Changing your Career

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Have you ever dreamt of becoming your own boss, or thought of following a new and interesting career path? Maybe your job is coming to an end or you just aren’t happy doing what you currently do. My Skills can help you explore the skills you need to start over in the career you want.

What is VET?

VET, or vocational education and training, offers nationally recognised training and qualifications across a range of industries such as 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.

If you are re-entering the workforce after a long break or hesitant about re-skilling, or up-skilling, there are a range of large and small registered training organisations that offer VET qualifications in a supportive environment with small class sizes and flexible learning options to suit your needs.

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THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SUCCEED.

Real Skills for Real Careers

Benefits of VET

The skills you’ll need for the career you want!

The great benefit of VET for career changers is that it is flexible. VET acknowledges that life gets busy and everyone learns in different ways. To help you meet your career and life goals, many VET qualifications offer a range of learning options that may help you to fit your learning in around work, family and other commitments.

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

VET may also be a great way to start your education journey if you are thinking about continuing on to a university degree.

Vocational education and training

  • Allows you to re-skill in your own time
  • Sets you apart from the competition
  • Tailored to your learning needs

Increase your competitive edge for today’s competitive job market

Talk

Talk to a professional careers advisor about your intended ‘sea change’ – ask about career pathways that may be available in the sector you want to move into.

Share

Share your career aspirations with a mentor who works in the industry – ask for advice on how to meet your new career goals.

Use My Skills

Use My Skills to find a ‘real world’ qualification that will give you the hands-on knowledge and experience necessary to become a globally skilled professional.

VET can lead to fantastic employment opportunities for its graduates – watch the following stories and see for yourself. Be inspired to enrol in a qualification and get the skills you need to start your career.


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Chris Medcraft's Story

“I’m valued again, which I was back in the Australian Paper days – valued as a community member, and they can see that I’m helping people which is a real value to me.”

VET Qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health

Career: Mental Health Worker

After working in the paper industry for 32 years, Chris was made redundant. He decided to undertake a VET qualification in community services, and he secured part-time work while he was studying. He now works for Richmond Fellowship Tasmania, a provider of outreach services for people with mental health challenges. Encouraged by his new employer, Chris completed a VET qualification in mental health, and he is about to start a VET qualification in frontline management.

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Chris Henbery's Story

“Take that passion, go for what you do and just love it.”

VET Qualification: Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)

Career: Horticulturalist

Chris spent much of his working life as a banker in London. Immigrating to Australia in 2011 with his wife and young son, Chris took the opportunity to change career, follow his passion for horticulture and enrol in an apprenticeship. He is now a fully qualified horticulturalist at Gardenworld Nursery, and he hopes to open his own nursery in the future.

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Morgan’s Story

“I was working for Porsche driving fast cars at Eastern Creek in a normal Monday to Friday job. It was going to be a massive life and career change at 27 but I decided I wanted to be my own boss – so I looked at what I was happiest doing which was working in a bakery when I was younger."

VET Qualification: Certificate III in Food Processing (Retail Baking – Combined); Certificate III in Food Processing (Bread)

Career: International Technical Advisor in Bakery

The journey to an Australian Apprenticeship was not straight-forward for  Morgan Clementson. By her mid twenties she had worked in a range of industries before deciding to move to a career pathway where she could eventually be her own boss – baking. Morgan is now an International Démonstrateur/Technical Advisor for Puratos in Belgium.

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Gaining a VET qualification through an Australian Apprenticeship (an apprenticeship or traineeship) gives you 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 it’s time to change your career, My Skills can help you find the right qualification to open doors into new industry sectors. You can search for VET qualifications 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 you’ve found the right qualification, My Skills can help you 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 you 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 you have 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. 


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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 you’re searching for qualifications in My Skills. Eligibility rules apply to subsidies, so you will need to contact your training provider to confirm your eligibility.

VET Student Loans

If you enrol in an ‘approved’ Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, you may be eligible for a VET Student Loan to pay your 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 your 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. 

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Job Jumpstart

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

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Study Assist

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

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The Australian Training Awards

The peak, national awards for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia.

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Unique Student Identifier

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

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What's Next?

This website can help you work out what to do after your job loss, providing handy resources and links to support available to help you through this transition.

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