IMPORTANT DATES

& INFORMATION

Term 1 2025 Key Dates

VCE

What is VCE VM?

The VCE VM is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE. The VCE VM will prepare you to move successfully into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university through alternative entry programs, or directly into the workforce.

To recognise your achievements when you’ve completed your VCE VM, you will get your VCE with Vocational Major shown on it.

Most students finish their VCE VM over 2 years. Units 1 and 2 of a subject are usually completed in Year 11, and Units 3 and 4 in Year 12. You can complete your VCE VM over more than 2 years. For example, some students complete a Year 13 so they can spread their learning over a longer period or complete a school-based apprenticeship. Talk to your teacher or career counsellor about how to structure your VCE VM program to best suit you.

The VCE VM has specific subjects designed to build skills and knowledge to prepare you for further study, work and life. They are VCE VM Literacy, VCE VM Numeracy, VCE VM Work Related Skills, and VCE VM Personal Development Skills. Each subject has 4 units, and each unit has a set of outcomes which are assessed through a range of learning activities and tasks. The VCE VM also requires you to complete 180 nominal hours of VET at Certificate II level or above.

You will apply knowledge and skills in practical settings, undertake community-based activities and projects that involve working in a team, and spend some time in a workplace.

You must successfully complete at least 16 units, including:

• 3 VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3–4 sequence)

• 2 VCE VM Numeracy or VCE Mathematics units

• 2 VCE VM Work Related Skills units

• 2 VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and

• minimum of 180 nominal hours of VET at Certificate II level or above (read about VET).

Most students will undertake between 16–20 units over the 2 years. That’s 4 or 5 subjects across Year 11 and 12, as well as 180 nominal hours of VET at Certificate II or above (or 2 VCE VET units). You must also complete a minimum of 3 Unit 3–4 sequences in addition to your sequence from the English group. You can include VCE VM subjects, other VCE subjects and VET. You can also receive credit for SWL recognition.

VCE Tips for Assessment Success

1. Make sure you’ve got notes on each of the Key Knowledge and Skills set out in the Study Design

2. Do practice questions to prepare – if you can, work with friends to check and comment on each other’s answers

3. Seek clarification from teachers on the assessment style of the assessment and how you’ll be expected to apply the key knowledge and skills

4. Don’t try and cram at the last minute. Draw up a revision schedule that makes best use of the lead up to the assessment.

5. Better to get more sleep than stay up late studying. Block time aside to prepare at a convenient time. 

6. Make sure you have two or three spare pens

7. Read the questions carefully

8. If you are stuck on a question, mark it, move on to the next and come back to it at the end

9. Keep track of the time during the task, and make sure you try and answer as many questions as possible

10. Don’t leave the room early – use any left-over time to revise and check

11. And a last bonus tip – don’t try to cheat. It’s wrong, you’re cheating your friends, and in any case, it doesn’t work – those trying to cheat get caught.

Special Examination Arrangements for VCE External Assessments Unit 3 and 4 Applications are OPEN

Hi all,

Special Examination Arrangements (SEA) applications are now open for students studying a Unit 3 and 4 subject and completing external assessments (exams) in 2025.

SEA may be approved for students with disabilities, illnesses or other circumstances that affect their ability to access a VCE external assessment (exam and GAT). Students are eligible for SEA if it can be demonstrated that their capacity to access VCE external assessment is impaired due to one or more of the following:

• Mental health condition

• Health impairment of physical disability

• Specific learning disorder

• Language disorder

• Motor disorder

• Deaf or hard of hearing

• Vision impairment

If successful in the application, students may be approved by the VCAA to access in exams:

• Rest breaks

• Extra working time

• Separate rooms

• Use of assistive technology

• Readers

• Scribes

• Clarifiers

• Interpreters

• Alternate formats

SEA applications are made to the VCAA through the school. The VCAA will require evidence to support the application, and the school will support this process. Joey McArlein (Year 11/12 LT) and Brett Bullock (Year 12 LCL) can be contacted to begin the application process.

Joseph.McArlein@education.vic.gov.au

Brett.Bullock@education.vic.gov.au

Regards

Warwick Lamb

Assistant Principal 11-12

Senior Years VCE/VM/VPC Wellbeing Update

The VCE years can be demanding, so it’s important for students to be resilient, stay engaged, and take care of themselves physically, emotionally and mentally. Developing healthy study habits, connecting with friends and family and making time to have fun can help keep things in perspective.

It’s important to remember that there are many pathways to success in life, and VCE is only one of the ways available to achieve career goals.

It’s normal for students to experience some stress before assessment tasks or examinations but if you feel that your child is not coping, or there are other things happening in life that are affecting their preparation, please speak to the relevant Learning Community Leader (Brett Bullock (VCE 12), Claire Sullivan (VCE11) and Kendall Carracher (11/12 VM/VPC). Joey McArlein oversees Year 11/12 VCE and Amanda Dickson overseas Year 11/12 VM/VPC. They are able to ensure students have access to supports through our school Wellbeing Team or make appropriate referrals to external supports.

If you think students are stressed, or struggling in any way, you might be able to help by pointing them towards some of the below resources.  Beyond Blue have co-developed an app to assist with checking in with friends. You can find the Check-In app here.

Another useful service is eheadspace, an online counselling chat serviced by experienced youth mental health professionals, including social workers, mental health nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are one-on-one and anonymous group chat sessions available. You can also call these services. They are all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

In an emergency call 000.

2025 Daily Structure & Bell Times