There are various alternatives to VCE. Read on to find out more…
AYCE Program
This program was set up by Yea High School many years ago and has now spread to many centres around the state. Through it you can do your entire secondary education including VCE. You are required to meet once a week at your nearest centre. You spend the day with teachers and other students, get your weekly assignments and spend the rest of time working from home. You are also required to visit Yea High School twice a term.
It is the same curriculum as you would do in school and it is funded and overseen by the Education Department. Further details are available here :
Telephone: (03) 9758 6604
Facsimile: (03) 9758 6510
Address: Racecourse Road, Yea 3717
Website: http://www.yeahs.vic.edu.au
Email: ayce.yhs@bigpond.com
AYCE Program Leader: Mrs Annette Scales
VCE Through Neighbourhood and Community Centres
Below is a list of TAFEs and Adult Community Centres throughout Victoria that offer a range of VCE subjects to the community. The minimum age requirement for access to these classes is 16. As 16 is the legal school-leaving age in this state, young people of this age should be accepted without question. If you are younger than 16 and wishing to take VCE classes, enrolment would still be possible as many centres are flexible when it comes to age. They have teenage classes for VCE and would possibly accept young people from 14. We have known homeschoolers to gain access at 13 for shortcourses and proceed from there.
If you wish to enter TAFE for VCE or any other course, you are eligible at 16 – no questions asked. As a part of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, the state government has put in place the Youth Guarantee. The Youth Guarantee provides a guaranteed place in TAFE Institutions, the Centre for Adult Education, Adult Multicultural Education Services and participating adult community education providers, to young people who have not completed Year 12 or its equivalent. If you come up against opposition at a TAFE when enroling, it would be worth while quoting this piece of legislation. Meanwhile HEN is currently liaising with the relevant Government agencies about relaxing the age requirement for access to VCE at TAFE and Community Learning Centres. We will post the outcome of these discussions.
Adult Community Education Sale Inc
Adult Multicultural Education Services – Ames
Bace Inc – Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale Adult Community Education
Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE
Best Community Development Centre
Box Hill Institute
Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE
Centre for Adult Education
Chisholm Institute – Dandenong Campus
Chisholm Institute – Frankston Campus
Colac Adult & Community Education
Continuing Education Bendigo Inc
Continuing Education Centre
Daylesford Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre Inc
Diamond Valley Learning Centre
Disability Employment Action Centre (DEAC) Inc
Diversitat – Geelong West
Djerriwarrh Employment & Education Services Inc.
Donvale Living and Learning Centre
East Gippsland Institute of TAFE
Education Centre Gippsland
Future Connections Association Inc
Geelong Adult Training & Education (Gate)
Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre Inc.
Goldfields Employment & Learning Centre
Gordon Institute
Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (Shepparton Campus)
Healesville Living and Learning Centre
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE – Moorabbin Campus
Kangan Institute of TAFE
Keysborough Learning Centre
Kyabram Community & Learning Centre Inc
Kyabram Community Centre
Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre Inc
Moreland Adult Education Centre Assoc
Morrison House Inc Mt. Evelyn
Mountain District Womens Co-Op Ltd
Narre Community Learning Centre
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT)
Peninsula Training and Employment Program Inc
Prahran Neighbourhood House Inc
Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education Inc
RMIT TAFE
School of Mines Campus – University of Ballarat
Shepparton Adult & Community Education Inc
Skills Plus Peninsula Inc – Frnakston
South West Institute of TAFE
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
Swinburne University of Technology – TAFE Division
The Centre
Upper Yarra Community House Inc
Victoria University of Technology – TAFE
Werribee Community Centre Inc
Western Bulldogs Spiritwest Services
William Angliss Institute of TAFE
Wimmera Hub Inc
Wodonga Institute of TAFE
VCE through Distance Education
The Distance Education Centre also offer VCE but their eligibility criteria is limited (basically to those who live a certain distance from a secondary school or have a medical reason for non-attendance). Full details of the eligibility criteria is on their website
PH: (03) 8480 0000
Toll free (within Victoria) : 1800 133 511
www.distance.vic.edu.au.
TAFE Diploma Courses
TAFE have diploma courses as well as Certificate courses covering many subjects that will lead directly into University courses. Many of these courses do not require much previous study and if they do they provide bridging courses. Some TAFE institutions such as Box Hill provide specific bridging courses for entry into further study. Check out websites for all TAFE institutions in Victoria and all subjects that interest you. Websites for all TAFE Institutions and Independent Tertiary Colleges are available on the VTAC site www.vtac.edu.au
Private Adult Community Education Providers
There are many ACE providers around Australia. Take a look around your local area or search the internet. Some Victorian ones currently have funding to subsidise student fees for certificate courses if you don’t already hold a higher qualification.
