Thousands more Victorian students are gaining real-world skills and experience through the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major as the Allan Labor Government continues to deliver the biggest reform to senior secondary education in a generation.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today visited Federation Square for the 'Look Up to the Future' event, celebrating the success of the VCE Vocational Major and the real-world skills it's giving students to prepare for life after school.
Early enrolment data for 2025 indicates more than 29,000 school students from Years 10-12 across more than 480 schools are undertaking Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major (VM) studies this year. This is an increase of about 10 per cent since last year and an increase of over 30 per cent since the program began in 2023.
The VCE VM is a vocational and applied learning specialisation in the VCE. The program is providing real-world skills and an employability edge. Students graduate ready for further study, training and work after finishing the VCE VM.
Elliott Smith, a Year 11 student from Wurun Senior Campus, is studying VET Cookery and Business, building skills to one day run his own restaurant. Emily Conroy from Ringwood Secondary College is combining VET Sport and Recreation with Business studies to prepare for university and her future career as a primary school teacher.
From this year, some of the VCE VM curriculum - Work Related Skills and Personal Development Skills - is open to all VCE students, not just students doing the full program.
Participation in the VCE Vocational Major has helped lift Year 12 completion rates from 91.7 per cent in 2021 to 97.5 per cent in 2024, with the Year 10-12 retention rate reaching a six-year high of 84 per cent.
Nominations for the VCE VM category of the 2025 Premier's VCE Awards to recognise high-achieving students were due to open in late October.
Seven 2024 graduates were celebrated as Outstanding VCE VM Students at this year's Premier's VCE Awards. These high achievers continue to pursue their passions for agriculture, fashion, engineering, business, hospitality, automotive, cyber security and cabinetmaking after completing school.
The Labor Government has invested $747.6 million in senior secondary reform initiatives since 2018 - helping more students learn in demand skills in health, construction, engineering and agriculture and looking at careers that help drive the future of Victoria.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"We introduced the VCE Vocational Major because every young person deserves to finish Year 12 with an education that sets them up for success in study, training and work."
"We're celebrating the thousands of VCE Vocational Major students who will go on to drive Victoria's prosperity into the future, in construction, health and the renewable energy transition."
