Careers Advisor | VET Coordinator

Government schools; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria is seeking a Careers Advisor / VET Coordinator to coordinate and deliver careers education, vocational learning, and post‑school pathways. You will work with students, families, staff and external partners to support transitions to further education, training and employment.

You will provide tailored career guidance, assist with VTAC and scholarships, and manage CAPs while coordinating VET/SWL programs.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Education or Career Development/counselling.
• Current VIT registration or WWCC and compliance checks.
• Knowledge of Department of Education policy, VET/SWL guidelines, and Career Education Benchmarks.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored career counselling and guidance to individual students and groups, including post-school options and vocational pathways.
• Coordinate and deliver careers education, vocational learning, and structured workplace learning with staff and external partners.
• Develop and monitor Individual Career Action Plans (CAPs) and assist with tertiary applications (e.g. VTAC) and scholarships.
• Coordinate VET, SBAT and SWL programs, support students with disabilities or transition needs, and maintain placement records.
• Ensure compliance with Child Safe Standards and participate in professional development and the school’s performance cycle.

Skills

Relevant qualifications in Education/C

VIT registration or WWCC

Knowledge of DoE policy & Career Bench

Education

Bachelor-level qualification in Education or related field

Job description

• 1.Demonstrated operational planning skills in managing a comprehensive career development and student pathways program.
• 2.Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, employers, training providers and external agencies.
• 3.Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of VET, VCE VM, and SWL programs.
• 4.Strong interpersonal, counselling and communication skills, including the capacity to provide one-on-one support and facilitate large group presentations.
• 5.Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of post-school options, including further education, training, apprenticeships, employment pathways, and senior secondary reforms.
• 6.Commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion, and success, particularly in supporting diverse learners and those at risk of disengagement.

Selection Criteria

• 1.Demonstrated operational planning skills in managing a comprehensive career development and student pathways program.
• 2.Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders including students, parents, teachers, employers, training providers and external agencies.
• 3.Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of VET, VCE VM, and SWL programs.
• 4.Strong interpersonal, counselling and communication skills, including the capacity to provide one-on-one support and facilitate large group presentations.
• 5.Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of post-school options, including further education, training, apprenticeships, employment pathways, and senior secondary reforms.
• 6.Commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion, and success, particularly in supporting diverse learners and those at risk of disengagement.

Role

Up to 5 days additional attendance may be a requirement for this position

Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

The Careers Advisor | VET Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and delivering careers education, vocational learning, structured workplace learning, and post-school pathways. Working as part of the College Careers and Administration teams, the role collaborates with students, families, staff and external partners to support successful transitions to further education, training and employment.

Career Planning and Student Support

• Provide tailored career counselling and guidance to individual students and groups, including advice on subject selection, post-school options, and vocational pathways.
• Provide individual career and pathway counselling to students, parents and the wider school community regarding VET, further education, training and employment opportunities.
• Support students with tertiary applications (e.g. VTAC), SEAS, scholarships, and access to alternative or flexible learning options.
• Develop and monitor Individual Career Action Plans (CAPs) that reflect students¿ strengths, goals, and aspirations, supporting them with resume writing, job search skills, and interview preparation.
• Assist with student pathway discussions in SSG meetings when required.
• Organise and coordinate Careers related excursions and incursions with direction of the Careers Leader.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with tertiary institutions, apprenticeship networks, employment services, RTO¿s, Local VET Clusters, employers & industry partners, external agencies and government bodies to maximise opportunities for students.
• Monitor and assist students within the year 12 study centre.

VET | SWL Coordination

• Coordinate and administer the College's VET, SBAT and Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) programs, including support for VCE VM students and students with disabilities or additional transition needs.
• Oversee student engagement and participation in VET, SBAT and SWL programs, responding to issues and implementing support strategies where required.
• Coordinate workplace learning opportunities, including sourcing placements, conducting workplace visits, maintaining placement records and supporting future employment pathways.
• Work collaboratively with VCE VM leaders, teachers and other staff to support Workplace Skills, WorkRelated Skills (WRS) and Structured Workplace Learning programs.
• Ensure all VET, SBAT, SWL and VET Taster program information is accurately recorded and submitted to the VASS Coordinator and other relevant stakeholders.
• Represent the College at Careers, VET, VCE VM and industry network meetings and provide professional learning or advice to staff as required.
• Maintain regular communication with students, parents, employers, RTOs and staff regarding program requirements, changes, student attendance, progress and emerging issues.

General

• Ensure compliance with Child Safe Standards, Department of Education requirements and workplace learning regulations, including the completion and maintenance of all required documentation, records and risk management processes.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning in accordance with the school¿s Professional Development guidelines and the Department of Education¿s requirements.
• Participate actively in the Performance and Development (P&D) cycle, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ensure all programs comply with Department of Education policy, OH&S requirements, and Child Safe Standards.
• Provide appropriate supervision of students in controlled settings, including small group supervision during work placements, excursions, or other off‑site learning activities, always ensuring student safety and wellbeing.
• Undertake additional duties as directed by the Principal or Operations Manager, in line with the ES1-3 Dimensions of Work.

Who May Apply

Qualifications & Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Education, Career Development/ Counselling, or equivalent; or enrolment in and commitment to obtain, that allows membership to the Australian Centre for Career Education
• Current Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration or valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) and other compliance checks as applicable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Department of Education policy, VET/Structured Workplace Learning guidelines, and the Career Education Benchmarks.

Diversity and Inclusion

We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces.It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (seeWorkplace adjustment guidelines).

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other Information

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources