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Pathways to further education and employment for school students

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    Schools and educators can find information on how to help students transition from school to employment on this page, including career education and guidance to be provided in schools, Flexible Industry Programs and vocational education and training (VET) courses for school students.

    Career pathways for school students

    The South Australian government is committed to supporting school students to complete school and transition into employment, apprenticeships or traineeships, further vocational training or university for the careers here in South Australia.

    School students can get a head start in their career by:

    • participating in quality career education and guidance in school
    • building on their passions and interests with close connections to industry and employers in their senior secondary years.

    VET courses are a great option for many of the job opportunities available and students can start their VET pathway while in school.

    Career education and guidance in schools

    Effective career education and guidance empowers students to explore career options and make informed choices for their future beyond school.

    Career education and guidance in schools, will help students to:

    • understand themselves and reflect on their ambitions, interests, strengths, and abilities
    • develop professional, mental and personal wellbeing and build their perseverance, resilience for change and confidence in making career decisions
    • build an understanding about career options, pathways, the labour market, and employment in a wide range of industries and occupations
    • build connections between these concepts that allow them to plan and make decisions about their learning and work options.

    High quality career education and guidance is central to the role schools play in preparing young people for their future. It strengthens students’ ability to make well-informed decisions, manage their own careers, and successfully transition from school to employment and further studies.

    Career Education and Pathways Strategy

    The Career Education and Pathways Strategy sets out the government’s direction for quality career education and guidance in schools.

    Schools have access to career education and guidance resources (EDi login required), and we're supporting them through the following:

    Improvements to the Student Pathways website

    The Student Pathways website provides students with new features and information:

    • Information about Flexible Industry Programs which highlight VET pathway options that can be undertaken at school whilst completing SACE, and that lead to real jobs in key growth industries in South Australia.
    • ‘Connect with Employers’ enables employers to post work experience, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and immersion opportunities for students.
    • MyCareerPortal supports government school students to build their own individualised journey through a variety of tools and activities that provide information about post-school options.
    • CareerChat is a chatbot that uses generative artificial intelligence (AI) to support student and teacher exploration of career options, study and training, employability skills and other career related topics for student success after school.
    • myfuture offers tools to discover interests, values, skills and how they may relate to career and study options.

    Stronger connections with industry

    Engaging with industry is critical to preparing young people for the world of work. Schools are being supported to ensure students have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This includes:

    • The Industry Immersion Program provides students with unique first-hand exposure to an industry, employers, and their workplaces as part of a school’s career education program.
    • More opportunities for work experience and workplace visits and opportunities for challenges, competitions and work-related projects
    • Student Pathways and Careers Awareness Month, August: a series of career awareness activities driven by industry, to support students’ exploration and awareness of careers and pathways of key growth industries in South Australia that lead to jobs.

    Tailored support

    Some students need extra support or alternative approaches to help them achieve their career aspirations.

    There are tailored approaches available for Aboriginal students, including through the Workabout Centre and South Australian Training Academy (SAASTA), and support for students with disability to transition to post-school options.

    VET in schools

    Starting VET in secondary school is a great way to get a head start in a career. Students have the option to:

    VET courses for school students

    The South Australian government is committed to making sure that government school students have access to quality VET courses as part of their secondary education.

    Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses for school students (PDF 5 MB) provides a full summary of VET courses available to government school students from year 10.

    These courses are appropriate for school students as part of their secondary education, they contribute toward completion of the SACE, and they're endorsed by industry.

    The VET courses are offered as part of either:

    • a flexible industry program or
    • Stackable VET.

    Flexible industry programs (FIPs)

    These programs have been designed in partnership with industry to identify qualifications appropriate for school students and develop the skills, knowledge and competencies valued by employers. They provide an industry-endorsed pathway to entry level employment, better preparing young people for real jobs, and providing a pipeline of young skilled workers for South Australia’s growing industry sectors.

    Depending on the needs of employers, the programs may include:

    • VET qualifications at Certificates II and III level that are appropriate for school students
    • enterprise and employability skills training
    • any specific industry requirements linked to the pathway
    • compulsory SACE subjects and contextualised delivery of other school subjects so that students can complete both a VET qualification and their SACE concurrently.

    The flexible industry programs include:

    Stackable VET

    VET courses outside the flexible industry programs are available to school students, known as stackable VET. These are usually short courses that attract SACE credits. They aim to provide:

    • pre-vocational skills
    • work preparedness
    • the opportunity to try out different areas before committing to a qualification.

    They're ideal for students who want to try out different areas or develop some skills for part-time or casual work.

    Ensuring the quality of VET in schools

    VET in schools must be of the highest quality. This is important to raise the perception of VET and to ensure the best student outcomes.

    To ensure quality VET delivery we've established a panel of registered training organisations (RTOs) approved to deliver VET courses to government school students. These RTOs commit to meet quality benchmarks for delivery and to customise the training to the needs of school students in a schooling context.

    Find an RTO on the panel of approved VET providers (Sharepoint – EDi login required).

    The list of VET courses is reviewed and endorsed by the South Australian Skills Commission on an annual basis to make sure that the VET courses remain relevant and appropriate for school students.

    For any feedback on the VET courses available, contact us at the email address below.

    Programs for students with disability to transition to post-school pathways

    We’re supporting students with disability to develop skills for pathways after school. This helps them transition from school to employment, further education or training.

    See transition programs for students with disability for eligibility and how to refer a student.

    Further Education and Pathways

    Phone: 8226 0284
    Email: Education.Pathways [at] sa.gov.au