In the 14 years since [vocational education and training] VET in schools was introduced to the Australian school curricula it has become an integral part of each state and territory’s Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE). Over 90 per cent of Australian schools offer VET subjects and programs and almost half of all senior secondary students participate in these courses. Historically, these programs developed out of concerns about the school to work transition of young Australians, and the need for a senior secondary certificate with a broader range of curriculum to encourage...  [+] Show more

In the 14 years since [vocational education and training] VET in schools was introduced to the Australian school curricula it has become an integral part of each state and territory’s Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE). Over 90 per cent of Australian schools offer VET subjects and programs and almost half of all senior secondary students participate in these courses. Historically, these programs developed out of concerns about the school to work transition of young Australians, and the need for a senior secondary certificate with a broader range of curriculum to encourage Year 12 retention. But stagnant year 12 retention rates against increasing participation in VET in schools raises questions about how effective these programs are at improving completion of Year 12 and providing a pathway to post-school VET study. This article explores whether participation in VET in schools assists the transition of young people by looking at research using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY). LSAY tracks young people as they move from school to work, providing information about their school, post-school, employment, and social outcomes. Therefore, these data provide us with the opportunity to assess the impact of VET in schools programs on young people’s educational and employment outcomes. However, significant changes to VET in schools programs and the variation in program delivery across Australia means that measuring exactly what impact VET in schools has on young people is difficult. This article begins by looking at the current landscape of VET in schools using recent data from the VET in schools collection. This information is released annually by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Published abstract.