The latest data released by the NCVER shows the continued growth in VET in Schools in 2025 – with 276,860 students undertaking VET as part of their schooling, an increase of 4.1% from 2024. Many students did not limit themselves to just one VET course as part of their schooling: with 412,840 program enrolments in 2025 (up 4.8% on 2024) there was an average of 1.5 enrolments per student.
Completions were also up 6.4% on 2024 meaning that collectively student numbers, enrolments and completions were all at their highest levels since the national collection began in 2006. It represents a significant achievement at a time when governments are seeking to strengthen vocational pathways through secondary education.
Among secondary students aged 14 to 19, an estimated 22.6% participated in VET in Schools during 2025, compared with 22.1% in 2024. Nationally most VET in Schools activity involves training package qualifications and accredited courses. School-aged students recorded 383,335 enrolments in training package qualifications, an increase of 5%, as well as 29,465 enrolments in accredited qualifications.
Certificate II in Hospitality was the most popular qualification nationally and the leading qualification in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Construction programs also grew strongly: Certificate II in Construction Pathways was the largest program in South Australia and Tasmania and ranked among the five largest in several other jurisdictions. Western Australia and Queensland had a greater emphasis on employability and foundation-skills programs.
Student numbers also increased in 2025 among several priority groups, including female students, Indigenous students, students with disability, and students living in regional and remote communities. These results reinforce the important access and engagement role VET can play for students who may benefit from alternatives to predominantly academic senior secondary programs.
Most completions were at Certificate II and Certificate III, with Certificate III completions increasing by 8.6%. Completion growth was particularly strong among Indigenous students, up 10.4%; students with disability, up 10.3%; and regional and remote students, up 8.9%. The long-term shift away from Certificate I and towards higher-level school VET qualifications also continued.
