Principal's Message
Dear Families,
Welcome Back to Term 4
I would like to welcome everyone back for Term 4 and remind parents/guardians that students are to wear their summer uniform this term. Once again thank you for your continued support in this important matter.
Term 4 is a busy term for all of us, with assessments, exams and reports all happening, as well as planning for next year. Students should be working hard and preparing for their final assessments to best prepare for 2026.
Year 12 Practice Exams
All Year 12 VCE students and Year 11 students studying a Unit 3-4 subject had the opportunity to sit a practice exam in each of their subject areas in the second week of their term 3 holidays.
Students were provided with an authentic exam experience. The purpose of the practice exams was to support the revision process; help build student confidence and maximise their performance. The practice exams are an effective way to develop a revision strategy for the final exams which begin towards the end of October, and to learn how to communicate knowledge to the examiner in an appropriate way.
Year 12 exams commenced on Tuesday 28th October 2025 with the first exam being English. I and the rest of the staff wish them all the luck in the world.
China Tour
Last term 20 students and 4 teachers had the amazing opportunity to participate in the China Cultural Tour and Sister School Visit for 14 days. The tour provided students and staff with rich educational opportunities that aligned with our school’s values of Aspiring to Achieve, Strengthen the Community and Respect Ourselves and Others. Through visits to key historical and cultural sites such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Nanjing Confucius Temple, students were able to extend their classroom learning, develop cultural awareness, and reflect on China’s global significance. Engagements such as the Hutong family visit and local market tours further deepened students’ understanding of everyday life in China.
A central highlight was the immersion program at our sister school in Yangzhou, where students participated in joint cultural activities, language learning, and formal exchanges. This strengthened the partnership between the schools while giving students authentic opportunities to apply their Chinese language skills, exemplified by our student representative Elisa Notario delivering her speech in Chinese at the Jiangsu-Victoria Welcome Ceremony.
The trip also allowed for engagement between teachers from VUSC and our sister school to share commonalities between our educational systems and pedagogical practices, as well as understand the differences between our two schools.
Overall, the trip was an experience that enhanced student confidence, cultural competence, and international connections. It delivered clear educational value by fostering skills in communication, resilience, and respect for cultural diversity, while reinforcing our school’s commitment to meaningful international partnerships.
Brisbane 2026 Music Tour – VUSC Honours Band
The VUSC Honours Band will travel to Brisbane at the end of Term 1 next year to compete at the Australian National Band Championships on Thursday 2nd April and Friday 3rd April 2026.
40 students from Year 7-11 and 4 music staff will be taking part with nine students entering also as Soloists and 2-3 small Ensembles competing in the Quartets and Quintets. The group will also enjoy a fantastic day out at Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast as part of their trip! We wish them all the best in the Championships and look forward to hearing about their experiences.
VUSC Honours Band at Federation Square
Our VUSC Honours Band have been invited to perform at Federation Square (across from Flinders St Station) on Sunday 30th November at 12pm as part of a massive Music Festival. VUSC is the only school band to gain a place and will have 30 minutes on stage!!
Congratulations to our amazing Music Leader, Robert Breen, and Honours Band students. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Year 12 Celebration Day
Our Year 12 Celebration Day on Wednesday October 22nd was an event was filled with joy, laughter and wonderful memories, all made possible by our incredible students.
I would like to commend our Year 12 students for their exemplary behaviour during the festivities. They not only showcased their fabulous costumes but also displayed respect and camaraderie throughout the day. It was heartwarming to witness them celebrating this significant milestone together with our staff.
I am incredibly proud of their efforts and the positive spirit they brought to the event. This celebration marks an important moment in their lives, and it's wonderful to see them making lasting memories as they transition into the next phase of their journeys.
I would like to thank parents and guardians for your continued support, which has played a vital role in shaping these outstanding young individuals. We look forward to seeing all the amazing things they will accomplish in the future!
Class Of 2025
Congratulations to our Year 12 VCE & VCE VM Class of 2025, we wish you all the best for your upcoming exams and placements and look forward to hearing about your accomplishments beyond school. Each of you will forever be part of our Victoria University Secondary College family and we hope to see many of you return to visit.
Congratulations
A huge congratulations to Year 7 student Rian Kumar on winning a Gold Medal at the Muay Thai World Championship, which was held in Abu Dhabi in September!
Although this was Rian's inaugural participation in the Australian team, his performance was outstanding and he faced formidable opponents from all corners of the globe. This was a highly beneficial experience for Rian on the world stage, although he unfortunately fell in the quarter-finals. However, he was able to secure a gold medal in the Muay Talay category!
Well done Rian, we are super proud of you!
Celebrating World Teachers’ Day – 31st October
On Friday 31st October, we celebrate World Teachers’ Day—a special occasion to recognise the incredible dedication, passion and care our teachers bring to Victoria University Secondary College every single day.
Teachers do so much more than deliver lessons. They inspire curiosity, nurture resilience, and help shape the values and confidence of our young people. Whether it’s guiding students through complex subjects, offering a listening ear, or cheering them on from the sidelines, our teachers are at the heart of everything we do.
We invite you to join us in thanking our teachers for the positive impact they’ve had—not just on academic outcomes, but on the lives of our students. A kind word, a note of appreciation, or even a smile in the hallway can go a long way.
To all our teachers: thank you for your tireless efforts, your patience, and your unwavering belief in every student’s potential. You are truly appreciated.
Important Update: Social Media Age Restrictions for Students Under 16
We’d like to inform you about upcoming changes to social media access for children under 16, which will come into effect across Australia from 10 December 2025. These changes are designed to support the wellbeing and development of young people by giving them more time to build maturity and essential life skills before engaging fully with social media platforms.
What’s Changing? From this date, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube will no longer allow children under 16 to create or maintain accounts. However, students will still be able to view publicly available content that doesn’t require logging in.
What This Means for Schools and Families:
- Schools may need to explore alternative ways to communicate with students and families who previously relied on social media.
- Educational platforms like Google Classroom and YouTube Kids are not affected by these restrictions.
- Teachers can continue sharing YouTube videos that are publicly accessible without login.
For guidance on how educators may use their own accounts to share age-appropriate materials, we’ll be referring to sector policies and procedures.
Why These Changes Are Being Made: The decision is based on growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s health and wellbeing. Features like constant notifications, disappearing content, and algorithm-driven feeds can lead to increased stress, reduced sleep, and difficulty concentrating. There are also risks of exposure to harmful content and conduct, including cyberbullying and inappropriate material.
Support and Resources:
The eSafety Commissioner has launched a dedicated hub to help schools, families, and students prepare for these changes. It includes answers to frequently asked questions such as:
- What happens if a student under 16 is found using a restricted account?
- How should schools respond to incidents involving underage access?
What support is available for families navigating these changes?
We encourage you to visit the eSafety hub for more information and to stay informed as we work together to support our students’ safety and wellbeing online.
Graduation and Presentation Evening - Save the date
Our annual Graduation and Presentation Evening will be held on Wednesday 17th December at 6.30pm at Lakeside Banquet and Convention Centre, Taylors Lakes. On this evening our Year 12 students will celebrate their graduation, and awards and scholarships will be presented to students across the college. Parents/guardians will be notified if their child will be receiving an award or scholarship. We look forward to celebrating our students' amazing achievements with our school community on this special evening.
Enjoy the rest of the term,
Elaine Hazim
College Principal
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Child Safety at VUSC
Victoria University Secondary College is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe.
Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety Code of Conduct
- Child Safe Standards Risk Register
- Child safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure
All of our policies are available on our school website here. As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at VUSC, we welcome and encourage your feedback.