Supporting VET Pathways in Our Schools: New Electrical Careers Resource for Parents

VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VDSS) gives young people across our region the chance to build real, industry-recognised skills while still at school, opening doors to apprenticeships, further training and employment long before they finish Year 12.

OELLEN plays a central role in shaping how this works across the Outer East. We convene and provide governance and strategic oversight for the Outer East VDSS Strategic Advisory Group, bringing together VET Clusters, schools, RTOs, TAFEs and the Department of Education to guide how vocational training is planned, resourced and delivered for students across our region.

One of the practical outcomes of this work is a new resource developed in response to a gap the Strategic Advisory Group identified: parents and carers often aren't sure what maths skills their child needs to succeed in an electrical career, or how school subject choices connect to that pathway.

Introducing: Electrical Pathways: A Guide for Parents

Click on the Factsheet image to download a two page PDF.

This two-page factsheet breaks down exactly what families need to know, including:

• The core maths skill areas that matter for electrical work — from number and algebra through to applied maths like Ohm's Law.

• A clear table linking VCE subject choices (General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, VCE VM Numeracy) to different pathways, like VET in Schools, School-Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SBAT), and TAFE/apprenticeship after Year 12.

• What employers are looking for, beyond qualifications.

• Practical tips and free online quizzes students can use to test their own readiness.

• Where to go for more information.

Whether a student is exploring a Certificate II pre-apprenticeship, considering an SBAT, or simply choosing subjects for Year 10 or 11, this resource gives families a straightforward starting point for the conversation.

We encourage teachers and careers staff to share this with parents directly, and employers to pass it on to any families asking about electrical career pathways. It's a small, practical example of what regional collaboration through the VDSS Strategic Advisory Group can produce, clear, useful tools that help students and families make informed decisions about their futures.

Please share this with any parents or careers you think may benefit.