Australian Education System

AUSTRALIAN

EDUCATION SYTEM

HOW THE AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM IS STRUCTURED

FOUR SUB-SECTORS: The Australian education system is broadly structured as follows:

PRIMARY SCHOOL:

• seven or eight years, starting at Foundation* (Prep-Year 6 or 7)

* also called kindergarten/preparatory/pre-school

SECONDARY SCHOOL

• four years (Years 7/8 to Year 10)

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL:

• two years (Years 11 to 12)

TERTIARY EDUCATION:

• includes higher education (e.g. university)
• vocational education and training (VET).

primary school

Compulory to start by six, though many start before (Ages 5-6 to 12) All primary school must follow the Australian Curriculum. One class for the whole year with one main teacher. In Grade 3, 5, 7, & 9, students must complete the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through schooland life, such as reading, writing, spelling and numeracy. The assessments are undertaken nationwide

high school

• Each state and territoy runs and manages their own senior secondary program

- though all must still follow Australian Curriculum

• High school is compulsory until Year 10 (Ages 12-16)
• Certain subject are obligatory:

• Most school allow for electives from Year 8 onwards
• Often compulsory to do one after-school activity

• English
• Maths
• Science
• Humanities
• Health & PE
• Music, Art & Technologies (until Year 8)
• Languages (French, Italian, Indonesian, Chinese)
• Religion (in most private schools)

high school subjects

Drama

English

Maths

Agricultural Technologies

Music

Food Tech

Geography

PE

Buisness & Commerce

Graphic Techologies

11

10

Dance

DCT

12

History

14

Science

13

15

Visual Arts & Media

senior SECONDARY EDUCATION

VCE

VET

VCAL

Vocational Education and Training

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

The Victorian Certificate of Education

In years 11 and 12, students have freedom of choice for their subjects. Students are awarded a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education once they complete Year 12.

The VCAL is a senior secondary certificate of education recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

VET is training that focuses on providing essential skills for work. Thousands of courses are available through the VET.

VCE

• The Victorian Certificate of Education in usually undertaken over two years.
• Students generally undertake six learning sequences (subjects) in Year 11 and five learning sequences in Year 12.
• Many students will choice to do a VCE subject early; starting a one unit 1/2 learning sequence in Year 10.
• Students are competing for an ATAR, which will allow them to enter into university the year after graduating.

VET

Vocational Education and Training courses are undertaken as part of the VCE - contributes towards a student’s ATAR score. These courses provide students with an industry recognised qualification. Most VET courses take place off site on Wednesday afternoons. VET provides the essential skills to help students to: 1. Join the workforce for the first time 2. Re-join the workforce after the break 3. Upgrade skills in their chosen field 4. Move into a different career How do VET courses differ from higher education courses? VET courses are more focused on providing job-oriented skills and practical training. Usually, VET courses help students to acquire jobs skills without having higher education.

While higher education is known for focusing on delivering theory-based knowledge.

VCAL

• The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning is a senior course of study that may be taken in Year 11 and 12 that is designed to prepare students for entry to the work force.
• Students undertaking VCAL study four subjects at school over three days:

Literacy Numeracy Work Related Skills Personal Development Skills.

• Numeracy usually takes the form of VCE Foundation Maths or VCE General Maths Further.
• In addition students also spend a day each week in a work placement and a day each week in a TAFE or VET course.

Teriatary education

TAFE

UNIVERSITY

TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education It is a government-run system in Australia that provides education after high school in vocational areas like: beauty, design, childcare, accounting, business, recruitment, IT, trade work While university teaches a broad range of theories, TAFE focuses on specific skills for a particular workplace

• A university is an institution of higher education and research

- which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines.

• Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
• There are 43 universities in Australia.
• Most universities have more than one campus, providing you with a range of choices for where you would like to study.

UNIVERSITY QUALIFICATIONS

Doctorate

Postgraduate

Undergraduate

(Bachelor level)

• LENGTH - Typically 3 years (4 years for a Bachelor

Honours degree)

• Ususally 2 semesters,

but some providers now offer three trimesters

• Starts normally March,

but can vary by course and education provider. Mid-year or second semester starts can also be available.

• LENGTH - 3 years (plus 1 year for review)
• Most Doctoral candidates do not attend classes, but instead have academic supervision throughout the year
• Start dates are negotiated with a Doctoral degree supervisor

• LENGTH - 1 to 2 years
• 2 Semesters

- but some providers now offer three trimesters

• Usually starts in March,

but can vary by course and education provider

uNUSUAL university degrees

Aboriginal Cultures and Australian Society

Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Asian/Hindi/Latin studies AUSLAN (Australian sign lanaguage)

Bachelor of Circus Arts

Gender, sexuality and diversity studies.

Environment and Climate Emergency.

MEL UNI Handbook

Latrobe Handbook

DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET INTO UNI

• Pathways through other courses at the same university

• Pathways through other campuses of the same university

• Pathways through TAFE

• Pathways through the workforce

• Transfer from other tertiary institutions

your work experience or industry training could gain you entry to or credit towards a university course Many universities have guaranteed entry pathways with certain TAFE courses, meaning that as long as your study performance at TAFE meets the required standard, you’ll be guaranteed a place at the university in the relevant course

THE AQF

• AQF is a national policy that decides the standard for educational qualifications that has 10 different levels..
• It is governed nationally by the Australian government.
• The aim behind AQF was to ensure that educational titles across the country are consistent.
• These qualifications are nationally accredited and recognised internationally in many industries.

SOURCES

https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-education-system-foundation.pdf

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/vce-study-designs/Pages/vce-study-designs.aspx?Redirect=1

http://www.aussieeducator.org.au/curriculum/subjects.html#VICM

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/vce-vcal-handbook/Pages/index.aspx

¡Ojo! En Genially utilizamos AI (Awesome Interactivity) en todos nuestros diseños, para que subas de nivel con interactividad y conviertas tus clases en algo que aporta valor y engancha.

¿Sabías que...Retenemos un 42% más de información cuando el contenido se mueve? Es quizá el recurso más efectivo para captar la atención de tu alumnado.