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• Early Years
• Early Learning and Development Framework 0-8 (ELDF 0-8)
• Years Prep to 10
• National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
• Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS)
• Senior Secondary
• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
• Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

Partnerships with Registered Training Organisation

The most common approach is for the school to cover all VCE needs while the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offers the VET training. The actual delivery will be determined according to local resources. Refer to Delivery for further details.

RTOs are experienced in delivery and assessment of competency-based programs. The aspects of this provision which need to be discussed include:

• content to be covered
• costs for the program
• logistics of student attendance at classes and flexibility of timetable
• enrolment details and recording of results
• the requirements of students in both the VET and VCE program so that both parties are clear on demands of students and that these are reasonable; for example, completion of work, attendance, assessment, discipline etc
• liaison on progress of students
• details of Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) and how this works alongside classroom instruction in both the school and the VET provider.

A best approach for formalising these partnerships is for schools and training partners to use a 'memorandum of understanding' detailing agreed outcomes of the partnership.

Some Planning Considerations

For training providers (e.g. TAFE, Group Training Companies) working in partnership with secondary schools, some key issues are:

• student understanding of different curriculum and work expectations;
• checking that enrolment and results are accurately recorded by VCAA due dates issued in the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook each year; and
• liaison with VCE teachers and understanding the connections between VET and VCE curriculum

Partnerships in the delivery of VET in the VCE programs are very important for student success and sense of purpose. Liaison between providers on administrative and curriculum matters will help to ensure student success and effective preparation for employment or further study in the area.

For Schools:

• Ensuring that VET programs are equally valued in the school and on the timetable.
• Providing career advice and counselling so that students can identify the potential in VET pathways.
• Avoiding mere addition of VET in schools programs on top of full VCE commitments.
• Exploring ways of providing release from school for training.
• Exploring ways of involving staff in professional development programs, for example, DET managed training for teachers of VET programs, local action learning, links with other schools and networks, TRIP teachers, links with industry.
• Ensuring information is available for parents.
• Ensuring that communication links with employers and training institutions are easily accessible and efficient.
• Helping staff to understand the objectives and methodology of VET programs in the school.
• Helping teachers become familiar with competency based training delivery and assessment.
• Ensuring that claims for student achievement of VET learning outcomes and competencies are substantiated.
• Developing strategies for evaluation of programs to help with future developments.

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