Next intake
January 2026Location
Geelong City CampusEast Geelong Campus
Course description
Are you wanting to further your secondary education, but are not yet ready to complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or VCE Vocational Major? Then the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) may be the pathway for you.
The VPC is suitable for students whose previous schooling experience may have been disrupted for a variety of reasons, including students who have missed significant periods of learning and vulnerable students at risk of disengaging from their education.
It will support students to develop both academic and practical skills.
The VPC is generally completed in Years 11 and 12 but is flexible so that it can be started earlier or finished over a longer period. The coursework is designed and delivered at a more accessible level than the VCE and VCE Vocational Major.
The certificate can be your end point, or you may use it as a springboard to future employment or education pathways.
** Please note this is a high school program run in TAFE and typically caters for students between 15-17 years of age.
Possible career outcomes
The VPC can help you move into a senior secondary qualification, entry level vocational education and training (VET) course or straight into a job.
Applications & attendance
How to apply
- Follow our instructions for how to apply for a course.
- Apply online by selecting an intake from the Applications & attendance table below.
If you need help, visit Customer Service or request application support via email.
Submission of an application does not guarantee a place in the course.
| Intake | Applications | Attendance | Classes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 January Geelong City Campus |
Open: 1 Aug 2025 Close: 15 Jan 2026 |
Class Day | Full Time | Start: 27 Jan 2026 | Monday to Thursday | 9am - 3.30pm | Apply |
| 2026 January East Geelong Campus |
Open: 1 Aug 2025 Close: 15 Jan 2026 |
Class Day | Full Time | Start: 27 Jan 2026 | Monday to Thursday: 9.00am - 3.30pm | Apply |
Class times are indicative and may change before the course starts. Students may need to complete some self-paced learning and assessments outside class, varying by course and skill level, or may be required to attend classes both on campus and online.
Follow the link for more information on attendance mode definitions and offer timing.
An application doesn't guarantee a place in the course. Spaces are limited and only completed applications will be considered for an offer. Intakes can be cancelled at any time.
Entrance requirements
- Applicants must have completed year 9.
- Any student under the age of 17 must provide an Exemption from School form prior to undertaking the course.
- Youth aged 15-16 who under the Education and Training Reform Act must still be engaged in full time education or combined education and employment of at least 25 hours per week and do not want to (or cannot) continue their education in mainstream secondary schools will need to get approval from the Department of Education by completing the relevant Exemption from school form.
- You must reside in Victoria to access Victorian Government Subsidised Fees and any incentive such as Free TAFE. Full fees apply to all non-Victorian residents.
Personal Learning Requirements
There are personal learning requirements for each qualification at The Gordon. These are essential personal capabilities and skills required to successfully complete the course and be ready to work in the industry.
Please review the requirements here and consider any challenges you may have in meeting them. When applying for your course, please let us know what support you may need.
Pre-training review
Each student must complete a pre-training review as part of their application. The outcome of your pre-training review assists our teachers and trainers to better understand your capabilities prior to training and enables you to be matched to the right program. Your literacy and numeracy skills will be evaluated and you may be required to undertake a separate assessment. Follow this link for more information about literacy and numeracy skills.
Units & assessments
| Core Units | Code | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation English 1 | EN101 | 100 |
| Foundation Mathematics 1 | MA101 | 100 |
| Personal Development Skills (Unit 1) | PDS041 | 150 |
| Personal Development Skills (Unit 2) | PDS042 | 150 |
| Sociology 2 | SO022 | 100 |
| VPC Literacy Skills (Unit 1) | LIT041 | 150 |
| VPC Literacy Skills (Unit 2) | LIT042 | 150 |
| VPC Numeracy Skills (Unit 1) | NUM041 | 150 |
| VPC Numeracy Skills (Unit 2) | NUM042 | 150 |
| Work Related Skills (Unit 1) | WRS041 | 150 |
| Work Related Skills (Unit 2) | WRS042 | 150 |
Please note that the listed electives are delivered by The Gordon but you may not need to complete all of these units to successfully complete this qualification. If you have previously completed any of the units of competency relevant to this course, you may be eligible for Credit Transfer (CT). Any previous relevant experience may qualify you for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Find out more about CT or RPL here.
Assessment is based on:
- Questioning
- Observations and practical demonstrations
- Portfolio (work samples)
- Product (reports, projects, role plays etc)
Fees
| Fees | Rate | Unit | Indicative Course Hours | Indicative Tuition | Indicative Gov Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concession Tuition | AUD $0.30 | per hour | 1200 | AUD $360.00 | AUD $9,600.00 |
| Standard Tuition | AUD $1.50 | per hour | 1200 | AUD $1,800.00 | AUD $9,600.00 |
| Full Fee Tuition | AUD $10.30 | per hour | 1200 | AUD $12,360.00 |
| Add the costs below to your relevant tuition fee | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources | AUD $100.00 | Once | Charged at enrolment | ||
| Education Levy | AUD $180.00 | Charged at enrolment | |||
| Materials | AUD $250.00 | Once | charged at enrolment | ||
All fees and charges are correct at time of publication but may change without notice. The student tuition fees are indicative only. Additional fees may apply. Where GST is applicable to any courses or materials, the fee displayed is inclusive of the GST.
Which fee will I pay?
Your fees will be charged according to your eligibility for government funding. For more information, visit our Fees & Payments pages.
Fee help
Payment plans may be available for eligible students who need assistance to manage their fee payments.
Further study options
Many Gordon courses offer pathways to higher qualifications within The Gordon and in some cases, to university degrees. Your Gordon course may provide credit points which could reduce further study time. Follow the link to find more information about pathways, or contact Customer Service.