Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning 2018

Welcome Warringa Park School provides a VCAL program which enables students to access local and city based Vocation Educational Training and opportunities at TAFEs and Community Organisations. The VCAL hub is based at The Grange Bethany Road Campus.

Students are supported to become independent in their travels when on public transport. Depending upon their individual timetables, students also travel to a variety of outsourced programs volunteer and work experience placements by public transport.

Warringa VCAL Vision

To prepare young people with additional needs for a successful future beyond school

Overview Students enrolled in the two year VCAL Program at Warringa Park School will gain practical experience and develop employability skills as they work through the Foundation Level units and modules in the following strands:

Literacy

Reading, Writing, Oracy

Numeracy

Work related skills

Industry specific skills

Personal development

Students must complete 1000 hours over two years to gain their VCAL Certificate at the Foundation level.

Successful completion of Literacy, Numeracy, Work Related Skills and Personal Development Skills will give students 7 credits toward their VCAL Certificate.

In addition to the compulsory strands listed above, students are required to complete 300 hours and three credits in a Vocational Education and Training (VET) unit or units.

Curriculum

Literacy Students will have two years to meet the learning outcomes within the literacy strand. In addition to formal literacy lessons, students will use and apply their literacy skills in many of their other programs. In Year 12 students will have an additional literacy block for careers post-school options planning including:

Reading

Writing

Oracy (speaking and listening)

Numeracy Students will have two years to meet the learning outcomes within the numeracy strand. In addition to formal numeracy lessons, students will use and apply their numeracy skills in many other programs including:

Numeracy for practical purposes, design, measurement,

Numeracy for personal organization, money, time, location,

Numeracy for interpreting society, data and numerical information

Industry Specific Skills

The VCAL program will include components of nationally recognised VET programs. Students will choose to complete various modules or units from a range of VET certificates to meet their VCAL requirements. In addition to gaining practical experience in a professional setting, VET experiences are a valuable addition to a student’s resume.

Work Related Skills

In order to develop employability skills, VCAL can provide students with the opportunity to undertake a structured work placement, part time apprenticeship/traineeship, or part time work. Students will also study units and modules invaluable to the workplace such as safe@work - an Occupational Health and Safety program developed by the DET.

Personal Development Skills

As part of the VCAL program students will participate in projects and activities, both in school and in the Community. Projects and activities are designed to help students develop skills in a number of areas such as: Self management, Teamwork, Inter-personal relationships and Self confidence, Sport, Recreation, Planning excursions and camps. Volunteering within the community can all be used to gain credit towards Work Related Skills and Personal Development Modules.

VET and TAFE programs

Students will be given the opportunity to participate in the following:

Transition day or days at VCAL

Careers Expo and information evening

Have a Career Action Plan

Indicate their program preferences for VET/TAFE

Student preferences will be accommodated where possible. As VCAL is a two year program,

we encourage students to enrol in a variety of TAFE and VET programs over the two years to

assist them to complete their VCAL certificate. This provides them with skills for future work

options.

VET/TAFE programs are taught by certified

trainers in a variety of locations around the

city by third party organizations; students

are supported in these programs by VCAL

staff.

Students are expected to commit to any

enrolled VET program until completion. The

minimum attendance requirement for a

student to be granted course credit is 80%.

Medical certificates are required to support

student absences. Students who miss more

than 20% of their programs are

at risk of receiving Not yet

competent result.

Any changes to VET programs

may only be accommodated

after an interview process with

the VCAL co-ordinator, student

and the parent has occurred.

Career and Post Education Planning

All students develop a Career Action Plan

together with teachers and parents. The Career

Action Plan is a departmental document designed

to help students identify their goals and potential

pathways. The Career Action Plan will be

discussed and reviewed with both students and

their guardians throughout the year.

Year 12 students and their parents/guardians will

work closely with the Careers Coordinator to

guide families through the process of planning

and applying for post school options. Parents and

guardians will be offered the opportunity to attend

information evenings,visit potential post school

organizations, and be assisted by the VCAL staff

to complete the transition process.

VET Programs on Offer

VET programs are part of a two year Industry Specific Area of the VCAL program. Students

need a minimum of 300 hours in a range of VET courses at Certificate II Level to be eligible

to gain their VCAL certificate.

Certificate II Hospitality/Kitchen Operations (partial completion)

Interaction with customers

Organise and prepare food

Present food

Receive and store kitchen appliances

Clean and maintain kitchen premises

Use basic cookery measures

Develop and update hospitality industry knowledge

Follow health, safety and security procedures

Follow workplace hygiene procedures

Certificate II Horticulture (partial completion)

Follow occupational health and safety procedures

Observe environmental work practices

Work effectively in the industry

Participate in workplace communication

Certificate II Salon Assistant and Retail Cosmetics (partial completion)

Communication in the workplace

Apply safe working practices

Apply temporary hair colour and remove products

Prepare clients for salon services

Maintain tools and equipment

Other Programs which may be offered include:

Media, Automotive, Bicycle Mechanics and Sport and Recreation. All at Certificate II level.

School based Apprenticeships/Traineeship:- Warehousing/Food Processing and

Horticulture

VCAL Assessment

A VCAL unit contains accredited learning outcomes that are generic and enable content to be

developed to suit the individual needs of students. For example, PDS Unit 1: Plan and

organise a simple activity.

VCAL learning outcomes are written as Units of competency.

