VCAL/FLO

Main-FM Radio

As part of the FRRR (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal) funded ‘Community Connect’ Project, selected VCAL/FLO students are learning from Louise Olsen, the skills of putting together a radio show.

Two groups of 3 students (Jesse, Teegan, Tiffany,and  Ben, Corey, Jake) spent an hour pre-recording their favourite music with intros and outro’s, and general radio chit-chat as part of Louise’s show on a Saturday.

Students are enjoying the different learning environment and are keen to develop skills where they go into the studio and produce their own radio shows independently.

Click on link to go to the ABC story - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-22/disengaged-students-learn-though-radio-program/10018246

MAAW Pet Food Drive

One of the appealing things about the VCAL Framework is the ability to integrate a number of different outcomes in one complex activity.

During the month of August FLO/VCAL are thrilled to be collaborating with local charity HALT to collect pet food to donate to Mt. Alexander Animal Welfare Shelter.

The concept is simple. There will be collection points throughout the month of August at Maine Hardware in Campells Creek, Maxi IGA in Mostyn St Castlemaine and The Harcourt Servo. People are asked to buy a tin of pet food and drop them into collection bins.

The VCAL Personal Development has a number of outcomes including developing community projects, examining types of leadership, working as a team, and making a civic contribution. This one project ticks all those outcomes.

By collaborating with HALT students will work with community leader Jeremy Forbes. Jeremy grew up in Castlemaine, worked as a painter and decorator, and in 2013 co-founded HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) as a way of promoting mental health and suicide prevention among the tradie community.

By creating a passion, and utilising his time and effort Jeremy has achieved a lot in a short time. He has received a Westpak Scholarship for overseas travel, and recently delivered a TED Talk that in a matter of weeks has had 821,000 views around the world.

Hopefully, by working with HALT, students will learn that anyone can achieve remarkable things though effort and persistence.

TAFE EXPERIENCE DAYS

I love the TAFE experience days!

VCAL & FLO students visited Bendigo TAFE on the last week of term 2 where students selected three workshops to participate in over the course of the day.

At the City Campus students gain insight into courses on Childcare, Nursing, Business Studies, Computing, Allied Health and Hospitality, while the Charleston Rd Campus with its trade focus saw students select workshops from Carpentry, Electrical, Air Condition maintenance, Automotive, Engineering, Painting & Decorating, Horticulture, Environmental Science and Lab Technician.`

There is always plenty of chatter on the bus trip home and students are keen to complete their resumes and apply for work experience in areas they have been inspired by.

In the next newsletter issue we will focus on some of the various work experience placements students have done so far this year.

Steve Carroll

VCAL