Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Wirreanda Secondary School is a member of the Southern Adelaide and Fleurieu Secondary Schools Alliance (SAFSSA) that includes 12 other secondary schools including

  • Aberfoyle Park High School
  • Aldinga Payinthi College
  • Christies Beach High School
  • Eastern Fleurieu R-12 School
  • Hallett Cove School
  • Kangaroo Island Community Education
  • Mount Compass Area School
  • Reynella East College
  • Seaford Secondary School
  • Victor Harbour High School
  • Willunga High School
  • Yankalilla Area School.

As part of this alliance, students are able to apply for VET courses offered in participating Southern Adelaide and Fleurieu Secondary Schools Alliance (SAFSSA). These courses are across the week and students are expected to make their own way to and from the host school. Students may also enrol in courses outside of the alliance at Registered Training Organisations such as TAFE SA, if a course is not offered within the SAFSSA alliance.

VET course applicants are expected to participate in an information session, an enrolment interview, and undertake a Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (LLN) test. They must also satisfy any conditions for enrolment in the respective program.

 

Students successfully can combine VET studies to complete the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). Students can acquire a maximum of 150 SACE credits at Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 through the successful completion of VET qualifications and/or units of competency. Full completion of SACE requires 200 credits, including the compulsory 60 SACE credits from Stage 1 PLP (10), Literacy (20), Numeracy (20) and Stage 2 Research Project (10).

Through subject counselling and discussions with their homegroup teacher and VET/pathways leader, students can plan their VET studies to complement the SACE subjects on offer at Wirreanda Secondary School.

 

Students can gain qualifications at Certificate I, Certificate II, and Certificate III levels and credits towards the completion of the SACE. Full Certificate III qualifications not only provide an essential skill to assist in industry employment but can also be used in the calculation of an ATAR for university entrance. Students earn 10 SACE credits for the successful completion of 70 nominal hours of VET, up to the maximum number of credits allocated to each qualification.

VET Courses

  • are nationally recognised training qualifications that students can complete whilst at school
  • provide students with a head start in their chosen career whilst at school and provide them with an advantage in gaining employment over students with no qualifications
  • better prepare young people to take on apprenticeships and skilled jobs in areas that have been identified as having skills shortages
  • can provide students direct links with further certifications or entry into University courses
  • allow students to complete their SACE as each course has SACE credits attached to them. Depending on the Certificate level, students will either gain SACE credits at Stage 1 or Stage 2 level.

For details of how specific VET in SACE and how VET qualifications can earn SACE credits at Stage 1 and/or Stage 2, refer to the links to the SACE VET Recognition Register.

Delivery of all courses is conducted by professional trainers from outside organisations such as ATEC, Equals, AIPT, PEER, etc. At Wirreanda Secondary School we offer a range of courses.

 

For further information please contact – Senior Leader VET/Pathways phone 8329 7200.

Trade Training Centre

The Trade Training Centre (TTC), located at Wirreanda Secondary School, was opened in 2012 and has enabled students to experience a far broader range of activities and courses than was possible prior to this time.

It encompasses not only a very large undercover, air-conditioned work area with state-of-the-art machines and specialised tools including:

  • table saw
  • plasma cutter
  • thicknesser
  • cold saw
  • full welding workshop
  • wet area for laying bricks
  • a self-contained classroom in which students are grounded in the theory components of the courses that are offered.

 

The Centre is located on the McCartney Street side of the school and is used by both Wirreanda Secondary School as well as ATEC, a Registered Training Organisation with whom we have a partnership.

 

The school is currently offering the Certificate II Doorways 2 Construction Course in the TTC one day a week, delivered by ATEC. The students undertaking this course are in year 11 and come not only from Wirreanda, but also from other schools that form the Southern Adelaide and Fleurieu Secondary Schools Alliance (SAFSSA).

 

In 2025, ATEC will be working in partnership with WSS, and stakeholders to deliver the Certificate II in Engineering Pathways as part of a Defence Industry School Project with the South Australian Government.