Melbourne’s coolest events don’t just happen by themselves – it’s the dedicated people in the hospitality, events and tourism industries who bring these events to life.
With the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), you could make a start in a fantastic career in one of these industries.
Melbourne is known as the events capital of the country for good reason. This city hosts world-famous festivals, parties and shows, all year round. The people running these events aren’t only the creators of some of the biggest festivals in the world – they also get front row seats to them.
Ever wondered who works behind the scenes organising the Melbourne International Comedy Festival? What about who’s cooking up some of those delish canapés at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival? Well, now there’s a VCE pathway that can help you learn the skills required to work at events like these.
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The VCE VM offers a new way of completing the VCE. This two-year vocational and applied learning program is a way for you to build a toolkit of workplace skills, giving you hands-on experience and an employability edge within high-demand industries. It’s also a great way to hone talents you can build on with further study after high school, whether that be through TAFE courses, apprenticeships, VET certificates or university degrees through non-ATAR pathways. Basically, the VCE VM is yours to build a pathway to your dream career.
From school campus to world-class comedy
Melbourne is the home of the country’s largest comedy festival – and one of the three biggest in the world. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival provides a playground of potential for turning your passions into a career.
The Comedy Festival employs a plethora of people across the event, from make-up artists to sound techs, stage designers to front-of-house staff. If working on a team at the Comedy Festival sounds like a career that you’d want to try, there are a variety of VET options to explore via the VCE VM.
For example, Certificate III in Events is all about providing you with the toolkit you’ll need to begin crafting a career in the events industry. Before you know it, you could be the one booking Aaron Chen for his next Melbourne International Comedy Festival performance.
Backstage at Melbourne’s biggest feast
Another world-class event in Naarm’s festival calendar is the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (MFWF).
The MFWF has been exponentially growing over the last 30 years. Like the Comedy Festival, working for MFWF doesn’t just provide you with one event or occasion to work at, but a whole bucketload of them spread across the festival.
Boasting over 400 events across ten days in March, the incredible volume of spectacles that you could help bring to life – including their famous World’s Longest Lunch – speaks to the variety of roles involved in creating these experiences, like cooking in a commercial kitchen or organising an exhibition.
If working with the MFWF piques your interest, you might want to consider a Certificate II in Hospitality or a Certificate II in Cookery, which will teach you the skills to work effectively front or back-of-house for a commercial kitchen, across some of the city’s most beloved events.
Certificate III in Tourism is another option if working in the tourism industry is more aligned with your interests. This certificate will equip you with the skills to help bring Melbourne’s event calendar to life. Within these sectors are a variety of roles and jobs, but each shares the same overarching idea: creating top-notch experiences.
A pathway to purpose with the VCE Vocational Major
The VCE VM sits within the VCE and provides a different way of learning, in a real-world environment that relates directly to your future. Assessment in the VCE VM will generally involve practical, project-based learning, where you’ll develop both practical skills and subject knowledge at the same time.
The VCE VM subjects do not count towards an ATAR, with no formal Year 12 examinations; however, you are required to participate in the General Achievement Test (GAT).
The VCE VM has four core studies with some flexibility. Students do VCE VM Numeracy or another VCE Maths, VCE VM Literacy or another VCE English, Personal Development Skills, Work Related Skills and Vocational Education and Training (VET). Many VCE VM students also participate in at least one other VCE subject of their choosing.
The VCE VM will help you to build industry-specific skills and knowledge that reflect your passions; build connections with potential employers and community organisations; and pathway you to further studies via TAFE, traineeships, apprenticeships and university through non-ATAR pathways.
It’s your world, and now it’s your VCE too!
You can find out more information about the VCE Vocational Major here.
This article was made in partnership with the Department of Education.
