Vocational education

​​​​​​​​​Mackay Northern Beaches State High School is a Registered Training Organisation

RTO# 41353​

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is "education and training for work" and part of a broader educational network in Australia that includes schools, universities and adult and community education. At Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, students have access to a range of VET qualifications  offered by our school RTO and a range of other  privately  Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).  We have formed strong partnerships with some of these private RTOs.

VET courses are usually completed in Years 11 and 12. Information is available through notices, email, SET planning, website and Facebook.

Many students begin their future careers by completing School-based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SAT) while in school. Vacancies are advertised through notices, email, SET planning and Facebook.

From 2020, students will be able to use a Certificate III qualification with four “General" subjects for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) eligibility.

Certificates of Completion will be awarded to students who are competent in all aspects of a qualification. Students with incomplete qualifications will receive a Statement of Attainment listing all completed competencies.

Students enrolling in any of these qualifications must apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI).  This information is provided for all students upon enrolment in a VET course at MNBSHS.​

How is VET offered at Mackay Northern Beaches SHS?

Students can study the following qualifications:

• Internal Certificates available at MNBSHS (students may study as many of these certificates as they wish without using (Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) funding)
• ​SIT20116 Certificate II in Tourism and BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills (Business)
• ICT20120 Certificate II in Applied Digital (Media) Technologies
• FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
• CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
• CUA20220 Certificate II in Creative Industries
• CHC22015 Certificate II in Community Services
• ​​​External Certificates available at MNBSHS, offered by External Providers (students are able to select only one of these certificates with VETiS funding) Additional courses may be selected at full cost, as per provider. These certificates may still incur subject levies
• SIT20316 Certificate II in Hospitality and/or SIT30616 Certificate III in Hospitality (External Provider Blueprint CD)
• MEM20413 Certificate II Engineering Pathways (External Provider Formula Student)
• HLT23215 Certificate II in Health Support Services and HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (External Provider Connect 'n' Grow)
• SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and SIS30115 Certificate III in Fitness (External Provider CQU)
• MEM20413 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways (1 day per week at Mackay Engineering College)
• UEE220011 Certificate II in Electro-technology (18 months, 1 day per week at Mackay Engineering College)
• AUR20716 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (12 months 1 day per week at Mackay Engineering College)
• AVI30316 Certificate III in Aviation (External Provider Aviation Australia)

​VETiS – Vocational Education & Training in Schools

Private RTO's and CQUniversity (TAFE) offer a range of Vocational Education and Training courses to Year 11 and Year 12 students as part of their VET in Schools (VETiS) program.   Students may select courses that suit their chosen pathway.

Information and course offerings for CQUniversity/TAFE VETiS are available at  https://www.cqu.edu.au/courses/future-students/future-study-options/study-tafe/vet-in-schools.

If students are considering undertaking a VETiS course in Senior it must be included on their Senior Education and Training Plan (SET Plan) in Year 10. An enrolment form must also be completed and returned to the Career's Transition Officer for Principal approval.  

VET and the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

Certificate I

Most Certificate I's are worth one credit towards a QCE. There is no limit to the number of Certificate I qualifications a student can gain, but there is a maximum of four that count towards a QCE.

Certificates II, III and IV

A Certificate II is worth four credits towards a QCE, while most Certificates III and IV are worth eight credits. There is no limit on the number of Certificates II, III and IV that may contribute to a QCE. A Certificate III or above may also contribute to an ATAR if a student is also studying at least 4 General Subjects. A student who completes a Certificate III or higher may also achieve a selection ranking which can be used to gain entry to some University courses.

QCE Points

Credit for the QCE is accrued when a student completes new learning. When students complete multiple VET qualifications, an RTO may transfer credit from completed units of competencies from one qualification toward completion of another qualification. New learning in VET is identified as units of competency that are recorded as competent, rather than credit transfer. Credit transfer relates to learning in VET qualifications, which is different from credit contributing to a QCE.

Selection of Subjects and Course Fees

Entry into VET Programs is subject to payment of Student Resource Scheme (SRS) fees. Fees are attached to studying VET Courses, therefore priority is given to Students whose fees are up to date. core credits. There is no limit on the number of Certificate II's, III's and IV's that can contribute to a QCE.​

​VET and Tertiary Entrance

To gain entrance into many tertiary courses students require an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).  To be eligible for an ATAR students have to:

·         satisfactorily complete an English subject

·         complete either five general subjects, four general subjects plus one applied subject or four general subjects and a VET course at Certificate III level or higher.

If a school student is ineligible for an ATAR, a VET course at a Certificate III level, or higher, or a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship may be used to calculate a Tertiary Entrance Rank.

Vocational placements

Vocational placement provides students with the opportunity to receive practical on-the-job training and experience as an assessable part of their vocational education and training course. Practical placement is a compulsory part of some of the courses we offer at our school.

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) must ensure full compliance of qualifications and accredited courses that require vocational placement, under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015.

Student work experience placements are conducted under the Education (Work Experience) Act 1996  . The Public Safety Business Agency regulates requirements for a working with children check blue card. Some work experiences require a white card to participate in on site experience.  This qualification can be organised by the school or externally.

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT's)

SAT's allow students to undertake paid work for an employer whilst completing their school studies, as well as training towards a recognised qualification.   Students that have not completed their SAT by the end of Year 12 may be able to convert it to a full-time or part-time apprenticeship or traineeship.​

Students in a VET Course at MNBSHS

At the commencement of all VET subjects, students undertake an induction process. 

