Go Beyond The Classroom With VDSS

A hands-on, future-focused approach to Year 10, Year 11 and 12

Our VDSS (VET Delivered to Secondary Students) program is designed for students ready to take their learning beyond the classroom and into the real world.

Delivered by SportsReady Education (RTO 22394), our program offers SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation, SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, plus a Dual Certificate pathway combining both qualifications over two years. Students gain nationally recognised credentials, hands-on experience and a strong head start toward careers in sport, health and recreation.

Why We’re Different

Most senior school classrooms still run on stand-and-deliver — a teacher at the front, a slide deck, students taking notes on what they’re told. Our Sport, Aquatics and Recreation program is built the opposite way around.

We start from a simple idea: every student in the room already knows more about sport than they realise. They’ve played it, watched it, argued about it, been coached, coached others, sat in change rooms, run water, kept score. Our job isn’t to pour information into them — it’s to draw out what they already know, connect it to how the AFL industry actually operates, and turn instinct into professional understanding.

A class isn’t 25 students receiving the same lecture. It’s 25 people pulling apart real industry questions together, with a trainer who knows how to surface what they already have and shape it into something they can use at work. It’s the kind of teaching elite universities have moved toward for years, because it produces students who can think on the job, not just describe it.

The AFL Connection

This style of teaching only works if the material is real, and that’s where 30 years with the AFL changes the equation. Our students don’t analyse hypothetical clubs — they analyse the ones they walked through last week.

They don’t study workplace dynamics in the abstract — they hear from the people currently managing them, in clubs they’ve just visited. The Bob Rose Stand at Victoria Park, the AFL House excursions, the rotating cast of senior club and industry guests — these aren’t extras bolted onto a classroom course. They’re the raw material the whole teaching method depends on.

No other VDSS provider in Victoria can offer that combination of pedagogy and industry access, because no other provider has spent three decades building it.

• Guest Speakers & Excursions

  Guest Speakers

  Our Industry Expert sessions provide an inspiring break in the learning journey, giving students firsthand insights from athletes, coaches and professionals who have built successful careers within the AFL and broader sports industry. These sessions complement classroom learning by helping students better understand real-world career pathways, industry expectations and the many opportunities available in sport and recreation. Students can ask questions, hear personal experiences, and gain practical advice from those who have walked the path before them.

  Marcus Drum | AFL Players Association – Topic Networking

  Paul Brodderick | Richmond Football Club – Topic Leadership & Coaching

  Steve Moore | Carlton Football Club – S&C training, pre, during and post game insights

  Analea McKee | Western Bulldogs AFLW – Group dynamics and facilitation

   

  Excursions

  Our AFL VDSS excursions provide a valuable opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world industry experiences. Through visits to elite facilities, live environments and professional sporting settings, students gain hands-on exposure to the standards, culture and operations of the AFL industry. These experiences deepen understanding of course content, build career awareness and demonstrate how their studies can translate into future employment pathways.

  Carlton Football Club – Ikon Park (Princes Park)

  • Tour elite training and recovery facilities
  • Learn about football department operations
  • Meet staff and hear career pathway insights

  Richmond Football Club – Swinburne Centre 

  • Behind-the-scenes venue tour
  • Explore high-performance programs
  • Gain insight into club administration and marketing roles

  Collingwood Football Club – Olympic Park Oval 

  • Visit professional training environments
  • Learn about athlete preparation and sports science
  • Hear from staff across different departments

  AFL House – Marvel Stadium

  • Learn how the AFL industry operates
  • Explore governance, media and commercial departments
  • Understand career opportunities within the sports industry
• SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation

  The Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation (SIS30122) is a two-year program designed for students who are passionate about sport, health and active careers. Students will:

  • Learn from guest speakers across the AFL and sporting landscape
  • Participate in practical excursions and workplace-style learning
  • Build leadership, teamwork and communication skills

  They’ll also cover key topics such as sport and recreation programming, workplace safety, customer service and working with diverse groups.

  This program is the ideal stepping stone for those considering future careers in sport, coaching, fitness, health, or community recreation – and a great way to get a head start in Australia’s sporting industry.

