most institutional compliance within the VET sector with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), for example policies and many procedures. The schools and participating teachers have other AQTF compliance responsibilities relating to implementation.

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