VET in Schools (VETiS)

VET for school students

Queensland school students can undertake nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications while they are still at school. VET courses can be undertaken in Years 10, 11 and 12, and can count towards the Queensland Certificate of Education.

Students can undertake VET at school:

• as part of their school studies – delivered and resourced by a school that is also a registered training organisation (RTO)
• by enrolling with an external RTO – funded either by the Queensland Government's VET in Schools program or through fee-for-service arrangements, where fees are paid by an individual such as a student or parent, or another entity such as a community or industry group
• as a school-based apprentice or trainee – funded either through another Queensland Government program called User Choice or fee-for-service arrangements.

Read more information about VET delivered in schools by the Department of Education.

VET in Schools (VETiS) program

Funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, the VETiS program covers training fees for VET courses that are aligned to jobs and skills in demand, putting secondary school students on a path to employment and further VET opportunities.

In this way, the VETiS program aligns with successful programs such as Gateway to Industry Schools program, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and Trade Tasters—programs that also focus on supporting students onto employment pathways.

Training is delivered by TAFE and quality-assured funded training providers known as Skills Assure Suppliers (SAS).

How does VETiS work?

VETiS qualifications funded by the VET investment budget are listed on the Priority Skills List. These qualifications are delivered by SAS under the Certificate 3 Guarantee.

Students undertaking VETiS can complete one employment stream qualification at the certificate I or II level. Schools, in consultation with students and their parents, are able to choose any SAS approved to deliver the eligible qualification.

Students who wish to undertake a department-funded certificate III qualification should do so through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT), with funding for SATs available under the User Choice program.

Other funded certificate III qualifications can only be delivered outside SAT pathways when a industry proposal funding submission (DOCX, 429KB) is submitted by an employer or industry body to support local employment opportunities.

New program in development

A new VETiS program is being developed as part of the Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024–2028 to help school students make good career and training choices, so they can leave school more career-ready, informed and confident in their future.

The new Career Ready VETiS program aims to help students better understand their career and training options and provide stronger pathways to work – with fee-free VET courses that have strong industry and employment connections, including more school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.

The program complements work to improve school-to-work transitions through the Queensland Workforce Strategy, including providing access to high-quality career information and facilitating school-industry partnerships through Regional School Industry Partnership Managers located in state school regions across the state.

Delivery of courses under the new program will be led by TAFE and supported by a subset of SAS, with Career Ready VETiS expanded to be a discrete funding program, no longer drawing from Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs for certificate and apprenticeship/traineeship qualifications respectively.

TAFE will also expand its Trade Tasters initiative to give more Year 10 students a taste of what it's like to work in industries such as agriculture, construction, cookery, health, community services and hairdressing, equipping students to choose a school-based apprenticeship, traineeship or VET course for Year 11 and 12 that is right for them.

When will the VETiS program change?

The new program will not replace the current VETiS program until the start of the 2026 school year.

The Career Ready VETiS program will be further developed in consultation with stakeholders and implemented in a staged approach from 2026. More information and program guidelines will be available following this work.

Current VETiS arrangements remain in place for new enrolments until the end of the 2025 school year. No students will be disadvantaged, with continuing students able to complete their funded course and gain their qualification with the same provider.

What do changes mean for training providers?

TAFE will lead delivery of the new Career Ready VETiS program from 2026, supported by a subset of SAS.

RTOs currently delivering VETiS funded courses can continue to work with schools to deliver these courses but they will not be funded under the VET investment budget unless they are among the subset of SAS approved to deliver training for school students from the 2026 school year.

All eligible RTOs will be able to apply to be among this subset of SAS, with courses and locations specified as part of an expression of interest process to open later in 2024.

More information

• Learn more in the VETiS frequently asked questions, including more information about program changes.
• View the Priority Skills List.
• Read VETiS information for school students and parents.

Last updated 20 May 2024