The VCE Vocational Major is a vocational and applied learning program that sits within the VCE. Four subjects will make up the core of your program. It takes what is called an ‘applied learning approach’. Applied learning involves students engaging in relevant and authentic learning experiences. It is a method of learning where theoretical information comes to life for students in a real-world context that relates directly to their own future, is within their own control and is within an environment where they feel safe and respected. Students’ knowledge grows and expands as they take action to learn, reflect on that action and plan how to do it better next time.
The VCE Vocational Major is a two-year program over Years 11 and 12.
The VCE Vocational Major will prepare students to move successfully into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university through alternative entry programs or directly into the workforce. The four main studies are assessed at a school level through authentic assessment activities. There are no external examinations for the VCE VM studies, and therefore, students do not receive a study score and are not eligible to receive an ATAR.
Students who have completed the satisfactory completion requirements of the VCE VM will receive a Victorian Certificate of Education with the words Vocational Major on it to recognise their achievements.
From 2027, the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) component of this program will be delivered in a revised format to improve student engagement and better prepare students for future pathways. The program will continue to include the VCE VM core subjects while providing opportunities to access VCE subjects that align with students’ interests and future pathways. PDS and WRS will be taught as integrated units.
Students enrolled in VCE VM are required to complete 2 week Structured Workplace Learning placement at designated times.
From 2027, the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM) will feature an updated course structure that aligns with current VCAA requirements. While the practical, applied learning focus remains the same, students will follow a revised sequence of studies designed to better support their pathway to further education, training and employment.
PLEASE NOTE: Personal Development Skills (PDS) and Work Related Skills (WRS) for the VCE Vocational Major pathway are now combined curriculum subjects.
- Four to five days a week studying in the classroom (VCE Foundation English or EAL English, VCE Foundation/General Mathematics, Work Related Skills, and Personal Development Skills, along with a VET certificate (1st year).
- Students will also have the opportunity to choose the pathway of completing a Year 11 VCE subject OR another VET certificate (1st year, from the block).
| Subject | VCE Foundation English / EAL English | VCE Foundation / General Mathematics | Personal Development Skills & Work Related Skills | VCE-ATAR (units 1 & 2) OR VET 1st Year (from block) | VET Certificate 1st Year |
| No, of Periods (p/week) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
- Four to five days a week studying in the classroom (VCE-VM Literacy or EAL English, VCE Foundation/General Mathematics, Work Related Skills, and Personal Development Skills, along with a VET certificate (2nd year).
- Students will also have the opportunity to choose the pathway of completing a Year 12 VCE subject OR another VET certificate (2nd year, from the block).
| Subject | VCE-VM Literacy / EAL English | VCE Foundation / General Mathematics | Personal Development Skills & Work Related Skills | VCE-ATAR (units 3 & 4) OR VET 2nd Year (from block) | VET Certificate 2nd Year |
| No, of Periods (p/week) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
VCE Vocational Major VM Subjects
Literacy empowers students to read, write, speak and listen in different contexts. Literacy enables students to understand the different ways in which knowledge and opinion are represented and developed in daily life in the 21st Century. The development of literacy in this study design is based on applied learning principles, making strong connections between students' lives and learning. By engaging with a wide range of content drawn from a range of local and global cultures, forms and genres, including First Nations Peoples' knowledge and voices, students learn how information can be shown through print, visual, oral, digital and multimodal representations.
Along with the literacy practices necessary for reading and interpreting meaning, students must develop their capacity to respond to information. Listening, viewing, reading, speaking, and writing are developed so that students can communicate effectively both in writing and orally. A further essential part of literacy is that students develop their understanding of how written, visual and oral communication are designed to meet the demands of different audiences, purposes and contexts, including workplace, vocational and community contexts. This understanding helps students develop their writing and oracy so that they become confident in their use of language in a variety of settings.
From 2027, students undertaking the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM) will complete VCE Foundation English in Year 11 instead of Literacy and then proceed back to VCE-VM Literacy in Year 12. This change provides students with a recognised VCE English study that develops the practical literacy knowledge and skills needed for everyday life, further education, training and employment.
VCE Foundation English focuses on how English is used to communicate through written, spoken and multimodal texts of varying complexity.
Unit 1 - English for practical purposes
In this unit, students focus on developing language and communication skills, primarily through the study of a variety of texts. They develop communication skills in order to listen, speak, read and write effectively in academic, workplace and social contexts.
Area of Study 1 - Reading and viewing texts
Area of Study 2 - Creating texts
Area of Study 3 - Listening to and presenting persuasive texts
Unit 2 - Thinking and learning through English
In this unit students develop a range of literacy skills and learning strategies. They extend the understandings and processes required to read and write effectively. Students employ learning strategies designed to enhance their achievement in and enjoyment of the English language.
