🎓 “You HAVE to Go to Uni to Succeed”… Or Do You?
That’s what people used to tell me.
“You’ve gotta go to university to get a good job!”
“Everyone who’s someone has a degree.”
“You won’t go far without it.”
Sound familiar? 😅 Yes, Mum & Dad – I’m looking at you!
We’ve all heard it. Maybe from a teacher. Maybe from your mate’s mum. Maybe even from your own family. I believed it, too – for a long time. Until I didn’t…
But here’s the truth I wish I knew sooner:
👉 You don’t need a university degree to build a career you love.
👉 You don’t need to sit in lectures for years to be successful.
👉 You don’t have to follow one path just because “everyone else is doing it.”
Vocational education – also called VET – is a different road to achieving your educational dreams. A road that’s more flexible, more practical, more hands-on, and yes… at the end of the day, more employable 🚀
Let me walk you through how vocational training can help you (or your students, your kids, or even YOU again later in life!) find purpose, power, and a paycheck 🧡
🌟 A Real-Life Story: A Journey to Purpose
Let me introduce you to Maya*.
* Name changed because privacy matters!
Maya is bubbly, clever, and passionate about helping others. She finished a university degree in Communications with good grades, big dreams, and a HECS debt. She wanted to help bring people together through communication. But three years later, she was juggling part-time jobs in retail and admin. Nothing steady. Nothing fulfilling. Nothing that matched her strengths.
One day, over a coffee and a tearful chat, she said, “I don’t regret my degree, but I thought I’d be further by now.”
💡 I suggested she look into a Certificate IV in Community Services.
Fast-forward nine months:
✅ Maya’s working full-time with her local council planning events
✅ She’s helping vulnerable families every day and bringing the community together
✅ She’s already planning her Diploma in Community Services once she completes her Certificate.
No cap and gown. No years of studying. Learning while she’s earning! Just the right skills at the right time.
✨ So, What Is Vocational Training?
In case this is your first time here, let’s break it down simply:
🛠️ Vocational training is learning practical skills that help you get a job.
📚 You still learn theory, but the focus is: Can you do the work tasks of the job?
👨🏫 It’s taught by people who’ve done the job in real life, not just studied it.
🏫 You learn in classrooms, in workshops, and, more importantly, on-the-job.
In Australia, these courses are called:
- Certificates
- Diplomas
- Advanced Diplomas
- And sometimes, traineeships or apprenticeships
You might study because you work in an industry like:
- 🧑🍳 Hospitality
- 🧑⚕️ Aged care or disability support
- 🧰 Construction and trades
- 👩💼 Business and leadership
- 💇 Beauty or hairdressing
- 💻 Cybersecurity and tech
- 👶 Early childhood education
And the goal? To get you learning the practical skills so you can get job-ready. Fast.
💼 Employers Want Skills, Not Just Degrees
Let’s talk straight. ✨
A lot of employers care more about what you can do than what’s on a fancy piece of paper.
Think about it. Two people apply for the same job.
🧑🎓 One has a degree but has never worked in the field.
🛠️ The other has completed a Certificate IV, work placement, and has a portfolio.
Who do you think the employer will call back? That’s why VET grads are often snapped up quickly.
They’ve had:
✅ Real workplace experience
✅ Training in current tools, systems, and laws
✅ Practical skills from day one
My mate Tom* is a perfect example. After Year 12, he started an apprenticeship for Certificate III in Electrotechnology. While our mates were all picking university subjects, he was wiring lights, fixing faults, and learning on the job.
Everyone treated him like he was taking a lesser path, but I think he was the real genuis of our group…
By 22, he was a licensed tradie, with no HECS debt, running his own business, driving his own branded ute 🚗, and saving for his first house. His friends? Still studying. Still unsure. Still broke.
⏱️ Faster Pathways, Faster Paydays
Let’s be real – uni can take forever.
You can’t just do a year and exit with a degree… If you change your mind halfway through (which many of us do!), you lose time and money.
💡 VET is different.
Most courses take:
- 🕐 6–12 months (Cert III or IV)
- 🕐 1.5–2 years (Diploma or Advanced Diploma)
That means you could realistically:
- Start your course in February
- Finish by October
- And have a job by Christmas 🎄
Yep. That fast.
Let me tell you about Josh* and Lily*, two students I trained in a Certificate IV in Business.
They came in straight from school, unsure of what to do next. Both were bright and tech-savvy students but not sold on university. They completed their course in under a year. Lily landed a job at a local law firm doing admin. Josh got a job in IT support. 🎉
Now? They’re both earning, learning, and growing. Income – straight out of the course… No regrets. Just results.
