Senior secondary education
Victorian students have raised issues with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) for many years. Time and time again at VicSRC Congress, students have identified the need for fairer, more equitable VCE opportunities.
In 2023, a VCE Vocational Major was introduced and at VicSRC's 2023 Congress, the advocacy priority "Definitions of Success" prompted discussions about the need to shift the belief that success at school is centered solely on a student's academic achievements.
In light of this, VicSRC with the support of the Victorian Department of Education, established a Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Student Advisory Panel in 2024.
2026 SENIOR SECONDARY PATHWAYS REFORM STUDENT ADVISORY PANEL - APPLY NOW
The Senior Secondary Pathways Student Advisory Panel is your chance to have a real say in how senior secondary education works in Victoria.
Run by VicSRC with support from the Victorian Department of Education, the panel brings together 14 students from across the state to share their ideas directly with the government.
It’s all about making sure every student has equal access to opportunities after school. This could look like studying further, starting work, or exploring what’s next.
By sharing your experiences, you’ll help shape a system where every Victorian student feels supported, valued, and ready for the future.
The panel is made up of 14 secondary school students from across Victoria who share a diverse range of experiences at school.
After a successful first two years, VicSRC is excited to continue the Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Student Advisory Panel in 2026. We are looking for new students to share their experience, expertise, and perspectives.
Take a look at the Panelist Role Description for further details and when you're ready to apply, you can click the button to head to our application form!
Campaign history
Victorian students have raised issues with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) for many years and in 2018 VicSRC called for the government to review senior secondary education. Some of the major concerns students have raised are the stigma around vocational and applied learning pathways and the lack of flexibility within the VCE pathway.
In 2019 the Victorian Government appointed former VCAA CEO John Firth to undertake a review of VCAL and to recommend changes to this certificate. VicSRC participated in this review through multiple consultations based on feedback collected by students over the past few years.
The recommendations of the Firth Review included reforming senior secondary education in Victoria to a new certificate to replace VCAL so that VCE had two pathways – an academic major and a vocational major. It also includes a Victorian Pathways Certificate to replace Foundational VCAL.
In 2023, the VCE expanded to include the Vocational Major, meaning students can now study a new 2-year vocational and applied learning program within the VCE.
VicSRC has provided a great deal of feedback, participated in many consultations and workshops, and continues to represent Victorian students on the stakeholder reference group to oversee the implementation and design of the new senior secondary certificate.
In 2024, VicSRC established a Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Student Advisory Panel, with the support of the Victorian Department of Education. This panel offers students the opportunity to provide feedback directly to government, with a focus on making senior secondary schooling better for every Victorian student.
Campaign timeline
2024
VicSRC will establish a Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Student Advisory Panel with the support of the Victorian Department of Education.
2023
VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways certificate enrolments begin.
2021 onwards
VicSRC sits on the Senior Secondary Reform Reference Group making sure students’ needs are always being considered throughout the reform process.
2020
Fair go VCE is voted a Congress priority
2019
Victorian government commissions review of VCAL
2018
VicSRC calls for a review of senior secondary
2017
Tackling stigma around VCAL is voted a Congress priority
What's happening now?
VicSRC is advising DE on the most effective ways to communicate changes to the senior secondary certificate with students and will continue to provide feedback about reform implementation and student impact.
A Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Student Advisory Panel was established by VicSRC in 2024 to talk directly with government about making senior secondary schooling better for every student in Victoria.
What does this mean for students?
A fully integrated senior secondary certificate will launch in 2025.