What is an Australian Technical College?

The Australian Government is funding the establishment of 25 Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs) around the country, in areas where there are skills needs, a high youth population and a strong industry base.

ATCs cater for students in Year 11 and 12. The aim is to promote pride and excellence in the teaching and acquisition of relevant trade skills at secondary school level. Every ATC provides both academic and vocational technical education, as well as the opportunity for each student to start an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) in a trade.

Each student learns a trade while studying towards their Year 12 certificate, including the option to do subjects that give them the opportunity to go on to further education and training. Each student will:
		enter into an Australian School-based Apprenticeship at the Certificate III level, which leads to a nationally recognised qualification;
		study academic subjects, leading to a Year 12 certificate, and
		gain IT, employability and business skills, allowing them to run their own business in the future if desired.

By offering high quality training facilities and instruction linked to workplace requirements, the Colleges will raise the profile and status of vocational pathways in schools. They will also demonstrate that these vocational courses are a genuine career path for students, which should be valued as highly as going to university.