NSW public schools have recorded their strongest vocational education and training (VET) enrolment growth on record, according to figures released ahead of National Skills Week, which begins on 24 August, 2026, under the theme "Life Changing."
Commencements in VET in Schools programs at NSW public schools rose 36.5 per cent, from 29,005 in 2024 to 39,605 in 2025, according to data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research's VET in Schools 2025 report.
Across all three NSW school sectors combined, commencements increased 30.8 per cent, or 13,850 students, to reach 58,785 in 2025. The growth has pushed total VET in School enrolments at NSW public schools to a record 44,550 for the year.
A head start on career pathways
Murat Dizdar, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, said VET in Schools gave students practical, industry-connected skills well before they left the classroom.
"VET is about giving young people a head start – building the practical skills, confidence and experience they need to move from the classroom into further training, further study and rewarding careers," Dizdar said.
Students can enrol in VET courses from as early as Year 9, choosing from subjects spanning construction to entertainment services, with courses counting towards both the HSC and a nationally recognised VET qualification.
The trend mirrors a similar surge in vocational pathway participation across the independent schooling sector, and follows national data showing more school leavers weighing up VET against university as a post-school option.
Government investment behind the growth
NSW Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Steve Whan said the record enrolments reflected the value of practical, job-ready skills.
"National Skills Week is about celebrating the skills that work. These are the skills that lead to jobs, support industry and create opportunities for people right across NSW," Whan said.
The rise has been underpinned by the state government's expansion of the Educational Pathways Program, additional support for the Regional Industry Education Partnerships Program, and growth in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs), which let students earn a VET qualification and their HSC while in paid employment.
The initiatives sit within the NSW Skills Plan 2024–2028, which sets out the state's strategy for strengthening VET pathways for secondary students. It also builds on broader efforts across the sector to smooth the transition from school into work.