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• Webinar Series - Applied Learning in the VCE VM and VPC - Place based Projects, Pedagogy and Practise

  • Start
    5 Aug 2025
  •  
    15:00
  • End
    2 Sep 2025
  •  
    16:30
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  
  

  Applied Learning in the VCE VM and VPC -

  Place based Projects, Pedagogy and Practise

  Online webinar series!

  Facilitated by Natalie Purves - Moderated by Helene Rooks

  Tuesday August 5 - 15.00 - 16.30

  Session 1 – Community, Context and Cohort

  Tuesday August 19 - 15.00 - 16.30

  Session 2 – Learning theories and teaching and learning strategies

  Tuesday September 2 - 15.00 - 16.30

  Session 3 – Integration of the studies and assessments

  Join us for an online professional learning and development PD in applied learning in the VCE VM and VPC. This 3 session online format will explore how you and your students can develop projects that are aligned to your community, context and cohort, to teaching and learning strategies that are supported by learning theories that underpin applied learning, and how to integrate across the studies with multiple assessment approaches. Examples will be provided of VCE VM and VPC community projects as you start to develop your own project. This online professional learning is developed to provide you with the tools to successfully implement applied learning in your  classroom. Examples, resources and time will be given to collaborate with other teachers, so you will come away with new ideas and enthusiasm that can be used to engage your students, school and community.

  Note: To make the most of this professional learning, pre and post ‘homework’ will be given, this homework is designed to help guide you in developing an applied learning project using the information from the sessions. 

  Session 1 – Community, Context and Cohort

  In this session the focus will be on understanding your school’s community, context and your VCE VM and/or VPC cohort. We will identify and discuss how yours and your students’ passions, interests and skills can be used to engage students in community projects. Further, the socio-cultural characteristics, community, parents/carers, industries and trades in your community, likely employment, historical background of school. We will draw on your experiences of developing community projects, what worked and didn’t work, as a way of collaborating and problem-solving for future projects. An example of a community project will be provided, that is developed to meet the needs of a school’s community, context and specific cohort, and linked back to the curriculum. This can then be used to develop your own community project, which we will return to in the following sessions. 

  Session 2 – Learning theories and teaching and learning strategies

  In this session a broad overview of the learning theories that underpin applied learning will be discussed, including constructivism, experiential learning, adult learning theory and communities of practice. Following on from this, we will unpack the strategies that come from these learning theories and that can be used in your teaching practice, including group work, reflective journaling, work integrated learning and community partnerships. Using the example and your own community project developed in Session 1, we will explore how these learning theories and strategies can be incorporated into the projects through teaching and learning activities.

  Session 3 – Integration of the studies and assessments

  In this session we will explore how the VCE VM and/or VPC studies can be integrated into a project. Examples will be provided of projects that have incorporated all or some of the studies. You will be provided with an opportunity to collaborate and develop ideas for integration across the studies. Assessment approaches in applied learning will be explored and linked back to the outcomes in the study designs. Further examples of assessment will be provided to show how key knowledge, and key skills can be meet across the study designs. Including how a piece of assessment can be used to meet multiple outcomes. Referring back to the example and your own developing projects from Sessions 1 and 2, assessments will be developed into an integrated project.

  
  

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• 2025 Annual Conference - Celebrating 20 years here for you!

  • When
    8 Aug 2025
  •  
    09:00 - 16:00
  • Location
    The Savoy Hotel Melbourne

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  2025 VALA Annual Conference - Celebrating 20 years here for you!

  Friday August 8 – The Savoy Hotel Melbourne

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Engaging ALL students successfully in mathematics and numeracy

  • When
    22 Aug 2025
  •  
    09:00 - 15:00
  • Location
    The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins Street

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  Engaging ALL students successfully in mathematics and numeracy.

  Dave Tout - ACER & University of Melbourne

  
  

  "Practical applications that I can use immediately"

  "Having valuable discussions with like minded people who are struggling with the same issues affecting me, and having an expert give advice and guidance"
  

  
  

  Masterclass outline:

  In order to support and engage ALL students successfully in mathematics and numeracy learning, teaching needs to move beyond the textbook, worksheets and ‘chalk and talk’ to offer an alternative approach and a chance for all students to succeed in and enjoy mathematics teaching and learning. The information, discussions and hands-on activities in this workshop will look at the essential and crucial role that numeracy plays in the 21st century and will focus on activities that develop and practise a range of core mathematical skills through a wide range of approaches such as games, whole class and small group, cooperative work, as well as on enjoyment and having fun with mathematics. Many of the approaches also support and encourage the use and understanding of mathematical language, which is an important underpinning skill that needs to be explicitly addressed in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Activities also demonstrate how mathematics can be made relevant and more engaging through the use of real-life materials and contexts. 