E.g. Navitas have online certificates available with government funding available. See nws.edu.au
Year 12 through OTEN
If your chosen career path specifically requires a VCE equivalent itself rather than as an entry route to univeristy, HSC through Open Training Education Network (OTEN) may work for you. OTEN is based in NSW and provides online courses, including a Year 12 to students all over the country. The minimum age is 15 years. However, they require students to have completed Year 10 before proceeding.
See http://www.oten.edu.au/oten/core/showpage.htm?pg=sienrolment for more details.
CAE- Council of Adult Education
http://www.cae.edu.au/web/ CAE offers over 80 VCE subjects that can be done either full time or part time. Students only have to be 15 and over. They also have many other interesting Diploma and self study programs.
Unilearn
Unilearn was set up to assist people get meet year 11 & 12 prerequisites for university entrance outside the normal school system. They have bridging courses in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Academic Literacy Skills, Study Skills. They also provide We also provide bridging courses used by the Australia Defence Forces, Qantas Airlines, Melbourne University and Bond.
http://www.unilearn.net.au/
See also:
Careers information
university entrance without VCE.
Hi, i am really want to complete highschool through the vce program 4 adult. I am 29 years old, and i left my school early, many years ago. I came to Aus, so my english is a second language.
My question is,could i complete highschool education with my poor english language and my age? If so,i would like to know the nearest place to go.I live in Lalor.
Thanx for your time
Hi Ruwa,
Your best bet is probably the Council of Adult Education or you could try TAFE – some TAFES have VCE for adults. Both may also offer support to those for whom English is their second language.
All the best with it.
Regards
Sue
I would like to know if I would be able to study adult VCE from home?
Thanks.
Hi Max,
I don’t know of anyone who provides VCE to adults by distance but you could try your local neighbourhood/community house or the CAE.
OTEN in NSW provide distance education HSC (the NSW equivalent). They might be worth a try as well.
All the best,
Hi my name is Karen i would like to know if there is a VCE in Adelaide and if so please give details thank you
Hi, I am wanting to study my VCE and don’t know where I can do so. I live in deer park and was wondering if there is anywhere in my area I can do so.
Thanks
Hi Talitha,
You could try your local TAFE, or a neighbourhood/community house. There is a list of the ones we know offer VCE on this page – check to see whether there is one within travelling distance of you. There is also the AYCE programme (details on that same page) – you can do VCE through them. Contact them to find out whether they have a campus within travelling distance. Attendance there is only required once a week. You could check the Distance Ed eligibility criteria (it is fairly limited) to see if you could get into that. If none of those options work out, there is also OTEN, they are based in NSW and offer HSC (the NSW equivalent of VCE) via distance.
Hope that helps, Sue
Hi Karen,
VCE stands for Victorian Certificate of Education. The equivalent in South Australia is the SACE. I am not sure what alternative options there are in South Australia for studying the SACE, but if you do a search for SACE on the internet or contact the Department of Education, they should be able to help you.
All the best,
Sharee
PS You may like to ask the Education Department about Independent Learning Centres – one way to get SACE withough attending a traditional school.
Hi everyone, You can access direct enrolment at Distance Education Centre Victoria for VCE in the “YOUNG ADULT TUITION CATEGORY” if you are between 17 to 20 years of age. Enrolment for those over 21 in VCE or VCAL is also available, however you cannot already hold a higher qualification. Download the relevant handbooks from their website, call them and discuss your own situation. I found it is not complicated or even difficult getting enrolment for older students. I have had quite a bit to do with DECV – it is in my opinion an outstanding educational provider and excellent to deal with. AYCE is also another great option for school-aged students. Good luck to all seeking non main stream options – don’t give up.
Thanks Fiona, but people need to note the limitations:
From the DECV Enrolment Handbook – Secondary – Years 10 – 12:
available at http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/enrol/pdf/11_10-12_Handbook_and_Forms.pdf
“CATEGORY: YOUNG ADULT TUITION
(Students aged 18 and over and under 20 years of age)
Students aged 18 or over and less than 20 years of age on the 1st of January of the school year may be eligible to be enrolled to study in the distance mode if they are solely undertaking VCE.
Support Material Required:
a) a letter from the applicant’s nearest secondary college Principal indicating that the student has
no access to a particular VCE subject or subjects or
b) Students who are over 17 and under 20 years of age can enrol directly with the DECV as long
as they a have a letter from an ACE provider (Adult Community Education) or
c) A letter outlining their special circumstances as to why they cannot access the course at their
local school or educational institution.
d) As well as a copy of your birth certificate to prove your age eligibility.
Materials Charge: $150 per year or $75 for one
semester.