26 Dec 2017

There’s a lot of confusing messages when it comes to education. On the one hand, you’re told that “the world is your oyster” and “pursue whatever you want ”. Then, in the very next breath, it’s like, “you better go to university and get a degree, otherwise you’re going to be a total failure.”

This is the attitude of the old-school. Once upon a time, you had to go to university in order to reach a certain employment status. Slowly but surely though, that status is being flipped around. Now it’s common for tradies to earn more than university grads, and many of the jobs that existed 20 years ago are being superseded by new technologies.

One option that often gets overlooked is VET, which stands for Vocational Education and Training. VET courses are offered at TAFE NSW and at other registered training organisations (RTOs) and they cover a whole bunch of different skills across heaps of industries.

VET is similar to university but you spend a larger chunk of your time getting qualified for a real-world career. It’s generally more hands-on and work-focused than uni and statistically, those who complete a VET course, whether at TAFE NSW or another registered training organisation, have higher rates of employment. Recent TAFE NSW graduates, on average, also get paid slightly better than university graduates.

The cool thing about VET is that the courses generally provide really specific training, which is designed to get you a really specific job title at the end. For example, you can study a Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games and then pursue a career in digital game development. Or you can study a Certificate IV in TESOL and then you’re qualified to teach English as a second language. Or you can study a Diploma of Mental Health and work in counselling, advocacy and mental health education. By comparison, uni courses are usually more generalist and not so job-specific. There are literally hundreds of different VET courses that you can do.

Another benefit of VET is that the courses are generally shorter than a university degree. There are a few different levels of training, including Certificates I, II, III and IV, as well as Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas. This means that instead of studying for a full 3 or 4 years, you can get some introductory training within a few months or even a few weeks. Then, if you like the subject material, you can pursue further study for a higher certificate.

The point is that you don’t necessarily have to go to university to get educated and find a good job. VET is definitely an option that’s worth looking into, and it’s something more students should be told about while they’re still in high school – don’t ya think?

For more info on specific VET courses and career paths for 2018, check out the TAFE NSW course guide.