The Allan Labor Government is helping injured tradies to re-skill as Vocational Education Trainers - as more and more students enrol in VET courses at school.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll today visited Ringwood Secondary College, where Nick Holloway will teach Engineering and Metal Fabrication after completing the VET Trainer Career Pathway Pilot Program.
Nick worked for nearly 20 years as a boilermaker in heavy structural steel fabrication until a worksite accident severely injured his arm, leaving him unable to return to work.
While undertaking rehabilitation through WorkCover, his occupational therapist recommended the pilot program, which he started in July 2023. Nick will soon deliver VET courses to students at Ringwood Secondary College.
The nine-month pilot program provides all the theoretical and hands-on training required to become a VET Trainer, enabling participants to step into their own classroom the following year.
At the conclusion of the program, participants are qualified to teach their specialty VET course in schools, TAFEs or Registered Training Organisations - they also learn specialist skills to support the learning needs of school-aged students.
More Victorian secondary school students than ever are choosing to enrol in VET courses. Last year 53,820 students included VET in their studies, the third consecutive year of increased enrolments.
In 2022, the Labor Government added the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment - the core qualification required to be a trainer to the Free TAFE list, and last year we expanded Free TAFE eligibility to enable more Victorians to study for in demand jobs including becoming a TAFE teacher.
Following an assessment of the VET Trainer Career Pathway Pilot Program, the Government will look at rolling it out across the state. For more information go to schools.vic.gov.au/professional-learning-programs-vocational-and-applied-learning.
As stated by Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"VET is getting more popular every year and helping our schools achieve some of the highest secondary student retention rates of any state or territory."
"This program is giving injured works the chance to retrain as educators and train the next generation of workers - while helping schools meet the growing demand for VET trainers."
As stated by Pilot Program participant Nick Holloway
"It's a very rewarding career, and that's a big driver for me, I want to see these young people succeed."
"I was fortunate to have had some older blokes who took me under their wing and taught me a lot when I was younger, and I want to do the same for these young people."
