Starting your Career

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If you’re still at school, just about to finish your studies or taking some time out on a gap year, you’re probably thinking about a future career. Whatever stage you’re at, My Skills can help you find the career to suit you and the qualification you need to get there.

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.

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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!

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.

VET + You = a real world career

  • Equips you with real world skills
  • Helps you find your place in the workforce
  • Gives you industry experience needed by employers

Increase your competitive edge for today’s competitive job market.

Think

Think about what you’re good at; what you’re passionate about; what you enjoy doing.

Talk

Talk to people about the careers that have always interested you – your friends, parents, grandparents, teachers and career advisors.

Use My Skills

Use My Skills to find a qualification to give you the hands-on knowledge and experience necessary to help achieve your career goals.

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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Hanna's Story

"I would recommend vocational education and training to anyone. I think that experience that you gain and the skills that you learn is something you can implement in your every day life."

VET Qualification: Diploma of Marketing

Career: Marketing Manager

Upon graduating Year 12, Hanna Darmody already had one nationally recognised qualification to her name – a Certificate III in Agriculture. With a taste for the vocational education and training learning pathway, Hanna decided to gain further qualifications to play a more effective role in her family businesses. To achieve this, Hanna completed a Certificate IV in Marketing and a Diploma of Marketing.

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Joel's Story

"There really are a lot of doorways that you can take, but it’s all based around having that basic trade qualification. So the possibilities will be endless."  

VET Qualification: Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical Technology

Career: Diesel Mechanic

Joel Schwarz has always been fascinated with agricultural machinery. Growing up on a vineyard, he witnessed mechanics working on the equipment and started to envision his future career in the industry. Joel wanted a head start on his career so he started an Australian School-based Apprenticeship in Automotive Mechanical Technology and is now a fully qualified diesel mechanic.

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Real Opportunities: Australian Apprenticeships

"You sort of get the idea of your own company at the end of the tunnel. You got to go in there thinking, 'This is the rest of my life. And if you think of it that way, you actually have a better respect for it."

Featuring AFL legend Kevin Sheedy see the experiences of everyday people that have found Real Opportunities through their Australian Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Gaining a VET qualification through an Australian Apprenticeship (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 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 few 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.


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 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 enrolling 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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World Skills Australia

A social enterprise that passionately believes skills drive the future of young people, and of 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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Study Assist

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

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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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Job Outlook

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

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