In the Education State, every young person matters.
The Victorian Government has invested $91 million in the Victorian Early Leaver Connection Initiative (VELCI) to help early school leavers stay engaged in education and training and successfully complete a Year 12 or equivalent qualification.
In 2025 and 2026, this will deliver:
- a pilot career advice service for Victorian early school leavers
- in target areas, pilot mentoring and other supports for Koorie young people and young people with disabilities who leave school early
- supportive and quality options to complete Year 12 at TAFE.
VELCI connects our schools and TAFEs so that every young Victorian can learn and thrive.
Career help for early school leavers
If you recently left school without completing Year 12, the VELCI Career Advice Service is available to help you.
Most TAFEs have a Skills and Jobs Centre that deliver the Career Advice Service.
If the Career Advice Service for early school leavers is not a good fit for you, a Skills and Jobs Centre can still help you find other support. They offer qualified, independent advice and support on training, career planning and finding a job in your local area.
Career Advice Service
Sometimes the change from secondary school to another education, training or work pathway can be challenging.
The VELCI Career Advice Service will help you keep pursuing education, training and work that fits your strengths and interests. It includes:
- regular check-ins from your local Skills and Jobs Centre to ask you how you are doing
- somebody to call if you have any questions, or if you are worried about your education, training or work
- career, training and education advice sessions with a qualified career counsellor
- help with making appointments at other support organisations, if you need it.
There is extra help available if you are Koorie or have a disability. Your Skills and Jobs Centre will help you decide if the extra help is right for you. You can also use the list of providers to contact for extra help.
Connect through school
If you are under 17 years old and have a formal exemption from school, your school can:
- tell you about the career advice service
- give the local Skills and Jobs Centre your contact information, such as your phone number and email address.
This help is free and optional for you to take up. The Skills and Jobs Centre will ask for your permission and your parent or guardian’s permission to help you.
If you tell the Skills and Jobs Centre that you do not want this help, they will stop calling, texting or emailing you, and delete your contact information. They will keep a record of your conversation about the service.
If you are under 17 and you do not want help from the VELCI Career Advice Service, they will notify your most recent school. This is so the school can tell you about other options for getting help.
Get help now
You can call your local Skills and Jobs Centre at any time to talk about options for education and training.
Find your closest Career Advice Service for early school leavers in the list below.
Career Advice Service providers
Most Skills and Jobs Centres provide the career advice service for early school leavers.
If you don’t know what local government area you live in, visit Know Your Council and enter your post code.
Metropolitan areas
Regional and rural areas
Providers to contact for extra help
In target areas, there is extra help available if you are Koorie or have a disability, and left school early.
The Career Advice Service at your Skills and Jobs Centre will help you decide if the extra help is right for you. You can also find a list of providers below.
If you don't know what local government area you live in, visit Know Your Council and enter your post code.
Completing Year 12 at TAFE
Completing Year 12 will give you the best chance at success in continued education, training and work. Finishing school is usually the best way to complete Year 12.
If you have left school early, you may be able complete Year 12 at a TAFE. Victoria’s TAFE Network offers the VCE (including the VCE Vocational Major) or the Victorian Pathways Certificate.
If you want to go to TAFE and are not yet 17 years old, you will need a formal exemption from school. The TAFE will ask for proof that you have an exemption.
Your school's careers counsellor can help you understand your options, which in some cases could include an exemption. Contact your school for more information.
Thinking about returning to school
The things we learn at school set us up for success in work and life. That’s why schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6–17 years old, unless an exemption has been granted.
Returning to school is always an option, even if you have an exemption. Go to Find my School to contact your local government school about your study options.
For more advice on returning to school, contact the Department of Education.
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