Integrate with Curriculum

Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) is no longer a side offering or a program reserved for disengaged students — it’s an essential part of a modern, inclusive school curriculum. When VETDSS is embedded into a school’s strategic plan, it becomes a powerful vehicle for student engagement, career readiness, and long-term community impact.

But making VETDSS truly effective means moving beyond the idea of it as an “add-on.” It requires thoughtful planning, cross-functional alignment, and a commitment to seeing vocational education as a core part of the school’s identity. So how do schools go about embedding VETDSS into their plans from the ground up?

Start with Strategy

The most successful VETDSS programs are those that are aligned with the school’s strategic goals. This begins with leadership. School executives must view VETDSS not as an alternative for a select few, but as a central component of student success and post-school transitions.
VETDSS should be explicitly referenced in the school’s strategic and improvement plans. That includes setting measurable targets for enrolment, completion, and transition outcomes, and resourcing the program appropriately — both in staffing and infrastructure.
By including VETDSS in long-term planning, schools demonstrate that vocational learning is not a short-term project or a secondary stream, but a sustainable part of the education ecosystem

Integrate with Curriculum

For VETDSS to thrive, it must be woven into the school’s curriculum planning. That means ensuring that VET subjects are given equal timetabling consideration, and that students can realistically combine vocational study with their academic commitments.
Schools can also look for ways to create cross-curricular links. For example, students undertaking a Certificate III in Business might also engage with business studies, economics, or digital technology classes. Similarly, a VET hospitality student may be involved in school catering events or food technology assessments.

Making VET part of the mainstream curriculum encourages a whole-of-school approach and reduces the stigma that VET is only for a particular group of students.

Staff with Purpose

A strong VETDSS program needs the right people. This includes qualified VET teachers with current industry experience, as well as a dedicated VET Coordinator to manage logistics, partnerships, and compliance.

Schools should invest in professional development to ensure staff stay current with both training requirements and industry trends.
Importantly, classroom teachers should also be included in conversations about how VETDSS fits into the broader student learning journey. When all staff understand the value of vocational learning, they are better positioned to support student choices and promote program benefits.

Build External Partnerships

VETDSS success relies heavily on collaboration with external partners — Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), employers, industry bodies, and TAFE providers. Schools must take an active role in building and maintaining these partnerships to ensure programs remain relevant and students have access to real-world experiences such as structured workplace learning or school-based apprenticeships.

Embedding VETDSS into your plan includes developing partnership frameworks, setting expectations with providers, and creating feedback loops to ensure quality and alignment with student needs.

Make It Visible and Valued

For VETDSS to truly be embedded, it must be visible in school life and valued by the school community. That means showcasing student success through assemblies, newsletters, social media, and open nights. It means celebrating VET achievements just as much as academic ones — and reinforcing that vocational learning is a legitimate and respected pathway.

Visibility also comes from student voice. Involving current VET students in peer mentoring, information sessions, or ambassador roles helps normalise and promote the program among younger year levels.

Final Thoughts

Embedding VETDSS into your school plan is about building a culture where every student’s pathway is seen, supported, and celebrated. It’s about providing practical opportunities that align with real-world demands and giving students the tools they need to thrive in further education or the workforce.

By integrating VETDSS into strategy, curriculum, staffing, and community engagement, schools can move from reactive programming to proactive planning — creating lasting, meaningful change for students and their futures.