Applied Learning News

The Joseph Centre

Our Careers Adviser, Mrs Elena Flodstrom, and Applied Learning staff and students are very excited to have a new purpose-built area. With an Official Opening only weeks away, all students are welcome to come across to find out about Applied Learning as a senior pathway, access information about tertiary courses and careers. The entrance and foyer area will become a hub of student activity for those accessing information or attending an appointment about work experience employment opportunities or tertiary courses.

Open plan in its design, the Joseph Centre  (Patron Saint of Workers) provides three formal classrooms with state of the Art Technology. A smaller room provides a space for group work and meetings. The Hospitality Area will be shared with Parents' Association and the Learning Enhancement Department to teach cooking skills and produce goods for fundraising and special events. This area complements the great facilities available in the Food Technology Department. For many years there has been great student interest in the Hair & Beauty Industry. The Joseph Centre provides a wonderful learning area for these creative personal services and a small business will be developed here by students.

The Leap Program - a taste of Applied Learning in Year 10

Applied Learning is a Pathway Option in Senior School. It commences in Year 10 with the LEAP Program, where students undertake a VET course as part of their Year 10 Program. This allows students to investigate industry pathways and experience the independent learning environment of TAFE. Currently we have 10 students enrolled in LEAP. They are also undertaking an Academic Year 10 Program alongside their peers, but have the added bonus of learning in the TAFE sector as well. Their initiative, leadership and teamwork skills are also being strengthened through their Community Action Elective with Mr Jason Kam. This year, our Year 10 LEAP Students have selected VET Courses in Media, Beauty, Electrical, Building & Construction and Sport & Recreation. It has been fabulous to listen to these students talk so animatedly about their TAFE VET experiences so far. Certainly, Holmesglen and Chisholm Institute have welcomed our LEAP Students very warmly.

VCAL at Nazareth – What does it involve?

In Year 11 and 12 Nazareth offers the VCAL Program as an alternative to VCE. This program attracts students who are keen to pursue their education through the TAFE pathway or enter the workforce directly at the end of Year 12. In VCAL 2017 we have 29 students happily enrolled. VCAL students attend school 3 days a week to continue to build their Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development and work related Skills. Their one day a week in the workplace provides opportunities to put in to practice what they are learning at school and through their one day a week at TAFE. VET Courses are available in a wide range of interest areas. There is certainly something to suit everyone! In 2017, our VCAL students are studying VET Certificates through SAGE Institute, Goodstart Early Learning, Chisholm Institute, Holmesglen, Dandenong High School, Hallam Secondary and Upwey High.

VCAL - Active Citizenship - How can we assist others in our community?

VCAL students are not only work-ready, they also come away from the VCAL program with vast experiences of active citizenship. The LEAP and VCAL students work very closely to support the College’s Maintenance Department, Parents' Association, our Feeder Primary Schools and with outside organisations in our local community. Certainly a highlight of Nazareth’s VCAL program is our close association with SCOPE Victoria. This partnership sees students support a weekly wheelchair competitive sport for people who live life with disabilities (the Balloon Football League – Junior and Senior Leagues). Learn more about this amazing game by watching this clip.

 VCAL students also run a fortnightly Men’s Shed Activity in conjunction with the Wood Technology Department. This partnership with SCOPE Lifestyle Options Chelsea Thames Promenade is beneficial for all involved. VCAL students continue to excel in these important areas of outreach and are proud to be part of inclusive activities that welcome all members of the community.

Structured Work placement Learning - We need your help

Nazareth’s VCAL Program places an expectation upon students to acquire and attend Structured Work Placement (SWL) in their VET industry area one day a week. A new State Government Regulation for 2017 stipulates that students may only complete a maximum number of 20 days in SWL with the one employer. This means that all of our students must change employer at least once during the course of the year. Finding an employer is quite a task for students.

SWL is an invaluable part of the transition students make from an academic pathway to VCAL, and again from VCAL onto full-time employment and/or future study through the TAFE system. There is no better way to learn about a career pathway than regularly working in that field.

We currently require businesses to take on a VCAL student one day a week (Wednesday or Friday depending on the student’s TAFE VET training day.)  Local places of employment are preferable, however our students are prepared to travel on public transport to their SWL.

Do you love your job and wish to encourage the next generation to consider this career?

Could you or a fellow employee mentor a VCAL student?

Would you be able to offer structured work placement for a duration of 6 – 10 days (once a week) if 20 days over a semester is too much of a commitment?

SWL Placements are required in:

• Beauty & Hairdressing
• Beauty & Retail
• Electrical
• IT & Small Business
• IT & Retail
• Sport & Recreation
• Automotive- Mechanics
• Hospitality
• Media & IT
• Music Industry Performance, Retail or Education
• Music Industry – Sound & Audio

The State Government has produced a very informative brochure on SWL. Follow the link to find out more. Our students will enter the SWL with a sound understanding of OH & S and a willingness to give all allocated tasks their full effort. SWL students are covered by the College’s Workcover. Employers (other than Not For Profit Organisations) are only asked to pay SWL students $5 a day). Certainly we have had some generous employers in past years who wished to acknowledge the hard work of their SWL and in many instances, they have offered ongoing employment at the conclusion of Year 12.

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/training/employers/workforce/wltstructwplearn.pdf

Please contact mackc@nazareth.vic.edu.au if you would like to know more about SWL.

Ms Caitlin Mackay

Applied Learning Coordinator

The Joseph Centre - a student perspective

We are very excited about moving in and having our lessons in the new Joseph Centre. We are hoping to use the outside Horticulture Area to establish a Kitchen Garden. The idea of a kitchen garden and a beautiful brand new kitchen as part of our new facilities gave rise to a business idea called ‘Dinners for Winners’ where we will be using only the freshest ingredients to make the finest dinners.

Therefore, during the first three weeks of school, we have been working on a developing a Business Plan, writing a proposal, researching when different vegetables grow. Using the new garden that is part of the Joseph Centre, we will plant our own vegetables depending on the season.

Our aim is to provide our community with fresh and affordable dinners for the nights where you just can’t be bothered cooking. While waiting for the A-Okay from our School’s Executive Team we have researched many different recipes to satisfy everyone’s appetites. We are aiming to make sure that the community will  also benefit from this venture by having few spare dinners for those in need. We hope that everyone supports our new business idea, but right now we are drafting a proposal  that we hope ticks all the boxes!

Year 11 VCAL 2017