Hunter Trade College is an independent senior school and registered training organisation in the Hunter Region of NSW. Up to 175 students per year enrol in trade-focused Higher School Certificate programs at the college. The College is a not-for-profit charity governed by a board of voluntary industry and educational professionals. As an independent school, the organisation is responsible for all aspects of the student journey from recruitment to graduation.

Hunter Trade College facilitates 23 nationally recognised qualifications covering the trade areas of automotive, construction, electrotechnology and metal engineering. The school’s infrastructure includes industry-standard workshops and equipment for training. Hunter Trade College employs vocational teachers and trainers with solid industry backgrounds to ensure students receive relevant industry training.

Since its establishment in 2006, approximately 2,255 students have participated in a unique blend of general, vocational and workplace learning. The school’s program maximises the amount of vocational learning delivered within a HSC study program. Hunter Trade College includes a work placement program that provides up to ten times the work experience required for a HSC industry framework subject. Students can graduate with a HSC, an entry-level vocational qualification, several first-year apprenticeship units of competency and more than 100 days of workplace experience. As a result, a high proportion of its students transition into apprenticeships or employment at the completion of high school.

Hunter Trade College highlights a successful alternative to the traditional school model that can also be incorporated into other school settings.