07 Sep Let’s Chat about Education: VicLLENs launches vicllens.chat to capture the community voices on Senior Secondary Reforms

Posted at 10:59h in Victoria by

The Victorian Government is currently consulting on a series of proposed changes to our education system. We want to encourage everyone - students, parents, community members, educators and industry - to have their voices heard.

What are the reforms?

The Victorian Government is currently proposing a series of changes be made to our statewide senior education system, including the following:

  • VCAL into VCE
    VCAL will be replaced with a vocational specialisation within VCE
  • VET in all Schools
    Vocational Education and Training (VET) will be available to every senior secondary student.
  • Foundation Pathways Certificate For students with additional needs and students re-engaging with education, a Foundation Pathways Certificate will be available.
"These reforms will aim to provide every senior secondary student with access to high-quality vocational and applied learning by moving to an integrated senior secondary certificate, with vocational education embedded in the VCE."
—VCAA

Why did these reforms come about?

In November 2019, The Victorian Government commissioned a review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling called the Firth Review. The review found that reforms need to be made to our education system to ensure that vocational education is “highly regarded, relevant to the needs of students and employers, and available to all.”

The government is now proposing a series of reforms to raise the status of vocational education and encourage parents, students and the wider community to consider vocational pathways as a valid and viable alternative to academic options.

The review recommended that vocational education be embedded into VCE “enabling students to mix general and vocational education, gain qualifications for all types of employment, and develop specific technical skills they most need for success in work”

Who do we want to hear from?

  • Students
    With these reforms coming into place in 2023, you might be impacted in your senior years! Now is your chance to tell the government about what kind of things you would like to change and what should stay the same. If you’re about to leave school, you can shape the future for your peers in the year levels immediately below you. If you’ve just been through our senior secondary education system, then you know better than anyone what this experience is like through the eyes of a student. It’s your chance to have a say and influence the kind of change in the system you’d like to see.
  • Parents and Carers
    As someone who has an intricate understanding of a student’s needs, ambitions, goals, shortcomings and strengths, we’d love to hear from you about how you feel your child can be best supported by the education system. An improved education system maximises your child’s chances of having a positive experience as they enter the workforce. If your child has already been through the system, then you have the chance to pay it forward to the many children who will follow. Tell us, in what ways do you wish your child was supported during their senior years?
  • Teachers, Principals and Educators
    As an educator, you’re someone who has experienced the education system firsthand. You’ve witnessed it’s strengths, shortcomings and untapped potential. Tell us what your students need and why they need it.
  • Employers and Industry
    As an employer, you know what you’re looking for in a potential employee. This is your chance to shape the future workforce and make sure that young people are developing more of the types of skills that get the job done.

Why does your voice matter?

There are several ways that your voice will make a difference. Sharing your opinion could:

  • Help students become more equipped and ready for the world of work
  • Address disadvantage and ensure everyone gets an equal chance
  • Shape the future workforce to meet workforce demands
  • Ensure the skills you’re looking for in future employees can be developed during high school

How can I participate?

Simply head to vicllens.chat on whatever browser you’re using (Chrome is recommended, but not essential). Once you arrive, you’ll be prompted to participate in a 5-minute video Q&A.

Are you camera shy? You don’t need to be! These submissions don’t (at all!) have to be perfect – just focus on telling it ‘like it is’. You could even imagine you’re having a conversation with the webcam. Also, you’ll have an opportunity to do a ‘practice session’ before recording.

Video submissions, in all their authenticity and efficiency, are a powerful way for us to send a message about what students really need.

Click here to visit vicllens.chat and speak up about what is important to you!

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