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VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS)

What is VET Delivered to Secondary Students?

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Delivered to Secondary Students is a program delivered to Year 10, 11 and 12 school students as part of your Western Australian Certificate of Education.

We specifically choose courses that provide clear career pathways after high school. They will give you practical skills and an understanding of what to expect from the workplace and, once completed, may provide credits towards other nationally recognised qualifications, or lead to employment.

Students enrolled in a VET Delivered to Secondary Students course attend a North Metropolitan TAFE campus one or two days per week.

North Metropolitan TAFE offers a range of courses and pre-apprenticeships as part of our VET Delivered to Secondary Students programs.

VET Delivered to Secondary Students courses allow you to:

  • Develop industry-specific skills
  • Gain nationally recognised VET qualifications and units of competency while completing your Western Australian Certificate of Education
  • Develop employability skills
  • Gain an understanding of the world of work, providing you with valuable experience to assist with planning and pursuing your career pathways.

How to apply and other important information

North Metropolitan TAFE offers VET Delivered to Secondary Students courses to all secondary school students throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
You must be completing Year 10, 11 or 12 next year to be eligible to apply.

Please note:

  • current Year 9 students (applying to study in Year 10): eligible to apply for Certificate II level courses only.
  • current Year 10 and Year 11 students (applying to study in Year 11 and/or 12): eligible to apply for Certificate II, Certificate III, or Certificate IV level courses.

You must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or temporary resident holding one of the following visa types:

  • holders of a sub-class 300, 309, 444, 445, 461, 785, 790, or 820 visa;  
  • secondary holders of a temporary visa of subclass 188, 457, 482, 489, 491 or 494 visa;  
  • holders of a Bridging Visa E (subclasses 050 and 051) where the visa holder has made a valid application for a visa of subclass 785 or 790;  
  • Ukraine citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449 or 786;  
  • Afghan citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449; and  
  • holders of a bridging visa who are eligible to work, and who have made a valid application for a subclass 866.

Our VET Delivered to Secondary Students courses are extremely competitive, therefore it is recommended you provide as much evidence as possible to support your application.

These documents must be uploaded when applying through our online application system. To complete the application you will need:

  • Western Australian Student number (WASN). This can be found on your school report or speak with your school’s VET Coordinator.
  • Unique Student Identifier (USI) number. If you have not already created the USI then you will need to visit our USI page first.
  • Most recent school report in an electronic format ie PDF (‘C’ grade or above in mathematics and English is required for all programs).
  • OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) Report (if applicable).
  • Parent/guardian email address and mobile phone number.
  • A Student Statement outlining why you should be selected to participate in the course (please note there is a limit of 1000 characters that can be entered in this section).
  • Additional supporting information such as:
    • Resume (if you have done any paid or volunteer work)
    • References
    • Certificates (leadership, sporting, first aid etc.)

The school will be asked to endorse and support the application before the selection process begins.

For more information, please contact your school VET coordinator.

Secondary school students undertaking VET courses as part of their secondary education including pre-apprenticeships in schools (PAiS) courses are exempt from tuition, resource and enrolment fees (excludes courses advertised as Fee for Service).

However, depending on the chosen course, students may be required to pay incidental fees, obtain a First Aid Certificate from an external RTO such as St John, purchase a uniform, protective equipment, text books or trade equipment/tools.

In the VET Delivered to Secondary Students Course Guide, under each course, you will find the items that you will need to bring with you to complete your chosen course.

You are not required to wear your school uniform when on campus, but you are expected to dress appropriately.

We encourage you to wear clothing and footwear that reflects the professionalism of your chosen field, are appropriate for your course and meet the industry or workplace standards.  

Where mandatory special or protective clothing and/or footwear is required, it must be worn without exception. If you forget to bring protective clothing, you will be excluded from the campus workshops/classes and your school will be informed.

Our VET Delivered to Secondary Students program welcomes all students.

If you require learning, wellbeing or personal support while at TAFE please discuss your needs with your school.

Your school will advise us of the support that will be provided to you while you are attending TAFE classes, and how TAFE lecturers can ensure that your support requirements are accommodated.

North Metropolitan TAFE is a vocationally oriented adult learning environment. It prepares students for employment in their career of choice and must out of necessity provide a mature age learning environment to responsibly prepare students for the workforce. At the same time students’ range in age from mid-teens to retirees and so for some students, the training experience provides a transition from a school environment to an adult employment-focussed environment.

The College must therefore operate as an adult environment and so all students are expected to act in a mature manner.  
There is an expectation that when attending classes VETDSS students will assume a greater responsibility for their own care and safety than may be the case when attending school.
 
North Metropolitan TAFE staff and students are expected to:
· Be aware of relevant College policies, procedures and responsibilities.
· Comply with these policies, procedures and instructions.
· Take reasonable care of themselves and others in the College.
· Read and take note of the Student Code of Conduct (3 MB) (PDF document).

Students will receive a course induction at which a program outline and timetable outlining their scheduled classes/activities will be issued.  
We strongly advise that you discuss the timetable with your child to ensure such things as transport to and from College and activities between class instructions are constructively utilised.
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, including those that may occur on a school designated pupil free days.  
Students are required to inform their lecturer in advance if they will be absent from any scheduled classes. The school’s VET Coordinator will be contacted to discuss the appropriateness of a student continuing if there are repeated absences. Poor attendance may mean withdrawal from the course.

Attendance is recorded in every class.  

  • If your child is absent from a scheduled class, you and your child’s school will be notified within 3 working days.
  • If your child returns to class late after breaks, or not at all, the school will be notified.
  • If your child is to leave class early, parental/guardian or school permission is required. A student will not be allowed to leave class without that permission.

If you change your email address, postal address and/or telephone contact details please ensure you contact VETDSS on 08 9427 1146 or VETDSS@nmtafe.wa.edu.au to update this information.

North Metropolitan TAFE is an adult learning environment with a focus on developing skills to the standard required in the workplace, so this means that:

  • Students are responsible for their own learning and are expected to manage their workload, seeking assistance from lecturers when needed.
  • Learning activities at North Metropolitan TAFE are not limited to lessons in a classroom environment and may include:
    o Lectures
    o Tutorials
    o Group Work
    o Assessments
    o Workshops
    o Research
    o Project work
    o Work experience / industry placement / field work / on the job training
  • North Metropolitan TAFE courses are scheduled differently from secondary education classes, so there may be lengthy breaks between classes. VETDSS students are expected to manage their unscheduled time for themselves in a way that optimises their learning experience.
  • In the event that classes are cancelled, VETDSS staff will endeavour to inform the students prior to attendance; however, this isn't always possible. If classes are cancelled the College does not provide alternative study options.
  • Students may be required to complete assessment tasks/assignments outside of their scheduled timetable.

North Metropolitan TAFE does not provide direct supervision of students outside of classroom lectures.
VETDSS students are expected to remain on campus unless they have given their lecturer written notification from their parent/guardian or school that they intend to leave before the end of classes on that day. This helps to ensure students safety and is a requirement of their continued attendance at NMTAFE.
If a VETDSS student leaves campus without providing adequate written notification, the school will be informed. The school will then contact the student’s parent/guardian and if the student has left campus without their parents’ knowledge or consent, then the student will be given a written warning stating that they have breached the College’s rules. A repeat incident will see the student removed from the course. The student’s school will receive a copy of the warning, and we will send a copy to you as the student’s parent/guardian.

As part of their program, VETDSS students may participate in excursions off campus.  

The College will provide parents/guardians with information about excursions prior to the event and written parental consent will be sought for VETDSS students to participate in any excursions away from college premises. If parental consent is not given, your child will not be able to attend the excursion, and the College will not provide an alternative supervised activity.
Students may be required to make their own way to excursions in these situations; you will be responsible for organising transport to and from excursions for your child.

North Metropolitan TAFE strives to provide an environment that supports the health and wellbeing of all of our students. 

The College will:

  • Follow the relevant OSH policy, guidelines and practices.
  • Provide first-aid assistance to students.
  • Provide assistance and if necessary, arrange for qualified medical personnel in case of an emergency. In the event of a student requiring emergency medical treatment, NMTAFE has a duty of care to call an ambulance. As NMTAFE do not cover the cost of the ambulance or medical expenses, it is strongly recommended that all students obtain personal insurance and ambulance cover. Students are not covered for personal accident whilst on campus.
  • Promote a friendly and inclusive environment where bullying and any form of harassment are not accepted. Any student experiencing bullying or harassment of any kind should inform a North Metropolitan TAFE staff member immediately.
  • Ensure all relevant staff will have a Working with Children Check subject to the Work with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004.
  • Implement the Emergency Response Plan in case of an emergency.
  • Contact you if your child is seriously injured.

VET Delivered to Secondary Students courses

We have selected the following courses to offer you both a breadth in choice and a clear pathway into post-school training options that provide strong future employment opportunities.

2026 VET Delivered to Secondary Students course list(opens in a new tab)

2026 VET Delivered to Secondary Students course guide(opens in a new tab)

 

Contact us

VETDSS applications are currently closed. Applications for 2026 will open on 21 July 2025.

For general questions and administration, please contact our VET Delivered to Secondary Students administration team.

Lizel Oosthuizen, VET Delivered to Secondary Students Coordinator