Your web browser may not be properly supported. To use this site and all of its features, we recommend using the latest versions of Chrome, Safari or Firefox

Education header

Victorian Pathways Certificate

VPC0000001

Length

2 Years (full time)

Study Mode

On Campus

Victorian Pathways Certificate - VPC0000001

Course Overview

The Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) is an inclusive Year 11 and 12 standards-based certificate that meets the needs of a smaller number of students who are not able or ready to complete the VCE (including the VCE Vocational Major).

It provides an enriched curriculum and excellent support for students to develop the skills, capabilities, and qualities for success in personal and civic life. The VPC is an accredited foundation secondary qualification under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. It aligns with Level 1 in the Australian Qualifications Framework.

While the VPC is not a senior secondary qualification, it can be a pathway to the VCE. The VPC is designed to develop and extend pathways for young people while providing flexibility for different cohorts. The VPC is suitable for students whose previous schooling experience may have been disrupted for a variety of reasons, including students with additional needs, students who have missed significant periods of learning, and vulnerable students at risk of disengaging from their education.

Students will gain the skills, knowledge, values, and capabilities to make informed choices about pathways into a senior secondary qualification, entry-level vocational education and training (VET) course, or employment. The curriculum accommodates student aspirations and future employment goals.

VPC learning programs connect students to industry experiences and active participation in the community. Through participation in the VPC students will gain the necessary foundation skills to allow them to make a post-schooling transition.

The VPC has four study areas. These are:

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Work Related Skills
  • Personal Development Skills

This information relates to 2025 course delivery. If required, students will be notified of 2024 course information and fees during the onboarding process.

Careers & study pathways

Where can this course take me?

VPC learning programs accommodate student aspirations and future employment goals and connect students to industry experiences and active participation in the community.

Students will gain the skills, knowledge, values, and capabilities to make informed choices about entry-level pathways into employment.

View GOTAFE's Secondary Student Outcomes from 2019-2023.

Further study

Students will gain the skills, knowledge, values, and capabilities to make informed choices about pathways into a senior secondary qualification, or entry-level vocational education and training (VET) courses, or apprenticeship/trainee programs.

Course details

Upcoming dates and times

Choose a location below to learn more about when this course is offered and on which days you’ll need to attend.

Block 2 - Open From: 03-Mar-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 1 - Open From: 28-Jan-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 3 - Open From: 28-Apr-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 6 - Open From: 25-Aug-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 5 - Open From: 21-Jul-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Open From: 29-Jan-2024 - Full time - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 1 - Open From: 28-Jan-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 2 - Open From: 03-Mar-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 3 - Open From: 28-Apr-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 6 - Open From: 25-Aug-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 5 - Open From: 21-Jul-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Open From: 29-Jan-2024 - Full time - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 2 - Open From: 03-Mar-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 1 - Open From: 28-Jan-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 3 - Open From: 28-Apr-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 5 - Open From: 21-Jul-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 6 - Open From: 25-Aug-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

ASHE - Open From: 29-Jan-2024 - Full time - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Open From: 29-Jan-2024 - Full time - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 2 - Open From: 03-Mar-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 1 - Open From: 28-Jan-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 3 - Open From: 28-Apr-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 5 - Open From: 21-Jul-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Block 6 - Open From: 25-Aug-2025 - Full time - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 9.00am - 3.00pm - On Campus

Study units

Take a look at some of the subjects you’ll be studying when you take this course.

This course requires a total of 12 units.

  • LIT041 Literacy (VPC)
  • LIT042 Literacy (VPC)
  • LIT051 Literacy (VPC) Unit 3
  • LIT052 Literacy (VPC) Unit 4
  • NUM041 Numeracy (VPC)
  • NUM042 Numeracy (VPC)
  • NUM051 Numeracy (VPC) Unit 3
  • NUM052 Numeracy (VPC) Unit 4
  • PDS041 Personal Development Skills (VPC)
  • PDS042 Personal Development Skills (VPC)
  • PDS051 Personal Development Skills (VPC) Unit 3
  • PDS052 Personal Development Skills (VPC) Unit 4
  • WRS041 Work Related Skills (VPC)
  • WRS042 Work Related Skills (VPC)
  • WRS051 Work Related Skills (VPC) Unit 3
  • WRS052 Work Related Skills (VPC) Unit 4

Attendance & commitment

General public face-to-face delivery | 2 years course length | Full-time study load

  • The course runs full-time over 2 years (excluding school holidays), with face-to-face classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 9am - 3pm.
  • 80% attendance is required to pass this certificate.
  • The VPC may be completed in a minimum of 12 months. Some students with particular needs may require additional resources to enable the successful completion of the learning program and some students may require additional time to achieve learning goals.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods may include:

  • Knowledge questions
  • Simulated demonstrations
  • Portfolios
  • Case studies

Before you begin

Entry requirements

GOTAFE entry requirements

Before being accepted into this course applicants must:

  • Complete a Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online test to ensure the required literacy & numeracy levels for the course are met.
  • Undertake a Pre-training Review by interview to ensure the course suits their needs and aspirations, and that they are likely to complete the course successfully.
  • To be selected for this course students will need to turn 16 before the 30th of April on the year of application.
  • Applicants under 17 years of age must provide an approved exemption from school form before enrolment.
  • There are no formal entry requirements for VPC studies. The VPC has been designed to accommodate flexible entry and exit. Students can enter VPC studies at a time that best suits their learning needs, abilities, and interests.

