Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational Education and Training (VET) refers to education and training that provides students with nationally recognised qualifications that focus on delivering skills and knowledge required for specific industries. Our Year 10, 11 and 12 students have the opportunity to complete qualifications at Certificate I, II and III level, either at school or outside of school (eg: TAFE). VET also includes school-based apprenticeships or traineeships.

Benefits of VET

Participating in VET can provide students with:

• Nationally recognised qualifications
• Credit points towards the attainment of Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
• Hands-on work experience in the industry
• Work-ready knowledge and skills 
• Support in their transition to employment, vocational and higher education pathways.

School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SATs)

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) combine school, training and paid employment to give students in Year 10, 11 and 12 and industry-recognised national qualification and points towards their QCE. Our students are able to complete SATs in a large variety of industries, including vet nursing, childcare, automotive, tourism and hospitality, engineering, beauty, hairdressing, retail, electro technology, building and construction, health and many more.

VET Qualifications

Southern Cross Catholic College offers the following VET qualifications in regular timetabled lessons at school:

Our students may also have the opportunity to complete VET qualifications outside of school, such as on a Wednesday at TAFE North.

More information on VET within Townsville Catholic Education can be found here. 

Careers Week 2024 - Wrap Up! 

Southern Cross Catholic College prides itself on catering to the wide diversity of learners and Careers. Our Careers and Vocational Education and Training (VET) motto: Opportunities, Support, Empowerment, drives what we do in order to prepare our young people for the world of work. 

Our students start their career journey in Year 9 studying Futures where they prepare for the workplace, explore future careers and other post schooling options. This is continued in Year 10.

As well as having a broad range of General and Applied subjects in Years 11 and 12, students are able to study a diverse range of nationally recognised certificate courses. Some of these courses are run through the normal school timetable while the rest run all day on Wednesdays (through TAFE, TCTC and some TCE courses).

We offer certificates in the following areas- Hospitality, Construction, Health, Fitness, Sport and Recreation, Volunteering, Early Childhood, Education Support, Business, Electrotechnology and Remote Pilot (new in 2025). Some of our students attend TAFE and TCTC and are currently enrolled in Retail Cosmetics, Cookery, Screen and Media, Game Programming, Automotive and Engineering Pathways.

Our students have the opportunity to participate in work experience, hospital health programs, university experiences and many other career-related activities.

Currently we have 5 students who are completing a school- based apprenticeship or Traineeship in the areas of plumbing, hairdressing, lab assistant, agriculture and automotive.

Coming soon is our latest initiative, “Guest Spotlight in the Hub”. This will run on Thursdays during second break where a guest speaker talks to students about their career!

As you can see, there is so much going on at Southern Cross in the areas of Careers and VET. What a great place to explore your future!

A huge thanks to our partnered training organisations: Binnacle, Connect ‘n’ Grow, Major Training, TAFE, TCTC, Construction Skills Queensland and Townsville Catholic Education.