Area of Study 1 - Reading and viewing texts
Area of Study 2 - Creating texts
Area of Study 3 - Listening to and presenting persuasive texts
From 2027, students undertaking the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM) will complete VCE Foundation/General Mathematics instead of Numeracy. This change provides students with a recognised VCE mathematics study that develops the practical mathematical knowledge and skills needed for everyday life, further education, training and employment.
Units 1-4
Area of study 1 - Algebra, Number & Structure
- Application of integers, fractions and decimals, their properties and related operations
- Use of ratios, proportions, percentages and rates to solve problems
- Estimation, approximation and reasonableness of calculations and results
- Construction, use and interpretation of formulas and symbolic expressions to describe relationships between variables and to model and represent generalisations and patterns
- Manipulation of symbolic expressions and solution of equations
Area of study 2 - Data Analysis, Probability & Statistics
- Collection and representation of data in diagrammatic, tabular and graphical forms and the features, conventions and terminology used in these processes
- Construction of charts, tables and graphs to represent data
- Interpretation of data to summarise and communicate findings and possible conclusions. Creation of a range of charts, tables and graphs to represent and compare data
- Measures of central tendency and simple measures of spread (such as range and interquartile range) to summarise and interpret data and compare sets of related data
Area of study 3 - Discrete Mathematics
- Personal financial services and information such as borrowing, bills and banking
- Income calculations including rates of pay and payslips
- Personal taxation and superannuation
- Taxation as a community and contribution to government, fees and interest
- Cost structures and related information associated with financial transactions.
- Products and services such as comparison of health products, informed spending choices, decision making according to criteria
- Managing money: earning and spending, life-stage financial planning, servicing of current and future commitments such as HECS-HELP debt, child-care support and other benefits
- Local, community and national financial and economic data and trends over time (national/community/ local) such as CPI, interest rates, wages and house prices
Area of study 4 - Space & Measurement
- Standard metric units and measures, including common derived metric measures
- Reading and interpretation of scales on digital and analogue instruments
- Estimation and approximation strategies
- Time and duration including time and date specifications, conventions, schedules and timetables.
The VCE VM Personal Development Skills study focuses on helping students develop personal identity and individual pathways to optimal health and wellbeing. It begins with concepts of personal identity and the range of factors that contribute to an individual's perception of self. Students will investigate health in their community and play an active, participatory role in designing and implementing activities to improve community health and wellbeing.
Students will examine community participation and how people work together effectively to achieve shared goals. They will investigate different types of communities at a local, national, and global level. Students will look at active citizenship and they will investigate the barriers and enablers to problem solving within the community. Students understand different perspectives on issues affecting their community, they will also plan, implement and evaluate an active response to community need.
The study examines interpersonal skills and social awareness in different settings and contexts. Students will examine leadership qualities and the characteristics of effective leaders and how these qualities can be applied to the achievement of goals within personal and community contexts. Students participate in an extended project relating to a community issue. Students will identify environmental, cultural, economic and social issues affecting the community and select one for an extended community project. Students will reflect on how community awareness of their selected issue can be improved.
VCE VM Work Related Skills allows students to understand and apply concepts and terminology related to the workplace and further studies to understand the complex and rapidly changing world of work and workplace environments. It helps students understand and develop their skills, knowledge, capabilities and attributes as they relate to further education and employment, to develop effective communication skills to enable self-reflection and self-promotion and to practically apply their skills and knowledge.
This subject requires students to think about and investigate potential employment pathways, to develop a career action plan, to seek appropriate advice and feedback on planned career and further study objectives. Students are required to consider the distinction between essential employability skills, specialist, and technical work skills; to understand transferable skills and identify their personal skill and capabilities and promote them through development of a cover letter and resume and through mock interviews.
Students also learn about healthy, collaborative and productive workplaces, workplace relationships and investigate key areas relating to workplace relations, including pay conditions and dispute resolution. Students look at how teamwork and effective communication contribute to a healthy, collegiate workplace. Students also learn about promoting themselves and their skills by developing an extensive professional portfolio to use for further education and employment applications.
Eligibility of the award of the VCE-VM
The minimum VCE VM requirement is satisfactory completion of 16 units, which must include:
- three VCE VM Literacy or VCE units from other English studies group (including a Unit 3–4 sequence)
2. two VCE VM Numeracy or other VCE Mathematics studies group
3. two VCE VM Work Related Skills units
- two VCE VM Personal Development Skills units
5. two VET credits at Certificate II level or above (students may accrue 2 units of credit following the completion of UoCs to the total of 180 nominal hours drawn from multiple VET qualifications).
6. In addition to your Unit 3-4 sequence from English group, a minimum of three additional Unit 3–4 sequences, which can include other VCE or VET studies
