Advising on Careers

As parents or guardians, career advisors or teachers, supporters or carers, we need to talk to young people/clients about what kind of career they want, and equip them with the resources they need to find out how to get there. More than ever young people need transferable and innovative skills to compete in new and emerging industries and gain fulfilling, well paid careers.

Whatever your role is in a young person’s life, the My Skills website can help you help them find the skills they need for the career they want through vocational education and training (VET).

What is VET?

VET, or vocational education and training, offers nationally recognised training and qualifications across a range of industries like information technology, avionics, building and construction, business, nursing, aged care, fashion design and floristry - just to name a few.

As My Skills will show you, there are thousands of qualifications to choose from ranging from Certificate I to Certificate IV, and Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate. Unlike other learning options, VET lets you undertake partial qualifications, short courses, skill sets and units of competency, allowing you to gain the specific skills you need, when you need them.

VET qualifications are available through registered training organisation (RTOs). These may also be known as training organisations or training providers.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUCCEED.

Benefits of VET

VET helps people get on the path to a long-term career. Operating like an education highway, VET offers its users choice, with multiple entry, exit, merging and re-entry points. When talking about tertiary education, be sure to mention the following:

VET isn’t just for trades
VET qualifications are nationally recognised, transferable and valued by employers
VET may boost university learning
VET will equip them with skills for the ‘real world’
On graduation, VET students earn comparable wages to university graduates

As a VET student, you’ll be trained in real workplace situations, taught by industry professionals.

VET may also be a great way for a person to start their education journey if they are thinking about continuing on to a university degree.

Vocational education and training

Can provide school students with a nationally recognised qualification while they are still at school

Not just for trades

Offers skills for the ‘real world’

Increasing a student’s competitive edge for today’s competitive job market

Talk

Talk to your child/student/client from an early age about careers and the opportunities available.

Provide

Provide your child/student/client with all of the options available, without direct recommendations.

Discuss

Discuss ALL career choices, even if they say they are going to university.

Think

If you are a parent, think about your child’s personality – what they love doing and what they hate doing – before advising on the best higher education option for them.

Use My Skills

Use the My Skills website to find a VET qualification that will give them the hands-on knowledge and experience they need to become a skilled professional.

VET can lead to fantastic employment opportunities for its graduates – watch the following stories and see for yourself. Be inspired and help your child/student/client enrol in a qualification to get the skills they need to start their career.

Courtney's Story

"You can achieve anything if so long as you want to and you’re driven to. So if it’s what you want to do; definitely go and pursue it and chase it and don’t look back."

VET Qualification: Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology (Light Vehicle)

Career: Mechanic

Courtney Harrison has completed a Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology (Light Vehicle) through an Australian Apprenticeship at a diesel and turbo specialist shop in Inverell. This trade, as the foundation of a career in the world of cars and mechanical technology, will provide her with many options for future pathways.

Josiah’s Story

"The reason why I love the VET sector so much is because of the practical approach that they encourage and incorporate into their training and especially in my industry which is managing people, it really gets you to, once you have those disciplines of management down pat you can transfer those skills into any industry."

VET Qualification: Certificate IV in Retail Management

Career: Store Manager

Inspired by his first manager to make retail his career, Josiah Clayton has completed his Certificate II in Retail (Quality Training and Hospitality College) and Certificate IV in Retail Management (Master Grocers Association).

Madeline's Story

"The opportunity to complete a Certificate III in Aged Care and a Certificate III in Disability came up when I started my Year 12 studies and I jumped at that opportunity and I’ve been happy with it ever since. I’ve absolutely loved it."

VET Qualification: Certificate III in Aged Care; Certificate III in Disability

Career: Direct Care Assistant

Madeline Ziegler always had an interest in a career in the healthcare industry. Wanting to gain a head start on her career, Madeline completed three nationally recognised qualifications before she had finished Year 12 including a Certificate II in Retail, a Certificate III in Aged Care and Certificate III in Disability. Madeline is employed as a Direct Care Assistant and is now at university studying a Bachelor of Nursing (Pre Registration).

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Gaining a VET qualification through an Australian Apprenticeship (apprenticeship or traineeship) gives people the opportunity to train, study and earn an income at a variety of qualification levels in most occupations. Apprenticeships and traineeships combine time at work with training, and can be full-time, part-time or school-based.

Search Apprenticeship & Traineeship Courses

Skills for your Career

If you’ve made a career choice, My Skills can help you find the qualification to match. You can search VET courses and compare information such as fees, duration, graduate satisfaction and available subsidies.

There are a different ways to search for VET qualifications on My Skills.

Course Search

Search for keywords in course titles, such as 'information technology' or 'avionics':

Browse Industries

Explore courses that have been developed for particular industry sectors:

Local Providers

Once your child/student/client has found the right qualification, My Skills can help them find a suitable training provider that offers it – there may even be an online study option.

Click the ‘location’ icon, and My Skills will show your child/student/client all the training providers in your area.

Need help choosing a training provider? Download a factsheet and comparison table to assist you with comparing training providers and making a decision: Choosing a Training Provider

Financial Assistance

The qualification chosen may be eligible for a VET Student Loan (VSL) to help with tuition fees, or it may be subsidised by your state or territory government. Look out for the 'VSL' and ‘Subsidies’ icons when searching for qualifications in My Skills. More information is available on the Financial Assistance Page.

Learn More

Subsidised Training

Some VET qualifications are subsidised by state and territory governments. This subsidy is paid to training providers to reduce (or cover) any tuition fees associated with the qualification. Look out for the ‘Subsidies’ icon when searching for qualifications in My Skills. Eligibility rules apply to subsidies, so your clients will need to contact their RTO to confirm their eligibility.

VET Student Loans

If enrolling in an ‘approved’ Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, they may be eligible for a VET Student Loan to pay for tuition fees. Look out for the ‘VSL’ icon when you’re searching for qualifications in My Skills. There’s even a handy ‘Calculator’ to identify what the initial debt will be.

Resources

With so much information about careers, it’s hard to know where to start or where to look.
Here’s a few sites you may find useful once you’ve found the right VET course and training provider on My Skills.
For additional career information links, please visit the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

Australian Apprenticeships

Provide quick and easy access to information regarding Australian Apprenticeships.

Take Me There

Unique Student Identifier

A reference number made up of ten numbers and letters that all students doing nationally recognised training need to have.

Take Me There

Job Jumpstart

An Australian Government website created to assist you in your job search and help you build your employability skills.

Take Me There

Job Outlook

An Australian Government website that provides information about Australian careers, labour market trends and employment projections.

Take Me There

PSSFW

Preparing Secondary Students for Work is a framework developed by the Australian Government to ensure all students have access to quality VET learning opportunities..

Take Me There

Study Assist

An Australian Government website with information for students about government assistance for financing tertiary study.

Take Me There

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