Vocational education and training

APC aims to provide parents with relevant information about the wide range of opportunities that vocational, education and training (VET) offers young people, both in school and beyond, and to help parents counsel their young people to make smart choices. Parents are the single biggest influence on young people's career choices, according to research, so it is important that they are able to access quality information and advice. APC has developed a wide range of materials for parents to help.

The highlight is our series of videos - case studies and career planning tips - that are free and available to be shared by parents, parent and community groups, teachers, schools and careers advisors. 

We also have a free series of infographics, that can be downloaded below, as well as links to useful sources of advice and information.

VET case studies - real life stories

Career planning tips for parents

How to help your child find vocational education and training opportunities podcast

How to help your child find vocational education and training opportunities

This podcast was recorded and first broadcast as a webinar during National Skills Week 2021.

Hosted by: Jennifer Rickard, APC President (ACT)

Panel members:

Grace and Adrian Sancataldo - VET student and parent (ACT)
Angela King - parent (NSW)
Tracy Harrison - The Australian Training Company (NSW)
Jo Lindeman - VET co-ordinator, Redlands College, Brisbane (Qld)

Vocational education and training mythbusters webinar for parents

As part of National Skills Week 2020 the Australian Parents Council proudly presented a free VET Myth Busters: A parents guide to Vocational Education and Training.

Hosted by: Jennifer Rickard, APC President

Panel members:

  • Karyn Hunter - Account Manager Australian Training Company
  • Dianne Dayhew - National Apprentice Employment Network
  • Sinead McKenna - PwC, a VET for School Students specialist and former industry manager within PwC's Skills for Australia, who led the review of the Foundation Skills (FSK) training package that concluded in 2019.
  • Robert Munday -a higher apprentice with PwC undertaking a Diploma in Business.

The podcast and webinar are part of a joint collaboration with the Australian Government's National Careers Institute designed to help inform parents about the opportunities that Vocational Education and Training offers school students and young people.

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The National Careers Institute offers and advice service for school leavers with up to date information on all education, careers and training options. For 2020 school leavers the NCI is running it's service online, via text messaging and includes individual counseling sessions with a careers advisor.

2020 Year 12 students are being sent a School Leavers Information Kit.

For more tailored support or guidance call 1800 CAREER (1800 227 337) or sms 'SLIS2020' to 0429 009 435 to chat to someone who can help you. This is a free service, however call/text costs may apply.

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VET infographics: Fun resources for families and schools

APC has developed a suite of free, downloadable info-graphics for families and schools to let everyone know about the opportunities Vocational Educational and Training (VET) offers.

Many students, parents and carers are surprised by the breadth of qualifications and careers that VET includes. It's important that everyone understands the real advantages of the flexible, work-focused learning VET provides, and how highly valued VET is by employers, so that young people, and those who advise them, can make smart choices about the future.

We developed these downloadable info-graphics as part of the Real Skills for Real Careers initiative, in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.

These info-graphics are designed for families, students, schools, careers counsellors, teachers, employers and community groups to use. They can be printed or shared digitally. Please share them via your website, student portal, parent communications, social media and noticeboards.

To find out more about all the opportunities VET has to offer visit myskills.gov.au.

Click here to view and download all the infographics

Social Media Pack - free, downloadable info-graphics about the opportunities offered by Vocational Educational and Training (VET), designed specifically for parents and families.  We'd suggest using the square images for posting to Facebook and Instagram, and the landscape format images for Twitter.  And, we'd love you to add #APCVET and @austparents to your posts!

Useful sites to find out more about Vocational Education and Training options

MySkills

National Careers Institute

Apprenticeship Support Australia 

Australian Apprenticeships Pathways/Australian Apprenticeships & Traineeships Information Service 

Apprenticeship Careers Australia 

Skillsroad  

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