Pathways/VCAL/VET

Pathways

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 Government to reduce funding to the TAFE sector. This will have a flow-on effect in 2013. Funding has also been cut to VCAL programmes in schools but improved in programmes for VCAL at the TAFE level. It is expected that many TAFES will increase their fees for courses in 2013. As most of the De La Salle exiting students would be expected to start vocational education at Certificate 4, or higher, it is apparent that vocational education will require a significant financial contribution from the student. The other significant development for our Pathways team has been the introduction of the Morrisby Report for Year 10 students. It is an elective programme for students. This is a comprehensive, vocational report compiled following more than three hours of testing. Each student then receives a 20 page personal career guidance report. This report describes his abilities, his career interests, his personality and his learning style. Parents, student and the career advisor meet to discuss the results of the report and apply the recommendations to the selection of subjects for a VCE or VCAL programme for that student. Feedback from students and parents has been most positive with participants saying that the Report helped them feel good about their progress and assisted them to identify clearly their strengths and interests. More importantly, the Report assisted them when selecting their senior programme at De La Salle for 2013. Ms Carmel Smart Pathways Coordinator

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 Pathways Team: Ms Kerry Martin, Ms Carmel Smart and Ms Caroline Fitzpatrick 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

VCAL

VET

Malvern for their generous sponsorship of the Virtual Enterprise. MacDonald’s donated $2,000 to fund the online registration of the small business with Virtual Enterprise Australia. As well as their VET Studies, VCAL students undertake School-based classes and Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). In 2012, Intermediate VCAL students had three school-based class days, one VET day and one SWL day. At the senior level, students had two class-based days, one VET day and two SWL days. This allowed students to develop a routine and to make a transition between school and work. VCAL students also completed the following short courses during the year: • Barista Course • White Card • Responsible Serving of Alcohol • First Aid • Scaffolding • Safe Driver Programme • Tritactics Programme • Trial a Trade Thank you to the dedicated VCAL teachers and staff who have worked with the boys throughout the year. Ms Kerry Martin VCAL Coordinator Year 10...there are no limits to your future pathways! Year 10 is always an exciting year for our young men at De La Salle College because during this year they begin to make some conscious choices about their future pathways. They also start to take control of where their learning may be taking them in the future.

This year our Year 10’s did this with their Morrisby report. Through optional engagement in testing and subsequent discussion and interpretation of their individual report, boys were able to determine what might be their preferred subjects/course(s) through senior years which would lead them to their desired options after VCE or VCAL. Some Year 10’s found their core programme in Years 7–10 not to their liking or ability and had begun to struggle with the more traditional subjects. So some options were created for a small group of students to follow a Semester Pathway course in a workrelated area, such as a trade or engineering, media or furniture making, enabling them to better determine their suitability for a programme in Year 11. To assist parents with the opportunities in the VET programme (also part of the VCE programme), a PACTS programme (Parents as Career and Transition Support) was conducted by the Pathways team in the College. Parents came together with the Pathways teachers to learn how to support their sons when they came to them for guidance and support. The College supports a wide variety of subjects and specialities in our curriculum to provide the best we can for all students. VET subjects contribute to the ATAR and are to be appreciated as a recognized alternative to a traditional subject. They are an integral part of VCE and many of our students performed very successfully with their ATAR in 2012 as a result of their excellent results in their VET subject. Mrs Caroline Fitzpatrick VET Coordinator