What Parents, Students, and Employers Really Think: Why Feedback is Gold
When it comes to strengthening your VETDSS (Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students) program, one of your most valuable tools isn’t hidden in a policy or locked in a report — it’s in the voices of your community. Feedback from students, parents, and industry partners offers real-time, real-world insights into what’s working, what needs improvement, and how your program is being experienced by the people who matter most.
Rather than guessing how your VETDSS program is perceived, you can ask. The result? Stronger relationships, smarter decisions, and better outcomes for everyone involved.
Why Feedback Matters
Feedback is more than a box-ticking exercise — it’s a vital part of continuous improvement. It helps you:
- Understand how students experience VET training and workplace learning
- Identify communication gaps or logistical challenges from parents’ perspectives
- Gauge employer satisfaction and uncover opportunities to strengthen partnerships
- Pinpoint issues early, before they escalate
- Celebrate what’s going well and scale best practices
By regularly seeking and responding to feedback, schools send a powerful message: we value your voice, and we’re committed to getting better.
What to Ask — and Who to Ask
Students
- Did the course meet your expectations?
- Were you well supported during your placement?
- How confident do you feel about your future pathway?
Parents
- Did you feel well-informed about your child’s VET pathway?
- Was communication clear throughout the program?
- What could we do to improve your experience?
Employers
- Were students well prepared for placement?
- Would you host a student again?
- How could we improve our partnership?
How to Make Feedback a Habit
- Use simple tools: Online surveys, exit slips, QR codes, and feedback forms make it easy to collect responses.
- Be consistent: Build feedback into your processes — after placements, at course completion, or mid-year reviews.
- Act on results: Share findings with stakeholders and highlight how feedback has shaped improvements.
Final Thoughts
Feedback is gold — but only if you mine it. By embedding feedback into your program’s DNA, you empower your VETDSS community, build trust, and create a responsive program that evolves with the needs of your students, families, and industry partners.