Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Senior)

VCAL offers you a pathway into apprenticeships, traineeships or further study.

At an senior level, you will gain interpersonal skills and confidence in completing tasks that require leadership and decision making.

You will develop:

literacy and numeracy skills work related skills industry specific skills personal and employability skills skills for further education.

To be awarded the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) (Senior), a student must successfully complete a learning program that contains a minimum of ten (10) credits and includes:

• curriculum components to the value of at least one (1) credit, each of which can be justified against the purpose statement for each of the four (4) VCAL curriculum strands;
• a minimum of two (2) VCAL units;
• one (1) credit for Numeracy, and;
• curriculum components to the value of six (6) credits at the level of the VCAL award (or above), of which one (1) must be for Literacy Skills unit and one (1) for a Personal Development Skills unit. However, credits classified at Foundation Level (VCAL Foundation units, and VET and FE units at Level 1 cannot contribute to Senior Level.

Note: 1 credit = one (1) VCAL Intermediate or Senior Skills Unit or one (1) Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Unit or a total of ninety (90) nominal hours of completed unit/s of competency/modules from a certificate II or higher qualification.

VCAL Curriculum StrandsEach VCAL award level contains four curriculum strands:

1. Literacy and Numeracy Skills Strand To satisfy the requirements of the VCAL Literacy and Numeracy Skills Strand, students must successfully attain one (1) credit for Literacy and one (1) credit for Numeracy. The Literacy unit must be at the award level or a VCE unit from Units 3 and 4 or selected FE units at Certificate III level. The Numeracy unit must at Intermediate or Senior level.

2. Personal Development Skills Strand Students must successfully complete a minimum of one (1) credit from the VCAL Personal Development Skills Strand at the award level.

3. Work Related Skills Strand Students must successfully complete a minimum of one (1) credit from the VCAL Work Related Skills Strand. Curriculum selected from this strand can include: VCAL Work Related Skills units at Intermediate or Senior level, VCE units at Certificate II or above, VCE/VET units, selected accredited FE modules or certificates or nationally accredited VET modules/units of competencies.

4. Industry Specific Skills Strand Students must successfully complete a minimum of one (1) credit in the Industry Specific Skills Strand to meet the minimum VCAL course requirements. One (1) credit will be given for the successful completion of accredited vocational education and training units of competency/modules that total ninety (90) nominal hours. VET units must be at Certificate II or higher.

Course structure and units

Literacy and Numeracy Skills Strand

• LIT031 - Literacy Skills Senior Reading and Writing
• LIT032 - Literacy Skills Senior Oral Communication
• NUM031 - Numeracy Skills Senior – Unit 1
• NUM033 - Numeracy Skills Senior – Unit 2

Personal Development Skills Strand

• PDS031 - Personal Development Skills Senior Unit 1
• PDS032 - Personal Development Skills Senior Unit 2

Work Related Skills Strand

• WRS031 - Work Related Skills Senior Unit 1
• WRS032 - Work Related Skills Senior Unit 2

Industry Specific Skills Strand

Hospitality

• SITHIND002 - Source and use information on the hospitality industry
• SITHKOP001 - Clean kitchen premises and equipment
• SITXCCS006 - Provide service to customers
• SITXFSA001 - Use hygienic practices for food safety
• SITXWHS001 - Participate in safe work practices

ICT - General

• ICTICT205 - Design basic organisational documents using computing packages
• ICTICT211 - Identify and use basic current industry specific technologies
• ICTSAS205 - Maintain ICT system integrity

Beauty

• SHBBBOS001 - Apply cosmetic tanning products
• SHBBFAS001 - Provide lash and brow services
• SHBBHRS001 - Provide waxing services
• SHBBNLS001 - Provide manicure and pedicare services
• SHBBNLS004 - Apply nail art
• SHBBRES001 - Research and apply beauty industry information
• SHBXIND001 - Comply with organisational requirements within a personal services environment
• SHBXWHS001 - Apply safe hygiene, health and work practices

Any remaining credits required to be awarded the VCAL Senior Certificate can come from the remaining VCAL units, VCE studies, VET and/or FE certificates

Hospitality

• BSBWOR203 - Work effectively with others
• SITHCCC003 - Prepare and present sandwiches
• SITHFAB001 - Clean and tidy bar areas
• SITXCCS003 - Interact with customers
• SITXCOM001 - Source and present information
• SITXCOM002 - Show social and cultural sensitivity

ICT - General

• BSBSUS201 - Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
• BSBWHS201 - Contribute to health and safety of self and others
• CUAPOS201 - Perform basic vision and sound editing
• ICTICT204 - Operate a digital media technology package
• ICTICT207 - Integrate commercial computing packages

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) Senior is a senior secondary certificate of education recognised within the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). It provides skills, knowledge and applied learning to young people exploring pathways to work and/or further education; it develops skills and knowledge through four key curriculum areas: literacy and numeracy; work related skills; industry specific skills, and; personal development. Furthermore, students can undertake Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of this course, allowing for the completion of accredited VET modules and/or certificates as part of the VCAL.

This course provides options for young people exploring work pathways and further education. The emphasis is on applied learning, giving young people skills and knowledge relevant to work and life. It develops literacy and numeracy skills; work related skills; industry specific skills, and; personal and employability skills.