DETE (SA) Vocational Learning is defined as follows: "Through Vocational Learning, all students acquire a broad understanding of the world of work and develop a range of generic skills, competencies, understandings and attributes that are relevant to a wide range of work environments. Vocational Learning provides students with structured learning experiences in Key Competencies, Enterprise Education, Career Education, Community Based Learning and Workbased Learning. Through these experiences young people acquire skills that are critical to them becoming life-long learners."

DETE uses the MCEETYA definition of Structured Workplace Learning.