Year 11 – 12

Our focus at Victorian College for the Deaf is for all students to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for life after school. We will support each student to reach their full potential.

Accompanying high expectations, VCD offers students high levels of support. In addition to a range of studies and individual career counselling sessions, we offer an individualised approach to pathways planning.

Victorian College for the Deaf staff are dedicated to helping students successfully complete their studies, offering feedback and support well beyond expected levels. Utilising this support, as well as establishing and maintaining excellent work practices, will set students up for success.

The college offers multiple study options, including VCAL, VET and VCE subjects, an ASDAN program, and tailored support for transitions into work and further study. Some Year 10 students may be accepted into a bridging class as a Year 10 PreCAL or PreASDAN student. They will participate in Senior Year programs with other Year 11-12 students. This will be a case by case consideration for each Year 9 student as they transition into Year 10 in the following year.

Developing skills for the workplace

Our three onsite businesses, Tradeblock Cafe, Ablock Bike Shop and Urban Block Garden, provide a unique opportunity for students to build workplace skills in a supported environment. Students who participate in work placements at the cafe, bike shop or garden experience a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, and develop a range of skills that can be taken into future workplaces.

Learn more about:

• Tradeblock Cafe
• Ablock Bike Shop
• Urban Block Garden

Camping and Excursion Program

At Victorian College for the Deaf, our camping and excursion program is an extension of our teaching and learning program. Camps and excursions support our school curriculum by taking knowledge built in the classroom, and applying it to high engagement off-campus environments. In a supported setting, students are encouraged to build interpersonal skills and develop their resilience, independence and social skills.

Senior studies – 2023 onwards

Victoria is moving to a new integrated senior secondary certificate that will bring together the VCE and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).

From 2023:

• the VCE Vocational Major will replace the existing VCAL at the Intermediate and Senior levels. The VCE Vocational Major is a 2-year vocational and applied learning program that will enable transitions into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training and university (via non-ATAR pathways)
• the new VPC will be introduced as an inclusive Year 11 and 12 certificate that will replace VCAL at the Foundation level and will meet the needs of a smaller number of students not able or ready to complete a certificate at the VCE level. The VPC is benchmarked at Australian Qualifications Framework (PDF) Level 1 and not recognised as a senior secondary certificate of education. This certificate should be provided to students on an as-needs basis, with discussions about the VPC’s suitability for a student best conducted between the school, student and their family.

For more information on the transition arrangements and timelines, refer to the VCAA’s Senior Secondary Certificate Reform website.

What is VCAL?

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a hands-on senior program designed to create an individual pathway for students to employment, apprenticeship or further studies. VCAL, like VCE, is an accredited senior secondary school certificate that is recognised internationally as a successful completion of secondary education. 

It offers an educational experience that includes applied work skills and industry-based learning as well as job relevant literacy and numeracy skills. VCAL programs are more focused, more integrated and more sustainable for those students who do not necessarily need to complete a traditional VCE to reach their desired goals. VCAL provides students an alternative educational pathway to pursue higher education studies.  

What is VET?

Vocational Education Training (VET) enables students to gain qualifications for all types of employment, and specific skills to help them in the workplace. It covers a large number of careers and industries like trades and office work, retail, hospitality, creative arts and technology. Qualifications range from Certificate II to Certificate IV, and Diploma and Advanced Diploma. Students can include a VET subject in their VCE or VCAL studies. VCD provides some VET courses on campus, and also has access to several TAFE courses that students can attend with the support of an interpreter/teacher from the school. 

What is ASDAN?

Award Scheme Developed Accreditation Network (ASDAN) is a life skills program suitable for students with additional learning needs. This may include some VCAL learning outcomes and a modified VET program. Students participate in different modules with emphasis on real life experiences. ASDAN is also part of the Transition to Work program where the students partake in work placements for one day per week. This may be undertaken in various locations – Tradeblock Café, Ablock Bike Shop, volunteer programs and community work.  

ASDAN is recognised as a formal secondary school qualification with the Department of Education in Queensland and Western Australia. Eight Victorian schools are currently delivering ASDAN. VCD is working to have ASDAN recognised by the Victorian Department of Education.

What is VCE?

The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is one of the credentials awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in Victoria, Australia. Students complete a minimum number of five VCE subjects to receive an ATAR score, which they can use for entry into university or TAFE. Students at Victorian College for the Deaf can study some VCE units on campus at VCD, and others via Virtual School Victoria (formerly called Distance Education)