VET News

VET in Schools Data Shows a Shift in Enrolment Trends

In 2022, in Australia there were 242 945 VET in Schools students, consisting of:

• 8.5% (or 20 765) school-based apprentices and trainees
• 91.5% (or 222 180) students undertaking other VET in Schools programs.

An estimated 26.8% of the Australian population who were at school and aged 15 to 19 years participated in VET in Schools in 2022.

In 2022, compared with 2021, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia decreased by 3.3%.

Across a five-year period, 2018 to 2022, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia increased by 5.3%.

Certificate II programs continue to be the most popular qualification, with 57.3% of enrolments (or 203 580) at this level. However, the numbers have decreased by 12.1% since 2012.

NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said, “Although Certificate II programs continue to have the highest uptake, we have seen a significant increase in Certificate III enrolments over the past decade, up 69.7% from 68 250 in 2012 to 115 800 in 2022. Further, we have observed a 74.1% decrease in Certificate I enrolments over the same period.”

The most popular training package was Tourism, travel and hospitality, which made up 15.7% of all VET in Schools program enrolments. It was closely followed by Sport, fitness and recreation at 12.9%.

Over the last year, there has also been a notable decline in the number of program enrolments in Foundation Skills, with a decline of 38.5%.

The following publication presents information on VET in Schools, the vocational education and training (VET) undertaken by school students as part of their senior secondary certificate of education (SSCE).  Students can undertake VET through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway, or other pathway (the latter is referred to as ‘other VET in Schools students’).

Download the publication here. 

Date posted Aug 3, 2023