This induction process includes:

• ​familiarisation with the VET Student Handbook (PDF, 587KB)
• familiarisation with the required course competencies and an overview of the course they are enrolled in.
  
• safety instructions and expectations for all equipment and spaces students will encounter in studying their course.
  
• participation in an information session which outlines all required procedures and expectations of the student and the RTO.​
  

As an RTO, the school seeks to continuously improve and refine its practices and procedures through annual student, parent and teacher surveys.​

Partnership with Schools (PWS)

Mackay Northern Beaches SHS is delivering course content for students completing the SIT20316 Cert II in Hospitality and SIT30616 Certificate III in Hospitality on behalf of Blueprint Career Development. 

Blueprint Career Development (RTO Number 30978) is responsible for enrolling students, assessing and issuing Statement of Attainments and Awards for eligible students. 

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
• Students are required to complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Core Skills Test prior to commencement of training. Visit www.blueprintcd.com.au for further information regarding this course.

​	​AVI30419 Certificate II in Aviation (Remote Pilot)

Mackay Northern Beaches SHS is delivering course content for students completing the AVI30419 Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot) on behalf of Aviation Australia. 

Aviation Australia Pty Ltd (RTO Number 30770) is responsible for enrolling students, assessing and issuing Statement of Attainments and Awards for eligible students. 

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
  
• Students are required to submit a recent school report prior to enrolment in this course. Visit www.aviationaustralia.aero  for further information regarding this course.
  

​	​​​HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (including HLT23215 Certificate II in Health Support Services)​

Mackay Northern Beaches SHS is delivering course content for students completing the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (including HLT23215 Certificate II in Health Support Services) on behalf of Connect 'n' Grow.

Connect 'n' Grow (RTO Number 40518) is responsible for enrolling students, assessing and issuing Statement of Attainments and Awards for eligible students.  

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
  
• ​​Visit https://connectngrow.edu.au/ for further information regarding these courses
  

​MEM20413 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways​

Mackay Northern Beaches SHS is delivering course content for students completing the MEM20413 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways on behalf of Formula Student.

Formula Student (RTO Number 41124) is responsible for enrolling students, assessing and issuing Statement of Attainments and Awards for eligible students.

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
  
• Visit https://www.formulastudent.edu.au/​ for further information regarding this course.
  

​SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation   SIS30315 Certificate III in Fitness

Mackay Northern Beaches State High School is delivering and assessing students completing the SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and SIS30315 Certificate III in Fitness on behalf of CQUniversity. 

CQUniversity (Registered Training Organisation, RTO Provider Number 40939) is responsible for enrolling students and issuing Statement of Attainments and Awards for eligible students. 

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
• Students are required to complete a Literacy and Numeracy Assessment prior to commencement of training. Visit www.cqu.edu.au for further information regarding pre-enrolment.

SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation is proudly funded by the State Government under their VET in Schools initiative and there is no student fees applicable to eligible students.

SIS30315 Certificate III in Fitness is not funded under the State Government VET in Schools initiative.  Student fees are to be collected by the School prior to commencement of training.

Further information about CQUniversity and these courses can be found at:  www.cqu.edu.au

​	​ MEM20413 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways UEE22011 Certificate II in Electro-technology (Career Start) AUR20716 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation

Students are able to apply to enroll at the Mackay Engineering College (MEC) based in Ooralea.  They are required to complete an application process at school and are selected for the program based on their behaviour, absences, Star Level and chosen trade pathway. Interested students must complete an application form which is available from MNBSHS Career's Transition Officer during the subject selection process in Year 10.

Engineering Pathways is a two year course, commencing at the start of Year 11. (Axial Training RTO 2437)

Electrotechnology is an 18 month course, commencing in Semester Two of Year 11. (Major Training Group RTO 6139)

Automotive is a one year course that can be undertaken in either Year 11 or Year 12. (Axial Training RTO 2437)

Students must attend the MEC one day per week as well as display a commitment to engage in regular industry placements throughout the year. Additional costs are associated with the program and are outlined in the application package.

Student Requirements

• All VET students must have a USI.
  
• MEC Enrolment form must be completed, an entry test must be completed to qualify for Electrotechnology course.​
  

Further information about Mackay Engineering College and these courses can be found at: https://mec.eq.edu.au​

RTO Complaints Procedure

The school, as an RTO, has a RTO Policy and Procedure - Complaints and Appeals (PDF, 198KB)​  specific to its RTO operations.

A complaint can be made to the school RTO regarding the conduct of:

• the school RTO, its trainers, assessors or other school RTO staff
• students of the RTO
• any third parties providing services on behalf of the school RTO (if relevant).

An ​ appeal can be made to the school RTO to request a review of a decision, including assessment decisions.

The school RTO will ensure that the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness are adopted at every stage of the complaints and appeals process. All formal complaints and appeals will be heard and decided on within 60 calendar days of receiving the written complaint or appeal.

If the school RTO considers more than 60 calendar days are required to process and finalise the complaint or appeal, the complainant or appellant will be informed of the reasons in writing and will be regularly updated on the progress of the matter.

If the processes fail to resolve the complaint or appeal, a review by an independent party will be provided if requested.

Complaints or appeals should be directed to the Principal as CEO of the school RTO: principal@mackaynorthernbeachesshs.eq.edu.au