Ep 107 - Why VCE Feels So Confusing for Parents — And How to Get the Information You Actually Need

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What this episode is about:

In this episode of Course and Career Chat, I share a real-life story from my own experience as a parent when my son started playing cricket at our local club — and how having no information made the whole process stressful and confusing. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of how parents feel when their child starts VCE: unsure of how the system works, what they need to know, and how to support their teenager through an intense two years.

If you’re a parent who wants to understand how VCE works, how to make informed decisions about VCE subject selection, and how to support your child with confidence, this episode will help you see the whole system more clearly.

0:45 — The difficulty in starting cricket

I share what it was like trying to settle my son into a new cricket team without any clear communication. I didn’t know when to register, how training worked, what equipment he needed, or even how the season flowed. Even when things eventually made sense, the next season brought more confusion. The kids believed they would automatically move into Under 12s — but that wasn’t the case. No one explained the process, and the uncertainty created stress for everyone.

6:11 — What does this have to do with VCE parents?

This experience perfectly mirrors how VCE parents feel. Schools run VCE every year, but parents are often left confused about how it all works. Some schools offer minimal communication, while others overwhelm families with too much information in one hit. Either way, most parents don’t feel confident navigating VCE.

Understanding the VCE system helps parents:

• support their child through SACs and results

• make informed choices about VCE subjects

• feel confident about tertiary pathways and entry requirements

• reduce ATAR anxiety for the whole family

10:24 — How I work with parents and families

When I work with families, I break the VCE system down clearly so they know exactly what’s happening, when it’s happening, and what they can do to support their child. They can ask questions, clarify assumptions, and feel confident making decisions about VCE subjects, courses and career pathways.

Links mentioned

Work with me: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/services
The Parents’ Guide to VCE: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/podcast/95