VET (Vocational Education and Training) provides nationally accredited, industry-specific qualifications during Years 11 and 12. These aren't alternatives to "real" subjects—they're recognised training that teaches skills employers actually want.
Some students thrive when they can combine hands-on work experience with classroom learning. Others discover their passion through an apprenticeship or traineeship while still at school. We support all these pathways because we know different students need different routes to success.
We can help your young person access VET courses approved by the Department for Education, as well as School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs). These aren't just alternatives to traditional subjects—they're opportunities for students to build real skills, earn SACE credits, and get a head start on their career while still being part of our school community.
Ready to explore these options?
Below you'll find the information and forms you need for Work Experience, Work Placement, and other pathways. If you're wondering whether one of these options might suit your young person, we're here to talk it through with you.
Course fees are heavily subsidised by the State Government. Most qualifications cost no more than $600 in total. Students who qualify for School Card funding pay a maximum of $100 per qualification.
If you are in Year 10, 11 or 12+, you can start a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship while you're still at school. This means your young person can complete their SACE and begin their career path at the same time, moving straight into work after Stage 2.
These School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (ASBAs) require at least one day of work each week. Once Year 12 students have ticked off all their compulsory SACE requirements, they can join our Flexible Apprenticeship/Traineeship program and negotiate more workdays per week with their employer.
How It Works
Students typically find their host employer through work experience placements or after completing a certificate course. When a company agrees to take your young person on as an apprentice or trainee, they'll work together to complete a pre-endorsement form, which comes back to the school once it's done.
Want to Learn More?
Find out more about school-based apprenticeships and traineeships:
This pathway gives students real-world experience while they study, helping them build the skills and confidence they need for their chosen career.
Students can gain access to a wide range of VET options off-campus delivered by Training organisations such as TAFE SA and other private providers. Students will need to travel to the delivery sites to access this training.
The Department for Education has identified 25 Flexible Industry Pathways (studentpathways.sa.edu.au) in which they offer subsidies to students to complete qualifications in areas considered to be strategically important to the economy in terms of job growth and skills shortages. The FIPs available for delivery to students in 2026 include:
- Aged Care and Disability
- Animal Care and Racing Industry
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Automotive Retail, Service and Repair
- Building and Construction
- Business
- Civil Construction, Resources and Infrastructure
- Conservation and Land Management
- Cyber and Information Technology
- Early Childhood and Education
- Electrotechnology
- Engineering
- Food Processing
- Forestry
- Hair and Beauty
- Health Support
- Horticulture
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Manufacturing
- Transport and Logistics
- Plumbing
- Screen and Media Production, Game Development and Visual Effects
- Sport and Fitness
In 2026, Blackwood High School plan to deliver the following courses on-site:
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology via PEER
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care via ACCCO
Flinders University offers guaranteed entry into engineering or education degrees for students completing specific VET courses plus certain Year 12 subjects. No ATAR required.
All VET courses are applied for by the VET Coordinator on the student’s behalf via an online application system called VETRO (VET Readiness Orientation).
Upon application, students must provide evidence of industry immersion in the field they are applying for. This typically comes via work experience or attending come and try activities, but may also take the form of volunteering or paid work.
Course fees are heavily subsidised by the State Government and vary from course to course. Students who have access to School Card funding will pay no more than $100 per course.
Ideally, applications are submitted in Term 3 and students are notified of their success in Term 4. It is a requirement of all “VETRO” courses that students complete a Language Literacy and Numeracy Assessment to ensure that students’ diverse needs are catered for. Students can prepare for this by accessing the following resources:
Students will need to create a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and this can be done here.
Individual training providers also have their own enrolment forms that will need to be completed and submitted as the enrolment process is finalised.
For any further information contact Mr Andrew Cavallaro: (08) 8278 0900 or andrew.cavallaro469@schools.sa.edu.au
All students are required to arrange their own transport to VET courses and Work Placement. Some VET programs require students to complete Work Placement as part of their training, in a real or simulated work environment. These placements provide valuable training and mentoring to aid development of technical and employability skills. In many cases, training organisations will work with students to secure these placements, but it is up to the student to ensure that the Workplace Learning Agreement form has been completed and returned to the school.
