EACH year, the North Central LLEN partners with Loddon Shire schools and the North  Central Trade Training Centre to support students wanting to undertake vocational education and training (VET) as part of their secondary school studies.
In 2024, approximately 68 students from Boort District School, East Loddon P-12 School, Pyramid Hill College and Wedderburn College completed vocational studies at the North Central Trade Training Centre in one of 12 subjects including agriculture, allied health, animal care, automotive, beauty services, building and construction, community services, engineering studies, hospitality, music operations, salon assistant and sport and recreation.
In addition, 16 students participated in Head Start School-Based Apprenticeships (SBATs) where they receive paid on-the-job training that contributes to their VCE, VCE Vocational Major or VPC and leads to a qualification.
There are many benefits to students undertaking vocational studies or SBATs – in some cases it can contribute towards their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score which can improve access to further education and training, and at the same time they are gaining skills, capabilities and confidence that provide pathways to employment.
North Central LLEN CEO Jane Hosking says no two individuals are the same, and their paths should not be either.
“Gone are the days when a degree was the only ticket to success - now we’re seeing students explore vocational training, apprenticeships, and online courses—options that let them shape their own unique journey based on strengths and aspirations.”
“Employers highly value VET because it builds entry-level skills in different industry areas and provides a practical introduction into workplace requirements, therefore enhancing employability skills,” she said.
A number of this year’s VET students are now going on to pursue traineeships or apprenticeships in their chosen area of vocational study, and we sincerely thank the many employers from across the region who have supported vocational education pathways this year through the provision of work experience opportunities, structured workplace learning placements, and/or school-based apprenticeships.
The new My Local Jobs website supported by the NCLLEN is a one-stop employment portal connecting job seekers with employers from Macedon to the Murray and is a great place for graduating students to find entry-level employment opportunities.
We would like to congratulate all Loddon students who completed VCE or the new VCE Vocational Major in 2024 and wish them every success in the future. We can’t wait to see where their journey takes them.

For more information, please visit www.ncllen.org.au.