Last week the Year 12 VM class spent three days in Melbourne on camp. The purpose of this trip was to equip the students with skills for life after school. The staff members, Mrs Op’t Hoog and Mr Leschke, allowed the students to take control of getting from activity to activity to demonstrate their navigation skills, their use of Public Transport Victoria and

communication skills to allow their peers to trust where they were going.

As the group was quite small, movement around the city was simple and cooperation was witnessed from start to finish of the time away. The students participated in all activities with gusto, enthusiasm and interest.

On the first day, we participated in a scavenger hunt, finding several union based sites around Melbourne. We have learnt in Work Related skills about the Union Movement in Australia, and how they support workers. We found walking to each of the sites was just as quick as taking public transport. The Public Transport Victoria app and Google Maps helped us to work out which mode of transport to use.

The Salvation Army Homelessness Tour was next on our agenda. We had a talk with a volunteer named Bron, who informed us about The Salvation Army programs and support, addressing community support and social issues. She mainly focused on helping vulnerable individuals who are at a disadvantage in these areas; Homelessness, Poverty, Mental Health, Family and Domestic Violence. At some point in the talk, we were split into groups, given a scenario where we had to discuss “why” and “how” did Australians get into the position they are in now, and if it was by choice. We discovered that there's many more reasons to being homeless than just being financially unstable and ill.

Halfway through the talk we took a walk to the Fitzroy Gardens, picturing ourselves as a person who was homeless to complete an activity. We had $50 to spend for the 24 hours, with options on what we would spend that money on. This would include accommodation, toiletries, and food. We all discovered that there are many difficult decisions to make on a daily basis if one does not have the stability of a home and a loving family.

On Tuesday we went to the Magistrate's Court to watch cases that were presented. We split up into groups and went into a variety of courtroom to watch cases. We watched multiple cases, one of the cases that stuck out to me was a 30-year-old man who was getting charged with 192 counts of assault. We were sitting in the back, and we saw the man in the holding block with three officers who were wearing gloves, goggles and masks. The man who committed the crimes had serious mental health problems like schizophrenia and drug use. When the judge read out the offences, the accused started crying, swearing and spitting at the officers. I felt bad for the man because he was emotional and he obviously needed to get help. The man had a year when he stopped offending, and when asked by the judge why he started offending again, he said he just got into the wrong crowd and starting using drugs again. I also felt bad for the victims that he hurt - like a woman he stabbed 14 times with scissors. Overall, I enjoyed going to the Magistrate's Court because it made me gain a better perspective about the Australian justice system and what they can do to support people with mental health problems.

When we first arrived in Melbourne, we made our way to our accommodation, which was called The Little Drifter on Franklin. We all felt a bit worried about the accommodation as we found out after we got there it was shared living. None of us had experienced this before. We had 4 bunks in our room between Max, Imran & myself and a small bathroom. However, after unpacking we started to settle in and came to really appreciate the room and its features. Everyone there was just there to stay for their time in Australia, as most of the people were traveling from overseas. There was a lot of character in that building (such as the broken elevator with duct tape for walls and some of the residents). The rooms were tidy and the bathroom was very cozy.

The “Alfie” restaurant on the ground floor was a new experience, especially during pub crawl on Saint Paddy's day. As we were underage, we were not allowed in there, but we had a view of many people having a great time. The social space on the ground floor was very busy. Many tenants studied, ate and played pool there. Overall, it was a very different way to spend our nights in Melbourne, but nonetheless, a cozy place to stay and navigate the CBD from for those three days. I would do it again any day.

On the first night of camp, we went to an escape room and were split into groups of two. Everyone was excited, but also a bit nervous because it was a competition, and we only had 30 minutes to escape. The rooms were themed as a prison and an office, which made it feel really intense and realistic. My partner and I were rushing around, trying to solve clues as fast as we could. There were moments where we felt stuck and stressed, but we were also really determined not to lose. When we finally figured out some of the puzzles, it felt so satisfying and exciting. Even though the pressure was on, it was honestly really fun and something we will remember for a long time.

After the escape room, we all went to a really nice ice cream place, called Brunetti. It felt like the perfect way to relax after all the stress. Some ate Dubai chocolate ice cream, which tasted amazing, and others ordered cakes. Everyone was laughing, talking about the escape rooms, and comparing how we did, which made the whole night feel even better.

On the second night, we went on a night time walk across Southbank. The city lights reflected on the water and everything looked really calm and peaceful. This was a nice change from the busy day. It felt good just walking around with everyone, talking and enjoying the atmosphere. After that, we went on a ferris wheel, which was both exciting and a little scary when we got to the top. The view was incredible, and you could see so much of the city all lit up, which made it feel really special. To finish the night, we got ice cream or cake again, which was honestly the best way to end such a fun and memorable experience.

On the last day of camp, we completed several important hospitality certifications that prepared us for real world work environments. The Barista Course gave us hands on experience in making coffee, including using the coffee machine, the coffee bean grinder, steaming milk, and understanding drink preparation and presentation. We also obtained our Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, where we learned how to serve alcohol safely and responsibly, follow legal requirements, and handle situations involving intoxicated customers.

In addition, we completed a Food Handler’s Certificate, which focused on food safety, hygiene, and proper handling techniques to prevent cross contamination and ensure a clean working environment.

Completing these certifications on camp was a valuable experience, as it combined practical learning with teamwork and real life scenarios, helping us build confidence and essential skills for the hospitality industry.

Overall, the camp was a very rewarding experience, teaching us all many valuable skills for both now and in the future.

Year 12 VM students

VTAC YEAR 12 GUIDE 2026