VCAL News

It has been a busy year for VCAL students at Epping Secondary College. The return to full time, onsite classes has enabled students to enjoy the ‘hands on’ learning atmosphere VCAL courses encourage. VCAL provides students the opportunity to gain the necessary skills and competencies required for transition into further study and training, work based qualifications and the workforce, through the study of the four core subjects, Literacy, Numeracy, Work Related Skills and Personal Development. The electives, extra curricula activities, VET courses and structured work placements students engage in provide them with experiences that foster the growth of their interpersonal skills and the confidence to try new things and develop the attributes of resilient young people who view themselves as lifelong learners. At Epping Secondary College, we encourage students to view themselves as ‘works in progress’ and foster the belief that all of their efforts, experiences and ideas matter, in that they contribute to their personal, academic and social development. We aim to have each student leave the VCAL program feeling empowered and aware of the breadth of choices available to them if they are prepared to do their best to make realise their aspirations.

This year students have been involved in a number of wonderful experiences reflecting our vision for them at Epping Secondary College. Some of these experiences include. 

• Volunteering weekly at the Melbourne Polytechnic Whittlesea Food Collective.
• Urban Harvest Project at Greenbrook Community House.
• Fundraising and Food Collection drives for local charities. 
• Designing and initiating an Indigenous Garden in consultation with local Aboriginal elders.
• Mentoring younger students at Epping Secondary College through the ‘Buddy Program.’
• Working with local volunteers at the Lalor Men’s Shed to craft projects for the local community.
• Volunteering at St Vinnie’s South Morang (Certificate 2 Community Services Students)
• The clean up and initiation of the VCAL garden and community space in the area behind the gym.
• The Big Umbrella experience.
• Visits to Universities and TAFES to discover courses available to them post-secondary school.
• Many students working regularly with local employers through our Structured Work Placement program to gain the industry knowledge and experience that will allow them to make informed career and study choices in the future.
• We will also be purchasing a Coffee Cart to facilitate the Coffee Hub project VCAL will introduce which includes Barista training for interested students from VCAL.

As VCAL moves toward becoming the new VCE Vocational Major Certificate and the Vocational Pathways Certificate, we look forward to embracing the exciting new challenges this new era of education brings.