Enrolment

Please note: Eligible individuals who wish to access a government-subsidised place, must participate in a Pre-training Review. This will consider your:

  • Aspirations/career goals
  • Educational attainment and capability
  • Literacy and numeracy skills
  • Suitability for Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

Skills recognition / Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Skills Recognition is an assessment only process that may result in credits towards a part or full qualification. There is no formal training involved, although you may choose to complete further training as a result of the assessment process.

You can apply for Skills Recognition before you enrol in the qualification you are seeking. You can apply for Skills Recognition through one or both of the following processes:

  • Credit Transfer for formal training that might be equivalent to a new qualification or partial qualification.
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for people who have relevant and current skills and knowledge that they have gained through non-formal or informal learning i.e. work or life experience.

Fees and payments

Fees and costs

GOTAFE offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.

1. Subsidised Standard
$4,240.00
2. Subsidised Standard (Concession)
$848.00
3. Full Fee
$17,040.00
Course Materials
$400.00
Student Services Fees (per year)
$100.00

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.

Please note that the fees on this webpage, for this particular course:

  • are correct at the time of publishing for those enrolling in 2025 and may change without notice.
  • will be discussed with applications as part of the application process to ensure it is understood what is being paid for and which fee rates they may be eligible for.

Course Fees consist of three different components:

  1. Student Tuition Fee - covers the costs of training and assessment. These fees vary across courses and are calculated based on a rate per nominal hour enrolled in. The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Circumstances may include:
    1. an individual’s eligibility for Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
    2. an individual’s eligibility for concession rates on Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
    3. ineligible individuals who are required to pay the full fees for tuition and other costs.
  2. Material Fee - where applicable, cover the costs of classroom consumables, handouts and booklets, e-Learning resources and associated license access fees and excursions.
  3. Student Services Fee (SSF) – contributes to the provision of student engagement, learning and support services. SSF is a non-refundable annual fee that does not apply to short-course participants.

Additionally, some courses require students to purchase or supply textbooks, kits, tools, uniforms and personal protection equipment. Some specific materials may be purchased through the GOTAFE Bookshop. A full list with associated costs will be provided to you at your course information session, induction session, or during the pre-training review interview.

GOTAFE offers a range of payment options to help you pay your fees.
Learn more about fees, charges, refunds and payment options

Student support

As an enrolled student at GOTAFE you may access a wide range of academic support services to assist you to meet the academic challenges of your course from our Learning Support Unit.

Learning support

A free and confidential service to help you build the foundation skills you need to be successful at TAFE. Improve your english language, maths and/or writing skills; enhance your computer, exam and study skills.

Learn more about our learning support services

Library

Our library team are passionate about supporting students to achieve their study goals. They have subject guides, referencing help, and online resources to assist you with you assessments.

Find how to reach out to our library in Shepparton

Jobs and study options

Our Skills and Jobs Centres can assist and talk through options for courses, careers, assistance with job applications and more.

Reach out to our Skills and Jobs Centres

Contingent Study Arrangements

Where a situation arises that prevents campus attendance (such as COVID restrictions, natural disasters, etc.) and it is deemed an appropriate response in protecting the health and safety of staff, students, and visitors, this course will adapt to alternative training arrangements, possibly using online methods of teaching and/or communication while students engage from home with their Trainers. Any required practical components of the course will be moved to a more appropriate time.

Whether you need support with time management, your mental health, grief and loss, a diagnosed disability, financial hardship, or any other challenge life throws your way, we are here to help.

Support for personal issues

We have a dedicated team to ensure students have the help they need with personal issues impacting studies such as homelessness, family problems & setting up payment plans.

Find out how the Student Experience Team can help you

Disability support

Get access to the supports and adjustments you need for your disability or medical condition to be successful in your studies.

Seek support from our Equitable Learning Advisors

Counselling services

We offer free counselling services to help you work through life's challenges including grief and loss, mental health or relationships.

Learn about our Student Wellbeing Advisors

Koorie Unit

The Koorie Unit is a culturally safe space on our Shepparton Fryers Street Campus for all Koorie students enrolled and studying through GOTAFE, or with one of our education partnering organisations.

Learn how the Koorie Unit can support your studies

Refer to the Student Handbook for information regarding Learner’s Rights Student Handbook.

Further information is provided at course induction.

Nationally Recognised Training

This course is government accredited and has national recognition.

Browse other courses

Ready Set Study (SA1STUDY24)

This short course is aimed at learners who wish to boost their confidence to undertake study and develop further skills in literacy and numeracy to support further learning.

VCE - Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE0000001)

Pursue your strengths and interests, and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.

Certificate II in General Education for Adults (22473VIC)

The Certificate II in General Education for Adults supports students wanting to undertake further study through TAFE or university.