💗 Kind, Flexible, Supportive Learning
This one is close to my heart 🧡 Because ya girl is all about the mental health and wellbeing!!
One thing I love about the VET sector is how inclusive and flexible it is. VET works around your life – not the other way around.
We know life is messy.
Maybe you are a parent 👩👧, or working nights 🌙… maybe you have anxiety or learning challenges 😟 and just need a second chance 🌀. Vocational Education is meant to be flexible. It’s not about saying you’re not good enough – it’s about supporting you to feel you are good enough!
VET is flexible and you can choose how you study. You can study:
- Full-time or part-time
- In the classroom or online
- During the day or at night
- With built-in support and adjustments
I once had a student named Carmen* – a single mum with a big heart. She was working day shifts stacking shelves and felt trapped in the hustle. She dreamed of helping people but didn’t think she had any options. Boy – was she wrong!!
She enrolled in a Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care). The course was part-time and included evening classes. With the help of her trainer and a local placement provider, she completed the course while still working and raising her son 💪
Now? Carmen is employed in aged care and is planning her TAE next year so she can contribute to educating others! Plus she’ll be able to have more flexibility over her working hours.
You’re never “too late” to change your path. I believe you can do whatever you want to do.
🧑🔧 Hands-On Learning and Real Jobs
Here’s where VET really shines 🌟
Most courses have work placements – so you don’t just learn in a classroom. You go out and do the job.
That means you can expect to see:
👶 Childcare students work in real centres
🍳 Hospitality students cook for real customers
🧓 Community services students shadow real case managers
💼 Business students help in real offices
When my class ran a student-led café, Callum*, one of our most cheerful baristas, handled a tricky customer like a pro. The customer happened to be a café owner nearby. Impressed by his patience and charm, she offered him a job on the spot. True story! 🎉
That kind of story happens a LOT in VET. Why? Because you’re visible. You’re out in the world, not hidden behind textbooks. You are making connections with local employment partners and setting your future self up for career opportunities throughout your course.
🧱 Stackable Skills That Grow With You
You don’t have to “have it all figured out” to start vocational training.
In fact, one of the best things about it is how flexible and stackable it is.
Think of it like Lego blocks:
🧱 Start with a Certificate III
🧱 Add a Certificate IV
🧱 Move into a Diploma
🧱 Maybe university one day—if you want to
Each step adds to your knowledge and your job options. You can choose to stop at any point, without losing all the hard work you’ve already put in.
Let me tell you about Ava*. She dreamed of being a primary school teacher but didn’t get into university. She didn’t give up.
Instead, she enrolled in a Certificate III in Education Support, became a teacher’s aide, and LOVED it. She then moved onto a Cert IV of Education Support, and with her new confidence and experience, she finally got into a uni degree to become a teacher 👩🏫
Now she’s working part-time in a school while studying. And she’s thriving.
You never have to choose between earning or learning. With VET, you can do both.
📊 But Is It Really Worth It?
Let’s look at the numbers 💸
✅ Around 78% of VET grads are employed after training
✅ Many trades and services roles earn as much—or more—than degree-holders
✅ Government data shows VET leads to strong, stable careers
And with Australia’s growing demand in:
- Aged care and disability
- Construction and infrastructure
- Cybersecurity and digital skills
- Hospitality and tourism
- Community services
…there’s never been a better time to jump into training 💥
💰 Let’s Talk Money: Affordable, Funded, Flexible
Uni is expensive. 🤑
But did you know that many VET courses are:
- 💵 Government subsidised
- 🆓 Fee-free (in priority industries)
- 📘 Eligible for payment plans or student support
One of my students, Levi*, was working casual shifts at a servo. He thought studying was out of reach until we found a pathway to a fee-free course in Automotive. Now he’s in an apprenticeship, earning as he learns, and beaming with pride every time someone asks him what he does 🚗
It’s amazing what happens when someone gives you a real chance.
🔍 So, What Does Success Look Like?
Let’s shake up the image for a second.
Success doesn’t always mean:
❌ A university degree
❌ A corporate job
❌ A six-figure salary
Success can be:
✅ Feeling proud of your work
✅ Helping others in your community
✅ Learning something new
✅ Building a life you love
Vocational training opens that door.
And you know what? It’s open to everyone.
💬 Let’s Chat! What’s Your Story?
Have you studied a VET course? Are you thinking about one? Have you hired someone who came from the VET pathway?
I’d love to hear your story 💌
Drop a comment below! 👇
Tag a friend who might need this reminder 💬
Or message me if you want help finding the right course 🧭
Let’s keep this conversation kind, real, and full of possibilities ✨
Till next time.