Competency

Students should be observed to demonstrated competence on one or more occasion and

wherever possible in different contexts to make sure they assessment is consistent, fair, valid

and reliable.

Evidence

Direct—observation, video or product

Indirect—simulation, role play, case study analysis

Supplementary—written or oral questions, feedback from a third party

Portfolio of Evidence

This contains evidence of the student’s own work that demonstrates successful

complementation of the learning programs. It can include:

Teacher observation

Student self assessment

Journals

Oral presentations

Digital presentations

Video/radio podcasts

Action plans

Timetables

Photo logs

Emails

Written materials

Diaries

iPad applications

Workplace references

Workplace Learning

At Warringa Park VCAL, workplace learning is an invaluable part of our programming. Work

placements offer students a taste of working life and the opportunity to better understand a

particular industry. Work experience as part of the VCAL journey also provides students with the

chance to practice being part of a team, engage in appropriate communication, demonstrate

punctuality, reliability and trust and to build a good work ethic. This then provides work-readiness

skills for future employment.

The skills don’t just come from a classroom but from doing and putting into practice what has

been learned in other areas of the integrated curriculum.

Occupational Health and Safety

All students complete “A Job Well Done” program which is the minimum OHS requirement for

student with a disability. This program has been developed with the Victorian Department of

Education and Training for secondary school students with disabilities or impairments

undertaking work experience.

Placements

The VCAL Work Experience coordinator ensures that the workplaces are safe, is supportive of

students at the workplace, and documents student progress. All students are required to

complete a work placement in both Year 11 and Year 12.

While our co-ordinator has established relationships with businesses in the local community, we

encourage students and their families to seek out work placement opportunities. For example,

we have had students undertake placements in the businesses of parents and family friends.

Year 11 students can attend a minimum of one workplace, one day per week from Term 2. Year

12 students can attend two or more days a week, at more than one work place depending upon

their TAFE/VET programs and

academic commitments.

Valuable employability skills are

obtained through work

experience. Contacts are made

and relationships with employers

formed. Student options for post

school employment are

expanded.

Student Expectations

Attend all programs regularly, provide medical certificates in the case of illness and notify

of any intended absences

Be punctual

Travel Safely

Be respectful of others

Work well in a team

Wear school uniform when on campus or as required

Wear PPE (personal protective equipment) as required

Bring your fully charged iPad to school everyday.

Use iPads and phone in a safe and appropriate manner—cyberbullying will not be

tolerated

Turn mobile phone off at school or place in locker

Commit to your learning

Carry concession card with you at all times

Finances

All students in VCAL are eligible to apply for a MYKI student concession yearly travel pass.

This pass is provided at no cost to you by the DET. Students have the responsibility to get two

passport photos for a student concession card at their own cost.

When using public transport your child must remember to carry their own student concession

card at all times and produce it when requested. Replacement of any lost or damaged cards

are the responsibility of parents and students.

For further information visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Uniform

It is compulsory for students to wear the Warringa Park VCAL school uniform.

The VCAL uniform consists of:

Light blue chambray business shirt with logo

Black business pants

Black school shoes

Black soft shell bomber jacket

Black business knee length shorts

The VCAL sport uniform consists of:

Navy blue and white light weight sports top with logo

Navy blue light weight sports shorts with logo

Navy blue sports pants with logo

Running/sports shoes

The VCAL uniform also includes:

Navy blue all weather spray jacket with logo

Some workplaces, VET and TAFE programs require specialised clothing such as safety boots,

eye protection, hi-visibility shirts or vests. Students will also be advised of any special

requirements for their programs at the start of the school year..

Uniform is obtained from:

Rushfords Schoolwear

Address:

1/13 Barnes Place

Werribee

Trading hours:

Monday to Friday

9am - 5:30pm

Saturday 9am -1pm

Phone: 9741 3211

Black business pants are

also available at various

retailers.

Travelling/Independent Travel

Students in the VCAL program will be expected to work towards becoming independent

travellers. This competency is an important skill in preparing and supporting students

transitioning to their post school pathway.

Travel Criteria

Some students may already have experience travelling independently when they enter the

VCAL program. Due to the challenges of city travel, all students are required to meet the VCAL

travel criteria prior to obtaining independent travel status.

Staff will observe and assess students against the Travel Education Checklist. Students are

required to demonstrate safe travel practices in addition to problem solving skills. When staff

assess these students as competent, parents will be invited to sign off a travel form which

enables their child to independently travel to and from off campus programs as required.

Students may still wish to travel with other students and this is always encouraged.

Travel Safety

Follow road laws, and the laws of the public transport system

Can manage transport delays, cancellations, etc.

Always travel with a validated ticket and concession card

Have signed parent permission to travel independently

Have your mobile phone switched on and with available credit

Only use ear pieces when seated on transport NOT when walking

Special Activities

Camp

Camps are an important part of the personal development

unit of study. Students are encouraged to participate in all

camps that are on offer over the two year that they are in

VCAL.

End of Year Celebration

Year 12 students, friends and families are invited to an end

year Graduation Celebration in December. This is a special

event to celebrate student achievements, award certificates, and create memories.

Warringa Park School

81 Warringa Cres

Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029

PH: (03) 9749 5774

Email: warringa.park.sch@edumail.vic.gov.au

www.warringapark.vic.edu.au

Our VCAL Vision

To prepare young people with additional needs for a successful

future beyond school.

Our Values

Respect

Learning

Working Together