...Opportunity Vocational Education & Training Pathways Opportunities for pathways come in
on-site at the school, including hospitality,
Alongside the Townsville Catholic Education
many different ways within our Catholic
business, construction, volunteering,
RTO offerings, some secondary schools
Schools and one of those pathways is
early childhood and education support.
are RTOs and provide their own training,
the vocational training journey through the Townsville Catholic Education’s (TCE) Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
“Our teachers are experts and we have invested in state of the art facilities to ensure our students
Director of Learning and Teaching, Mr Peter
are getting the best start to their
Stower said this innovative and exciting
vocational training.” Mr Stower said.
new initiative aims to provide senior secondary school students with increased access to vocational education and training (VET) qualifications across the diocese. “As educators, we know that every student is different with their own set of unique skills and strengths. Therefore we know that each student will excel at different forms of learning and as an organisation wanted to ensure we offered a full range of opportunities for them to do that.”
With current training available in hospitality, business, construction, volunteering, early childhood and education support, Mr Stower said there is opportunity to extend the training.
while others engage with external RTOs to offer qualifications in the areas of aviation, fitness, sport and recreation, health and community services, engineering, Christian ministry and theology, automotive, retail cosmetics, hairdressing, and manufacturing. Not only does studying a VET qualification contribute to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), but it provides students with a nationally recognised qualification that can act as a platform
“We are working with our school
into post-school employment and/or
communities to ensure that we are
further study at TAFE or university.
providing training that meets the needs of the students and with this are planning for the future introduction of a suite of new qualifications in the areas of
“The RTO has allowed each Catholic
electrotechnology, engineering (CAD)
secondary school the opportunity to partner
and agriculture.” Mr Stower said.
with TCE to offer a range of qualifications
Cross-school VET Cross school VET allows senior secondary students from Townsville Catholic schools the opportunity to come together and complete various certificates. This innovative delivery model includes a combination of face-to-face teaching and vocational work placement in industry settings. On completion, students will be able to seek employment as an early childhood educator or school officer – assisting student learning and/or complete further TAFE or university study.
In the 2020 Year 12 cohort, there were 124 distinct VET qualifications completed at the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 3 or higher. This represents 18,413 VET qualifications (Certificate III or higher) being awarded across Queensland.
From VET to university Certificate III or higher VET qualifications can contribute to the calculation of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) and can also provide students with a direct entry pathway into university. TCE is currently exploring an articulation agreement with James Cook University to enable students to be assured that on completion of a relevant Certificate III level qualification, they will be eligible for direct entry into a bachelor degree in a similar industry area. For example, Certificate III in Business – Bachelor of Business, Certificate III in Education Support or Certificate III in
Currently 28 Year 11 students are part of the Crossschool VET which sees them completing Certificate III in Education Support at Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale or units toward a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan.
6
Early Childhood Education and Care – Bachelor of Education.
