Additional Options

Year 12 courses

If you were not made an offer this year, you may decide to return to school as a continuing year 12 student or a new year 12 student to do further VCE or VCAL studies. This may assist you improve your current ATAR or art and design folio.

Before deciding what to do, talk to your parents, teachers and the course adviser from your local TAFE or university about the best course of action. Where possible, get any advice in writing and make sure you have the name of the person you spoke to.

Before considering going back to do more Year 12 studies, consider whether you are likely to perform better than last year. You can do this by asking your teachers for their opinion, and by critically assessing your own work.

Consider whether your choice of studies clearly reflected your strengths.

While repeated studies no longer incur a 10% penalty, some courses will consider your repeated studies as part of their selection process.

If you return for further VCE studies this year you can check out tertiary prerequisites for next year by referring to the Victorian Tertiary Entrance Requirements (VICTER) 2013 available at www.vtac.edu.au

If returning to secondary school is not an option, there are still a number of other alternatives available:

Adult Community Education Sector

A range of courses are available in the community sector at a location near you. Apart from adult VCE, many community providers offer accredited vocational education courses in a range of areas including information technology, hospitality, social and community services, retail and a host of other courses. In addition, preparatory courses are available including the Diploma in Liberal Arts and Diploma of Further Education. Check the Adult, Community and Further Education website at http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/learnlocal-acfe/ for your closest centre.

VET - Courses

The Vocational Education Training (VET) system is a major provider of post-secondary courses. There are thousands of courses available at many locations across Victoria with both part-time and full-time courses available.

VET programs provide you with the opportunity to access a range of education and training pathways; if you successfully complete each level you can progress through a range of qualifications from Certificate I through to Advanced Diploma. In addition to this, satisfactory completion of some courses may enable you to obtain credit towards completion of degree studies in a range of areas.

In addition to courses starting in February, some institutes may offer a mid-year intake, so you should register your interest now and complete the relevant application form/s as soon as possible.

For further information about VET courses log onto http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/ or telephone your local VET provider directly.

Other useful contacts include:

Open Universities Australia (OUA) is owned by seven leading universities. Most of OUA’s undergraduate first level units have no entry requirements so it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are — you can be a student online. OUA also offer bridging and preparatory units to help with the transition to higher education. You can start working towards a qualification straight away or you can select one or two units that interest you and select a degree pathway later.

For further information go to http://www.open.edu.au/public/home Single-Study Subjects/Continuing Education

Most institutions offer students a chance to study, and be assessed in subjects at tertiary level, outside the normal degree program.

Some people may just wish to pursue studies which interest them, without aiming to complete a degree; others may wish to study at this level to try to improve chances of selection should they wish to apply for entry to a degree program for the following year.

By undertaking a single study subject or Continuing Education course, selection officers are able to assess your actual performance at university level studies rather than your potential performance that are indicated by your VCE results.

Contact individual universities to see what is available, what the costs are and what study results can be achieved.

Pre-apprentices hips

A pre-apprenticeship course is a stepping stone to get into the industry of your choice. Completion of a pre-apprenticeship course will help to:

For further information go to: www.skills.vic.gov.au/ Apprenticeships/Traineeships

An apprenticeship or traineeship is a training contract between an employer and an employee in which the apprentice or trainee learns the skills needed for a particular occupation or trade.

An apprenticeship or traineeship can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis and can be used as a valuable stepping stone to start a career in an industry you want to work in.

As an apprentice or trainee, you can:

Anyone of working age who is interested in a career in the industry of their choice can be an apprentice or trainee (subject to citizenship or visa conditions).

For further information about becoming an apprentice or trainee go to www.skills.vic.gov.au and follow the links.

Voluntary work

Voluntary work can be a rewarding way to benefit yourself and the community. By becoming involved in community programs you can improve communication skills, gain valuable work experience and also contribute to those in need. Your local Council can provide advice, or you could contact welfare agencies in your area.

Interstate or Overseas Study

Relocating interstate or overseas is not a realistic option for everyone however it may be worth considering.

Formal applications for most states would not be possible at this stage, however direct applications and those for mid-year intakes may be available. You might even like to delay the application until the following year.

Interstate and overseas institutions have different requirements and prerequisites that may better suit your qualifications and /or interests.

Admission guides and application forms for 2012 entry in the various states are available for purchase from the VTAC office or your local newsagent. Online links are listed on the VTAC website www.vtac.edu.au

If you are considering overseas study, you may like to contact the Consulate or Embassy of the particular country where you would like to study. They generally have advisers who would be able to help you arrange this. Certain universities and institutions within Australia would also have such information, especially those who have arrangements regarding exchanges with universities and institutions in other nations. If you already know of an institution where you would like to study, you may like to contact them directly.

Preparatory programs

Many Higher Education and VET providers offer a range of preparatory programs. These programs may provide an alternate way into a post year 12 qualification. For a complete list, refer to the VTAC Facebook page or VTAC Blog.

Finally

If you do decide to undertake some form of study or training on the assurance of getting into a course or area of work next year, make sure you note down the name of the person you were talking to and confirm any promises or assurances in writing.

The key to creating opportunities is to ask questions, contact tertiary institutions and associated bodies and find out what is available. While there are no guarantees, the first step can lead to opportunities in the area of your interest. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.