Pathways
VCAL
Our Pathways team 2012 consisted of Carmel Smart (Careers), Caroline Fitzpatrick (VET) and Kerry Martin (VCAL). Of course many of our roles were inter-connected and it was the strength of this team which gave our students so many opportunities to explore their interests, to match their abilities with possibilities, and to choose courses/subjects which would give them the direction that they were looking for to help them pursue excellence. The Pathways team always has the interests of the boys at the centre of their work. In 2012 however, two significant developments have occurred which may change the way we need to work in Pathways in the future. The first development was the decision by the Victorian Pathways Team: Ms Kerry Martin, Ms Carmel Smart and Ms Caroline Fitzpatrick Government to reduce funding to the TAFE sector. This will have a flow-on effect in 2013. Each student then receives a 20 page personal Funding has also been cut to VCAL programmes in career guidance report. This report describes his schools but improved in programmes for VCAL at abilities, his career interests, his personality and his the TAFE level. It is expected that many TAFES will learning style. Parents, student and the career adviincrease their fees for courses in 2013. sor meet to discuss the results of the report and apply As most of the De La Salle exiting students would be the recommendations to the selection of subjects for expected to start vocational education at Certificate a VCE or VCAL programme for that student. 4, or higher, it is apparent that vocational education Feedback from students and parents has been most will require a significant financial contribution from the positive with participants saying that the Report student. helped them feel good about their progress and The other significant developassisted them to identify clearly their strengths and ment for our Pathways team interests. More importantly, the Report assisted them has been the introduction of when selecting their senior programme at De La Salle the Morrisby Report for Year for 2013. 10 students. It is an elective Ms Carmel Smart programme for students. This Pathways Coordinator is a comprehensive, vocational report compiled following more than three hours of testing.
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In 2012, 28 students participated in the College’s VCAL programme at Intermediate, (Year 11) and Senior (Year 12), levels. Eleven Senior VCAL students graduated to take up apprenticeships or vocational pathways at TAFE in 2013. Three Intermediate students have been doing a fully-funded Traineeship with Reece Plumbing and one senior student was doing a School Based Apprenticeship with a builder. During the year students were involved in a range of integrated and applied programmes. As part of their VCAL programme students must study a VET Study and this year these included Building and Construction, Horticulture, Media, Elecrotechnology and Hospitality. The Year 11 VCAL students also completed VETs in Theatre Production and Events Management and Small Business and Innovation. This allowed the boys to work closely with the Drama Department assisting in back-stage and front-of-house activities at the College’s productions. As part of the Small Business course, the boys set up and ran a ‘virtual’ business called, Wheels 4 Trades, which sold new and used cars online. As ‘virtual’ employees they worked in Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Finance and Administration roles. During the year the business turned over more then $100,000. De La Salle would like to thank MacDonald’s in East
