VETDSS: a fast track to study and a career

The Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) program is a great option for senior secondary students more suited to hands-on learning, or with an interest in a more practical occupation.

VETDSS provides young people with links to industry and training providers and offers real world experience that’s highly valued by employers. For one day a week, Year 10 to 12 students attend TAFE and study a nationally recognised qualification alongside their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCE Vocational Major or Victorian Pathways Certificate, giving them a head start on a future career and further studies.

A great example of how VETDSS provides opportunities for young people is Federation TAFE student, Maggie Heinrich. Maggie – as well as her siblings – underwent the VETDSS program at Federation’s Wimmera Campus while at high school. All are now employed in the region as apprentices and trainees in electrical, hairdressing, and nursing.

In Year 10 Maggie opted to study a Certificate II in Health Support at Federation TAFE which gave her valuable insight into the healthcare industry. Later when a Diploma of Nursing traineeship with Federation and Grampians Health presented itself, Maggie jumped at the opportunity to become an Enrolled Nurse and was able to get credit for units already completed in her VETDSS course, taking time off her Diploma qualification.

“I decided to do the Certificate II in Health Support because it gave me a look inside of what nursing could be for me. I could start young and I knew that having done the VET course I'd knock off study time and units from the first year of the Diploma of Nursing and have a qualification. Halfway through year 12 I saw an ad for the traineeship, and I thought. ‘This could be something for me, I could leave school early and start further studies’, so I applied.”

Maggie is now close to finishing her Diploma and looking ahead to taking on a Bachelor of Nursing at Federation University which she’d again get credits for, meaning she will complete her degree in two years instead of three.

Maggie found the VETDSS program gave her a strong foundation for the later Diploma qualification, providing valuable knowledge of the healthcare industry, more time to focus on assessments, and a familiarity with the campus.

“I'm happy that I did VETDSS before the Diploma of Nursing because I might have struggled straight out of school. As it knocked off units I had more time to focus on my assessments without other assessments backed up. I also got to know campus and staff, where to go, who to talk to, that kind of stuff.”

She’s also found benefits in undertaking a traineeship.

“With a traineeship you get to learn on the job. I'm very hands on and if I was stuck in the classroom and then went to placements, it might be daunting for me whereas working on the job two days a week has helped me with assessments get my head in the game. I know what I'm doing. And I’m getting paid.”

Currently Maggie is working in aged care, which she finds very rewarding and is looking forward to a long career in the sector hoping to continue living and working in a regional area.

“The best part of my job is that I get to help people and I’m making a difference. In the nursing home, it just feels like we're another family for them. I love it. It's a good job.”

“Being regional things are smaller so there's more time for you to practice things and everyone's there to help you. It's not a big facility so you can talk to people, and they'll speak to you. They’ll help. They’re approachable. It's really good.”

Federation TAFE is supporting more young people like Maggie than ever before to pursue Vocational Education and Training with numbers of VETDSS students significantly increasing by over 9 percent in 2023, bucking both state and national trends.

Maggie is a big advocate for VETDSS and recommends it to other young people as a great way to fast-track study and forge a successful career.

“It starts your career early and it's a lot of fun. The teachers give you support and when you ask questions, they will sit down with you and go through things with you until they know you've got it right. They are just very supportive, very good teachers. I couldn’t have asked for any better. Give it a go.”