Fed Square turns into a sky-high skills showcase for VCE Vocational Major students

Fed Square was transformed into an open-air classroom of the future on November 6 and 7, as thousands of visitors flocked to Look Up to the Future — a free two-day installation celebrating the hands-on learning offered through the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) and VET programs.

The pop-up activation took over the Swanston Street Forecourt with an impressive suite of demonstrations across engineering, construction, health, creative arts, technology and beauty, giving students and passersby the chance to test-drive potential career pathways.

Crowds gathered to try a virtual welding simulator used in Certificate II Engineering Studies, while others lined up for the plant-operating simulator, offering a realistic glimpse into machinery training undertaken by Certificate II Construction Pathways students. A robotic AI simulator gave visitors a chance to train and test digital robots in a highly realistic virtual environment, showcasing the technical capabilities students now develop in Integrated Technologies.

Creative industries were also on full display. A live animator demonstrated the foundations of 2D and 3D animation taught through the Certificate III in Screen and Media, drawing a steady stream of onlookers fascinated by the process behind digital storytelling.

Health educators operated a life-like diagnosis manikin to demonstrate how VET Health students practise identifying medical conditions, while engineering tutors introduced the basics of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and project planning tools used in Certificate II Engineering Studies.

One of the most popular attractions was the music production “classroom in the sky”, where visitors could go behind the scenes with electronic producer Steve Ward of Kompressor Studios. VR headsets offered another crowd favourite, transporting participants from Antarctic tourism to aged-care workplaces in seconds.

And for those wanting a makeover, VET hair and beauty students ran a free salon offering hair styling and theatrical makeup – a hit across both days.

Supported by partners including Swinburne University of Technology, Box Hill Institute, Mediquip, Mindflight7 and the Australian Academy of Cinemagraphic Makeup, the event provided a rare chance to experience vocational education at industry standard.

More than 29,000 Victorian students are currently enrolled in the VCE VM, with numbers continuing to grow as young people pursue applied, work-ready learning.