Message for people under 17 years of age
From January 2010, a new law in NSW requires students to complete school to Year 10 and then to continue in either education, full-time paid employment, or a combination of these until at least the age 17.
If you are under 17 years and wish to enrol at TAFE the options available to you may have been affected by this change in the law. To attend TAFE you will need to have completed year 10 or have special permission from school and TAFE to do so.
Once you have completed Year 10 you can:
• stay at school and continue into Year 11
• take up an apprenticeship or a traineeship
• enrol in a vocational qualification at TAFE or other approved education or training.
• apply for a higher education course.
You can be in employment, as long as it is full-time, paid work. You can also do a combination of a number of these.
Under exceptional circumstances a young person under the age of 17 years who has not completed Year 10 will be allowed entry to study a Certificate II vocational course if this is deemed an appropriate pathway for that student. Individual assessments will be undertaken on the student before any determination.
If you are interested in study with TAFE NSW you should liaise with your school in the first instance. You will need special permission from your parent/caregiver, school and from TAFE. The decision will be based on your ability and skills to study in an adult learning environment and your interest in specific vocational qualifications.
Please contact 1300 TAFE Western (1300 823 393) for further information about these changes and your options.
