Results are in: VCAL students see where they stand this week after challenging few years

Emmanuel College VCAL dux Justin Glennen,18, said he was chuffed to take out his school's top honours and planned on continuing his studies next year.

Justin studied his VCE in year 11 but decided to change direction, opting to complete VCAL and VET. He was named the SW TAFE Outstanding VET in Schools Award recipient this week.

"Originally I did VCE 1 and 2 but due to me not finding a passion I wanted to go down to uni and I went to VCAL to try and find other paths," he said.

He explained he would have continued with his VCE studies had he found a career or subject area he was passionate about.

"I believe that VCAL was a different option for me to figure out more about the workforce," he said.

"I'm giving visual arts a try at TAFE next year. I'm just trying to see what I can find out at the beginning."

Brauer College VCAL dux Le'Arna Beare said she received her award at a school presentation on Monday night.

"I was pretty scared, I didn't know what I was going up there for," she said.

"My mum was crying. I was aiming to do well this year but wasn't expecting it."

She will continue working at Harvey Norman in furniture sales before deciding where else to go.

"I really don't know what I'm going to do, I'm going to take it by year and see where I end up. I'm not planning on studying again, but I'll figure it out one day.

"It would be good to go up at Harvey Norman but I don't know what opportunities are there yet."

Brauer College VCAL student Alannah Hansford is already working in her career of choice at Union Station, Woolsthorpe.

"I worked in school there as a placement," she said.

"I loved working with my hands.

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"The whole point of VCAL is to get you out in the workforce.

"Everyone's found their thing and VCAL sets you up for life. It's the stuff you don't normally get. We do a lot of budgeting for the future and management and obviously your resumes and how to present yourself.

"You do a lot of workplace health and safety too which really sets you up. We've got people leaving for hairdressing and beauty and I know a few people going to do engineering apprenticeships."

Brauer College student Kane McCutcheon began the school year as VCAL captain before securing an apprenticeship halfway through.

"It feels good, I'm where I want to be," he said.

"I didn't really know what I wanted to do until I started VCAL which was in year 11.

"I was always interested in wiring and all that, I did a robotics class in year 8 and got interested in that. I was looking for a place to do year 11 work experience and was looking at what jobs were available with VCAL and electric popped up, so I wanted to see where it'd go."

Warrnambool College's David Dobson took out the top VCAL result at his school and will join the Navy's Gap Year program.

There are just five positions available for the initiative nationally.

"I knew I was getting something high because they asked me to do a speech," he said.

"I've already gotten into the Navy with the Gap Year program. They will pay for a scholarship to university and I can study either teaching or psychology.

"I always wanted to join the Defence Force and I've always been in Warrnambool my whole life and I love the ocean."

Mercy Regional College's VCAL dux was Chantai Lester and Shae De Francesco.

Jack Kempton received the highest score for Camperdown College.

Mortlake P12 College's VCAL stars were twins Archie and Arjay BAG-AO.

Neil Porter Legacy's Matt Porter said it was important to highlight the achievement of all students.

"Success comes in many forms," he said.

"For generations, the end of the school year sees the celebration of students who have received the highest rankings in the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and before that, the TER and ENTER. This recognition is well-deserved. Those students have used their academic skills and committed countless hours to achieve a high ranking.

"However, there are other cohorts of students who have worked equally as hard yet we, as a community, seem to disregard or downgrade their achievements. There are many examples of successful school-leavers and simply because their interests lead them on a different pathway does not mean their achievements are any less worthy."

He said the Youth Conversations Research Report prepared by Beyond the Bell, Great South Coast and Deakin University this year showed south-west students felt unsupported in their choices.

"Over 700 people between the ages of 12 and 19 from our region were asked what matters most to them regarding education, training, employment and community," he said.

"Alarmingly, young people pursuing a vocational education or applied learning pathway reported feeling unsupported by their schools and communities and that their choice of study is judged as inferior.

"Our community needs the next generation of teachers, accountants, engineers and public relations specialists. But we also need plumbers, electricians, office managers and care-givers."

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