Policy
The purpose of this policy is to outline the requirements for schools entering into contracts with registered non-school senior secondary and foundation secondary providers (NSSSFSPs) for the entire delivery of the VCE Vocational Major or Victorian Pathways Certificate.
Summary
- Schools must ensure the school council enters into contracts with NSSSFSPs using the template contract available on the Resources tab).
- Schools must ensure that NSSSFSPs are:
- registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) registration (as applicable)
- authorised by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to deliver the VCE Vocational Major or Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).
- A contractual agreement with an NSSSFSP for the delivery of the VCE Vocational Major or VPC can only be entered into by the school council.
- As part of the contract, the ‘home’ school:
- holds the student’s enrolment
- retains a duty of care for the student and must take reasonable steps to discharge that duty, primarily by following the steps in this policy and related guidelines ensuring that the NSSSFSP is complying with its obligations under the contract.
- There are additional regulatory obligations that schools must also comply with to ensure that records are kept in relation to a student’s enrolment, attendance, safety, and other issues.
- Schools must refer to the guidance for Victorian government schools contracting with NSSSFSPs for the delivery of the VCE Vocational Major or VPC (in the Guidance tab) for guidance and procedures about entering into a contractual agreement with an NSSSFSP for the delivery of the VCE Vocational Major and VPC.
Details
The arrangement for NSSSFSPs to provide educational services to a school is a decision for each school council. This decision should be made considering the best interests of the individual student, school and school council requirements and delivery of the school’s curriculum in line with department policies.
The principal and other key staff play an important advisory role to the school council in making a decision about whether to enter into the contract.
School councils must renew contracts with NSSSFSPs annually and seek endorsement from the regional director prior to entering into the new contract.
The school council must use the standard VCE Vocational Major and VPC contract (staff login required) that has been developed by the department.
Before a school council and NSSSFSP enter into a valid, signed contract, the school must send the final unsigned contract to the Manager – Youth Pathways and Transitions (MYPAT) in the relevant regional office for final review and approval from the regional director.
During the contract period, if the home school has any concerns that the NSSSFSP is not meeting its obligations under the contract, the home school must contact the MYPAT for advice.
For more important information about the process for review and endorsement of a contract, as well as more detail about the obligations and responsibilities of home schools and NSSSFSPs, please refer to the Guidance tab.
Definitions
VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate contract (VPC)
Refers to the entire delivery of the VCE Vocational Major or VPC by an external provider that has VRQA registration or ASQA registration (as applicable for the delivery of VET components) and VCAA authorisation to deliver the course on behalf of a government school, at an external location, to students who have been assessed as eligible to participate.
Related policies
- Duty of Care
- Purchasing Secondary Courses and Vocational Training from External Providers
- Re-engagement Programs
- School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
- Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students
- Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Schools Students (Reference 156 of the Student Resource Package Guide)
Contacts
Enquires related to contracts between the NSSSFSP and school councils and regional oversight should be directed to the Manager – Youth Pathways and Transitions in your region.
North eastern Victoria
North western Victoria
South eastern Victoria
South western Victoria
Further advice about the guidance
Contact the Youth Participation team: Youth.Participation@education.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 24 January 2024