How to Break Into the Creative Industries as a Young Person

In Partnership with the Department of Education Victoria

Having a successful career in the arts is notoriously tricky. No two people take the same path, and for every success story, there’s a winding road of side hustles, weird gigs, and people who lucked into an opportunity. But if you’re entering your final years of high school in Victoria and already dream of working in music, events, fashion, film, or media, there’s a new way to get a foot in the door. 

It’s called the VCE Vocational Major, and if you’re a hands-on learner or someone who wants to turn your passion into a career, it might just be perfect for you. 

Launched in 2023 as a new two-year vocational and applied learning program offered during Year 11 and 12, the VCE Vocational Major is designed for students who want to learn in real-world environments, and who don’t necessarily need an ATAR to enter their dream career. 

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It includes core subjects like Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development Skills, and Work Related Skills. But a huge benefit comes from the 180 hours of industry-specific VET (Vocational Education and Training) built into the course that sets you up for the workplace.  

So, what does that actually look like? 

The VET component of the VCE Vocational Major is where whatever you’re interested in becomes something more practical. You can choose from a range of certificates that match your interests, whether that’s working with your hands, with people, or behind the scenes of your favourite events. Some of the key fields you can explore include:

Creative and Digital Media

If you want to get into the screen and media industry, this is your ticket. VET studies offer experience that’s recognised around Australia, and gives you the opportunity to start developing skills in film and television production, animation, radio broadcasting, web design, sound editing, and photography. 

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Music

Whether you’re more interested in being the star of the show or behind the scenes with production, audio tech, or sound engineering, through this program you’ll learn the technical side of the music industry, while gaining hands-on experience and collaborating with others. 

Events and Tourism

From festivals and concerts to tourism and major sporting events, this program is for the planners, organisers, and behind-the-scenes operators who want to work in teams and make big moments happen. 

Hair and Beauty

The Hair and Beauty program covers hairdressing, beauty therapy, make-up, and skincare, which is ideal if you want to work in editorial, fashion shoots, live performance, or start your own beauty business. 

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These programs are only a taste of what’s possible with the VCE Vocational Major and VET. Each course gives you a glimpse into what a future career might look like – and importantly, builds the kind of skills employers actually look for.

But just because you’re choosing a vocational path doesn’t mean your future is fixed. Many students go on to pursue further training, higher-level VET courses, diplomas, or even university study in their chosen field. The VCE Vocational Major simply gives you a strong, practical base to start from.

Best of all, you won’t just leave school with a certificate, you’ll leave with experience, confidence, and a clearer idea of where you want to go next. 

To learn more about the VCE Vocational Major and explore where it can take you, head to vic.gov.au/VCE.