Faculty News
VCAL/VET
Senior VCAL has moved onto the great title of a ‘Year 12 Pass’ and promotion to “Old Boy” status. An ever-increasing rank of past students. They have successfully completed Year 12, in excess of two Certificate II VET courses (recognised nationally) a Construction Induction Card (White Card) a level II First Aid with CPR and a minimum of eighty day’s Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) in their chosen vocation. All students have transitioned into a trade, traineeship or pleasingly, further study at TAFE, a bridging course at a University or higher TAFE qualifications such as an Advanced Diploma.
Both year 12 and year 11 students in VCAL deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
Students availed themselves of a level of maturity not often seen at high school and through their hard work, enjoyed the reward of further progression. Parents I’m sure can now appreciate that all of their hard work of pushing, waking, dressing, ironing, endless lunches, uniform checks, hair cut’s, early TAFE starts and earlier work placements, some at 5am, have paid off!
This week I met the 2021 Year 11 VCAL cohort as a group face to face. We spent two periods discussing how VCAL works, blocks (subjects) that will be studied, the importance of Learning Outcomes (LO), TAFE and the most important one, Work Placement and how to get a Work Placement. This can be the most stressful part of joining VCAL for both students and parents. Students are now armed with the tools to seek out a prospective employer, look for a placement and create an excel spreadsheet of prospective employers and their details. We also discussed SEMMA, South Eastern Manufacturing Alliance, who champion the cause of manufacturing and all other associated service providers such as electrical, plumbing etc. This is a very powerful tool for students to be aware of when seeking Work Placement. We also looked at the SWL Portal, a state government online work place provider and Australian Apprenticeship Centre’s (ACC’s) that may offer assistance as well.
I can also happily report that 99.9% of VCAL and VET students have been accepted into their TAFE course. Students may be asked to complete an online course confirmation form, so keep an eye on your emails. More information to follow in mid-January about this.
Box Hill and Swinburne TAFE students have already received confirmation. Holmesglen and Chisholm will follow over December and January. VCAL parents, feel free to email me with any concerns regarding this. I’ll be monitoring my emails over the Christmas break.
For Year 11 VCAL 2021 parents and students we will be hosting a face to face VCAL Parent Information Evening at the college, to be held in the lecture theatre, this coming Monday 7th December at 7pm. Come along with an open mind and a list of questions. Mr Tony Coghlan (Principal), Ms Anastasia Skourides (Year 11 Coordinator) and yours truly will be there. Come along and get the complete low down of how next year’s VCAL will work, plus work placements and TAFE etc.
Finally, in closing, I’d like to acknowledge and thank the tireless efforts of both VCAL and VET staff, administration and finally you, the parents, for your support and commitment in (what I promised I wouldn’t use, but will sneak one in) - an ‘unprecedented’ year. Feel free to email or call me to discuss any VCAL matter big or small. We are here to help.
May God bless you all and please ensure you have a safe, wonderful, restful and enjoyable Christmas. Our founder St Eugene De Mazenod couldn’t have wished for a more successful outcome.
Mr Leigh Harris
VCAL/VET