Students may miss lessons for other subjects whilst at a VET program and Work Placement. It is important to be well organised and work closely with subject teachers and the VET Coordinator to ensure the impact is minimised. While we endeavour to give students access to their desired subject selections, VET enrolment may clash with double lessons for certain subjects and re-counselling may be required.
We help students discover what they're capable of through real-world work experience. Whether your young person is exploring career options, building confidence, or developing practical skills, workplace learning gives them a genuine taste of working life.
How It Works
We've built time into our school calendar for workplace learning, typically in Term 2 and Term 4. If these times don't work for your young person's chosen workplace, we're flexible and can arrange alternative timing.
Two Types of Workplace Learning
Work Experience gives your young person a short placement in an industry that interests them. They'll see firsthand what different careers involve and start imagining their own future path.
Structured Work Placements connect directly to VET programs your young person is already studying. These placements happen on-site with industry partners, giving students hands-on experience in their chosen field.
What You Need to Know
Before your young person starts any workplace learning, we need a completed workplace learning agreement form and WHS checklist. Please return these to our VET/Pathways Coordinator at least one week before the placement begins.
Some industries require additional preparation. Construction sites need students to hold a White Card (our Year 10 Industry Immersion students complete this training as part of their subject). Working with children requires the RRHAN-EC course, which your young person can access through the Plink button in EdPass, and a Working With Children Check applied for as a volunteer at no cost.
Students
Parents:
Providers
The links below provide quick access to important documents as well as websites to assist students in finding information about occupations, career pathways and labour market information.
Work Experience and Work Placement resources:
- Workplace Learning Agreement form: This is the Department for Education’s Workplace Learning Agreement form, which is required by all students undertaking school approved work experience of placement.
Career Exploration resources:
- Career Chat: This is the Department for Education’s Student Pathways website. Here you will find information about VET courses and School-based apprenticeship and Traineeship opportunities approved for school students. It also has career pathway information for students and parents, along with a link to our online Career Education Portal
- Your Career: An Australian Government website produced by the National Careers Institute which allows students to search for information on a wide range of occupations and industries. This includes job requirements, career pathways and more.
- The Good Universities Guide: This site provides searches for information on different jobs and careers, along with courses all over Australia including university courses.
- Labour Market Information: Find out current information, data and statistics about the Labour Market. Find out where the jobs are, what the skill shortage areas are and much more.
- Explore Careers: Lots of information and resources on jobs and careers in Australia.
- MyFuture: Lots of general careers information including information for parents.
VET and School-based Apprenticeship/Traineeship resources:
- Create a USI: Australian Government website for creating a Unique Student Identifier, which is essential for VET enrolments and access to courses offered by external education providers.
- 1285 Pre-endorsement form: This is the Australian Government’s School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship pre-approval form. This must be completed by all stakeholders, before returning to the Careers Advisor at school in order to initiate the apprenticeship/Traineeship process.
- CSPA Practice Material: Practice tasks for students to access prior to sitting a Core Skills Profile for Adults or Language, Literacy and Numeracy assessment, which is requirement for access to any VET course.
- Literacy and Numeracy quizzes: Practice tasks for students to access prior to sitting a Core Skills Profile for Adults or Language, Literacy and Numeracy assessment, which is requirement for access to any VET course.
SACE related links:
- SACE: The South Australian Certificate of Education website. This includes a range of information about SACE subjects and completion.
- Students Online: Log in page for students to access information about their SACE completion journey.
- SATAC: The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre website. SATAC process and assess applications for entry into tertiary courses in SA and the Northern Territory. This includes university and TAFE SA applications.
More Information
For detailed VET policy and implementation: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/schools-and-educators/curriculum-and-teaching/pathways-further-education-and-employment
