Daytona's Success Story

Daytona was looking for a practical pathway to employment from her senior secondary years. VCAL fit the bill perfectly.

‘There were more opportunities to enter the workforce right away,’ she explains. ‘I enjoyed working one day a week as well as going to TAFE and school. It really suited me.’

Daytona relished the variety in her VCAL program. ‘We went on excursions to the Melbourne Aquarium and to the Grand Prix,’ she says. ‘We chose a hobby, went camping and we did community volunteer work. It was good to feel like you were doing something useful and helping other people.’

A particular highlight for Daytona was her five weeks of structured workplace learning at several cafés and eateries. ‘I experienced a variety of environments and learned lots of skills like locking the tills and making coffees,’ she recalls. ‘And I got a part-time job out of it!’

But Daytona has gained much more than a job. ‘I’m a lot more confident now. Through work experience I had more interaction with people, and I’ve learned about customer service and basic hospitality skills. In class I learned resume-writing skills, how to write application letters and about Occupational Health and Safety.’

Daytona is now doing Intermediate VCAL and has a clear career goal. ‘I’m planning on doing a School Based Apprenticeship and becoming a qualified pastry chef. If you’re planning to do a trade, VCAL is a great option because of the work experience and TAFE aspects. It’s one of the best ways to get the most out of your last couple of years at school.’