As high school students weigh their options for life after Year 12, Alexander’s story shows how combining vocational education and training (VET) with university can be a game-changer.

When Alexander completed his HSC in 2023, he wasn’t entirely sure that jumping straight into university was the right step.

“I’d been interested in IT for a long time, but I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to turn it into a career or just keep it as a hobby,” he said. “Jumping straight into a long university degree didn’t feel right for me, so I chose a shorter option, a traineeship with TAFE and an employer to get hands-on industry experience.”

That decision led Alexander to complete a Certificate IV in Information Technology as part of his traineeship; an experience that not only fast-tracked his skills and career clarity but also gave him a head start at university.

“I used it as a gateway to test the waters a bit and get the basic knowledge in the field as well to get prepared for university and the rest of the world,” Alexander said.

“My family was supportive, and my friends were kind of split down the middle. Some of them were like, 'you should have gone to university', while others chose to do VET studies too.”

Alexander could have chosen either pathway, but he took a less common, more intentional one. According to the NSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation 2023 Post-School Destinations Survey, only five per cent of school leavers take up a traineeship, with most heading straight to university.

His VET pathway was a strategic move into a growth area. The latest Jobs and Skills Australia report shows that more than two-thirds of new jobs last year were in occupations linked to VET, highlighting the strong demand for practical, skills-based training.

By combining VET and university, Alexander is setting himself up for both immediate employability and future career progression. According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), VET graduates are often more job-ready, while university graduates benefit from stronger long-term prospects.

Combining both pathways gives Alexander the best of both worlds: hands-on skills now, and broader opportunities later.

When he enrolled at university and started his first semester, Alexander hoped for a smooth transition.

“I was a bit nervous that I’d be behind my friends when I started uni this year,” he said. “But it turns out, I didn’t need to be concerned.”

Thanks to his real-world experience – including providing tech support and setting up IT equipment – Alexander found the early weeks of university surprisingly manageable.

He also gathered his post-school training documentation and applied to the university for credit transfer, sometimes also known as advanced standing or recognition of prior learning.

“I’d already done a lot of what we were covering in lectures,” he said. “I submitted my TAFE transcript for credit, not expecting much, but my uni gave me nearly a whole year off.”

This meant he could either take on advanced subjects, work and earn more, or do both.

Department of Education A/Director Service Quality at Training Services NSW, Alison Faure-Brac, said Alexander’s experience showed the strength of VET as a launchpad into higher education.

“Alexander’s story is a great example of how career planning and knowing how to navigate the tertiary education and training systems can set students up for success,” Ms Faure-Brac said.

“He’s walked away with a nationally recognised qualification, a year of hands-on industry experience, and now he's saving time and money on his degree. That’s a huge win.”

While some of Alexander’s friends questioned his decision at first, the benefits have become clear.

“My friends were telling me, ‘Oh, VET is so easy. It’s gonna be a breeze,’” he said. “But it was challenging.”

For Alexander, the biggest gain was developing practical skills and confidence in the workplace.

“Definitely workplace communication and how to act in a workplace, especially within a team environment,” he said. “Some of my friends panic when they enter a workplace for the first time. But for me, it feels natural – it’s like second nature.”

Alexander’s long-term goal is to work in cybersecurity, ideally within government or the defence force. He’s also open to further study.

His advice to high school students?

“If VET offers a course in your field of interest, especially with a traineeship for real industry experience, I highly recommend it. It helps you find out if the career's right for you and gets you started.”