Aboriginal Admissions Program
Moondani Balluk and VU are committed to providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with greater access to vocational and higher education courses.
The Aboriginal Admissions Program at VU will help Moondani Balluk and Admissions at VU support your application process, arrange an informal study options appointment (when relevant), and discuss pathway options if needed.
How does the program work?
After applying to study a VU course/s, you will be assessed for eligibility for your chosen course.
Course prerequisites and any extra requirements listed on course pages must still be met either directly, or through equivalent studies or experience. This includes completing a pre-training review and language, literacy and numeracy assessment for TAFE courses.
The selection process is non-competitive. This means that you are not assessed against other applicants when determining the selection outcome.
If you are applying for courses that considers an ATAR as part of the admission requirements, you will not be required to meet the ATAR.
If you meet eligibility based on admission requirements and satisfying course prerequisites, an offer of a place may be made without a study options appointment.
Otherwise, you will be invited to attend an informal study options appointment with a Moondani Balluk Support or Engagement Officer and a representative from the College/discipline area and Admissions. Through a conversation, they will determine if the applicant can be admitted to their chosen course after considering capacity to succeed, relevant work/life experience and formal or informal education or qualifications.
If students are unable to be admitted to their chosen course, a suitable pathway option/s at VU will be provided.
Study options appointment
You can attend a study options appointment in-person, online or via phone. At the appointment, we will:
- discuss your educational/career aspirations and expectations you have about study
- provide you with information about the course/s you have chosen
- discuss any relevant work/life, formal/informal education, and award qualifications
- prepare for study
- introduce you to what life may be like at VU, and tell you more about Moondani Balluk
- let you know about what support services are available to you while studying
- answer any questions or concerns you have about your studies.
If you have confirmation of Aboriginality/Statutory Declaration, you can bring this to the appointment, but it’s not compulsory. You may also be required to provide other supporting documentation. You will be advised about this when scheduling your appointment.
Eligibility
To apply via the Aboriginal Admissions Program at VU, you must:
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- be applying for a higher education course at VU – e.g. diploma, associate degree, undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree
- be applying for a TAFE course at VU
- meet all course prerequisites and any extra requirements listed for your chosen course/s.
Year 12 (school leaver) and non-year 12 (mature age) applicants are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Applying to VU via the Aboriginal Admissions Program involves two steps:
- Apply for a VU course via the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) or direct to VU
- Complete and submit the Aboriginal Admissions Program online application form
Once you have applied, a Moondani Balluk support officer will contact you about your application and to arrange an appointment.
About the program
The Aboriginal Admission Program is a priority access program seeking to support access to all levels of education and increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at VU.
The program is designed to assess your capacity to study at tertiary level in your preferred area of study through a non ATAR and non-competitive selection process.
You can still qualify for admission to VU courses via standard admission processes, however this program has been established to support alternative entry via an informal study options appointment with support from Moondani Balluk.