  • Students: Year 10 and Year 11 Students
  • Delivery: Two years part-time
  • Wednesday from 9.00am – 12.30pm or Wednesday 1.00pm – 4.30pm (Year 1)
  • Wednesday 1:00pm to 4:30pm  (Year 2)
  • Location: Australian Education Union (AEU), Abbotsford
  • Excursion: Football Clubs, AFL House
  • Guest Speakers: Senior AFL, Club and Industry figures

   

• SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation

  This certificate allows VDSS students to complete a nationally recognised qualification in one year (SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation) and a dual qualification (SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation & SIS30122 Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation) over a two-year period.

  This provides ultimate flexibility for students in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 in both the VCE and VCE VM streams.

  • In the VCE stream this is a scored assessment program in Year 2.
  • In the VCE VM stream this offers the necessary hours for 4 units of 90 hours each.

  If any students only require one year of VDSS to complete their VCE or VCE VM they can use this program to graduate with the SIS20122 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation. This has the benefit of meeting their school requirements while making them immediately employable.

Applications – Express Your Interest

• Class Location

  Where are the classes held?

  Our campus is located at the Australian Education Union (AEU) Victoria at 126 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford VIC.

  This is approximately a 2-minute drive / short walk from Victoria Park Station. We still use Victoria Park regularly for all practical activities and field-based sessions. Throughout the course, students also take part in excursions and have opportunities to learn in real-world, off-site settings.

• Remote Learning

  If getting from school to your VDSS/Victoria Park classes is a challenge, we’ve got you covered. Our flexible hybrid learning model allows students to participate from anywhere in Australia while still meeting all qualification requirements. Simply join the live online session, engage with trainers and classmates in real time, and apply your learning in practical settings — all while connecting with industry professionals and opportunities.

  For more information about remote learning and online sesssion, please email vdss@aflsportsready.com.au

• Why SportsReady Education?

  With exceptional satisfaction and completion rates, SportsReady education has built a reputation on industry co-creation and innovation. Our unique and boutique offerings are not only designed to expose students to the working requirements and skills of their profession, but to make them future proof with understandings and skills crucial to the modern world.

  For more information, please email vdss@aflsportsready.com.au

• What else do I need to know?

  Applications open July 2026 | Course starts February 2027

  Applications must be submitted by the Career Adviser on behalf of the student, in consultation with the school’s VET Coordinator, where applicable.

  What is VDSS?

  VDSS stands for vocational education and training delivered to secondary school students, where they can study and gain practical skills in various industry areas. Students may achieve a nationally recognised qualification or partial qualification at the Certificate II and/or Certificate III level while completing their secondary school studies.

  VET studies contribute to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), the Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major (VCE VM) and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).

  How do I apply?

  Please speak to your school VET Coordinator or Careers Adviser to discuss the VDSS program on offer. They will then make an application on your behalf.

  Once your application has been accepted, you will be sent an email with an online enrolment form to be completed and submitted.

  In December, you will receive further information regarding your start date and where to go on your first day.

  What contribution does this VDSS program make to my VCE or VCE VM?

  Please discuss this with your school VET Coordinator or Careers Adviser.

  When do classes start in 2027?

  The first day of class will be Wednesday, 3rd February 2027.

  When do I attend?

  The full timetable of all courses will be advised. Students are not required to attend during the term break unless advised otherwise.

  • Classes for the Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation (SIS30122) are held weekly over two years on a Wednesday from 9.00am – 12.30pm or Wednesday 1.00pm – 4.30pm (Year 1) and Wednesday 1:00pm to 4:30pm  (Year 2) during the school term.

  If you are unable to attend class due to illness please advise your school VET Coordinator or Careers Adviser who will let us know.

  Where are the classes held?

  Classes for the Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation (SIS30122) are held at Australian Education Union (AEU) Victoria.

  This is located at 26 Trenerry Crescent, Abbotsford VIC – at short walk from Victoria Park Station.

  Occasionally, classes will be online, and you will be advised by your trainer.

  What are the course fees?

  All fees for this VDSS program are invoiced to your school. Please speak to your school regarding any payment that you may be required to make.

  Will there be an orientation/information session to provide more information?

  Yes, an online information session will be held prior to the course starting. We will notify you via email with the day/time.

  What do I wear to class?

  Please wear your school PE uniform and suitable footwear to all classes.

  What should I do if I wish to withdraw from my course?

  Please speak to your school VET coordinator, who will advise us if you should be withdrawn from your course.