  
  

  Who should attend?

  This one-day intensive masterclass is suitable for anyone teaching mathematics or numeracy in the middle and upper secondary years, especially in the Victorian Pathways Certificate, VCE Vocational Major, VCE Foundation maths students, alongside teachers and trainers working with disengaged youth and adult and VET learners.

  About your presenter:

  Dave Tout is an experienced adult and youth numeracy and maths educator who is particularly interested in making mathematics relevant, interesting and fun for all students, and is recognised as one of Australia's leading numeracy personnel with over 50 years' experience working across schools, TAFEs, community providers, universities, national education bodies and workplaces. He has worked at a state, national and international level in research, curriculum, assessment and professional development, has written many numeracy and maths teaching and PD resources and curriculum, including in Victoria for the VCE and the VPC. Dave currently holds positions at both ACER and the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne and is a numeracy and mathematics consultant.

  We look forward to seeing you there!

  
  

  Registration includes morning tea and lunch.

  You will receive a certificate of attendance post event.

  The program is subject to change without notice

  
  

  
  

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• Applied Learning in the Flexi Space

  • When
    28 Aug 2025
  •  
    09:00 - 15:00
  • Location
    The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins Street

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  Applied Learning in the Flexi Space.

  Various presenters

  
  

  Program to follow shortly

  Please contact Helene if you would like to present (and attend at no cost!)

  
  

  Forum outline:

  
  

  
  

  Who should attend?

  
  

  About your presenters:

  
  

  We look forward to seeing you there!

  
  

  Registration includes morning tea and lunch.

  You will receive a certificate of attendance post event.

  The program is subject to change without notice

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Safari by the Sea

  • Start
    30 Oct 2025
  •  
    09:00
  • End
    31 Oct 2025
  •  
    15:00
  • Location
    Surf Coast - various locations

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  2025 VALA Safari by the Sea
  

  
  

  
  

  Applied Learning on the Move!

  
  

  Full program to follow

  Featuring a stellar line up of outstanding applied learning programs we will visit Werribee SC (Narelle Bean & team), (TBA College) and Lorne P-12 College (Cherie Osta & team) to get a firsthand account of their programs in action.

  A fantastic opportunity to learn about innovative VAL program delivery including specific integrated projects. With ample time to meet other VAL educators, share stories, victories, challenges, and exchange engaging program ideas.

  Join us on this iconic overnight PD experience! Limited places available, so book now!

  (registration fee includes morning tea and lunch on both days, and networking dinner on Thursday evening as well as travel on air-conditioned coach (Werribee – Lorne – Werribee)

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• Coordinating for Success - VCE VM and VPC

  • When
    2 Dec 2025
  •  
    09:00 - 15:00
  • Location
    The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins Street

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  Coordinating for Success - VCE VM and VPC

  Shelley Muir - Mentone Grammar

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Masterclass outline:

  The role of Coordinator is critical to the success of the VCE VM and VPC in your school. Aside from advocating to leadership and the wider community, the role is crucial in navigating your students to a successful certificate completion and access meaningful pathways beyond the school gate.  All the tasks involved can feel a bit overwhelming and daunting at times. Join Shelley as she shares the 'What, Why and When' on successful coordination.

  
  

  Who should attend?

  This one-day intensive masterclass is highly valuable for anyone coordinating the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) and the VCE Vocational Major, whether you are a new coordinator or are looking to streamline and improve your current practice.

  About your presenter:

  Shelley is an educator with 20 years’ experience in both government and independent sectors. She has established and led VCAL and VCE-VM programs in two schools and has worked with several independent schools to introduce vocational learning into their program offerings. Shelley was awarded the 2019 VCAA Teacher Achievement Award for Program Development.  As Head of Pathways and Careers at Mentone Grammar, Shelley is passionate about helping young people realise their potential, research opportunities and shape meaningful pathways. She is a teacher of all VCE-VM units, VCE Psychology, and VET.

  
  

  We look forward to seeing you there!

  
  

  Registration includes morning tea and lunch.

  You will receive a certificate of attendance post event.

  The program is subject to change without notice

  
  

  
  

  Who should attend?

  This one-day intensive masterclass is highly valuable for anyone coordinating the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) and the VCE Vocational Major, whether you are a new coordinator or are looking to streamline and improve your current practise.

  Show details