Specialised Fields of Study

Agriculture and Sustainability

Overview

Have you wondered where our food, or that jacket you're wearing comes from? Agriculture is an important industry in the Goulburn Valley. This region supplies food and other agricultural products to much of Australia, and other regions in the world. Domestication of animals and farming practises have changed the way in which humans live. Our relationship with animals and the environment keeps us alive, but how do we manage it for future generations?

Knowledge/Skills

Learners in this subject will explore the characteristics of the Goulburn Valley that make it so productive. They will look at some of the main industries and the animals and plants that contribute to these industries. There will be opportunities to create, produce and follow the process from seed to plate. Learners will also look at major issues in the Agricultural sector including making sure that practices are sustainable and that resources are preserved for the future.

Links to Further Study

VCE subjects in Agriculture and Sustainability

VCE Environmental Science Units 1 - 4

VCE Geography Units 1 - 4

VCE Biology Units 1-4 

VCE VET Programs

VET Agriculture

VET Horticulture 

VET Animal Care

VET Equine Studies

Overview

In this course, students will develop an understanding of economic and business concepts, and the nature of economic thinking, by making observations about their world and their interactions with it. A major component of the course is development of enterprising behaviours and capabilities. The curriculum explores the ways in which individuals, families, the community, workers, businesses and governments make decisions in relation to the allocation of resources. It enables students to understand the process of economic and business decision-making at the personal, local, national, regional and global levels and the effects of these decisions on themselves and others, now and in the future. Students learn to appreciate the interdependence of decisions made and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills that will inform and encourage them to participate in, and contribute to, the economy. Students consider the performance of the Australian economy and the business sector and how these might be measured in different ways. They examine why and how Australian businesses seek competitive advantages in different markets.

Content/Skills:

Managing change

Facing challenges, showing initiative, accepting responsibility

Developing a business vocabulary

Working sustainably

Setting goals

Negotiating solutions

Working with others

Planning, organising, reflecting and reviewing performance

Analysing business issues

Decision making and taking advantage of opportunities

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Business and Economics:

Business Management Units 1-4

Accounting Units 1-4

Economics Units 1-4

Industry and Enterprise Units 1-4

Legal Studies Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Business

Small Business

Overview

In Law and Power students will compare the key features of Australia’s government system with one other government system in the Asian region. They will compare how the law is adminstered in both, looking at infamous cases such as the The Bali Nine. Students will examine key features of Australia’s court system, the jurisdictions of the courts and how disputes are resolved. They will explore criminal and civil case decisions, including a visit to the Magistrate and Country Court and the role of family law. Students will examine how Australia’s international obligations shape the law and the roles and responsibilities at a global level, including provision of foreign aid, peacekeeping and the United Nations.

Content/Skills

Students will develop skills in evaluating, identification, analysis, compare and contrast, and explanation while studying Australia’s system of laws and government in comparison to selected countries, legal systems, and obligations internationally.

Links to further study:

Legal Studies Units 1 – 4

Australian and Global Politics Units 1 - 4

History Units 1 – 4

Overview:

In Food Studies, students will explore food, with an emphasis on building food knowledge and skills and exploring health and wellbeing through the application of practical food skills. Students will explore food from a range of perspectives and investigate food production systems and the physical and social functions and roles of food.

Content/Skills

During this course students will engage in practical work in the following:

Cooking

Demonstrations

Creating and responding to design briefs

Food sampling and taste-testing

Product analysis

Dietary analysis

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Food Studies:

Food Studies Units 1-4

Product Design and Technology Units 1-4

Health and Human Development Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Hospitality

Overview:

The Geography curriculum presents a structured way of exploring, analysing and understanding the characteristics of the places that make up our world, using the concepts of place, space, environment, interconnection, sustainability, scale and change. It addresses scales from the personal to the global and time periods from a few years to thousands of years. Geography as a discipline integrates the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to build a holistic understanding of the world.

Content/Skills:

Students will explore two aspects of Geography: ‘People’ and ‘Places’.

When looking at ‘places’, students will gain knowledge and understanding of biomes and food security, exploring ways in which humans impact the land and resources and the challenges facing the world today. They will investigate environmental change and management. When investigating ‘people’, students will be focused on human wellbeing and the interconnection between people and places.

The skills developed in this specialisation are:

- Problem solving

- Generating and developing solutions

- Analysis

- Observation

- Collecting and recording data

- Fieldwork and research skills

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Humanities

Geography Units 1-4

History Units 1-4

Global Politics Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs in Humanities

Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management

Civil Infrastructure

Overview:

In this specialisation, students will develop a knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the past and the forces that shape societies, including Australian society. Students will explore historical concepts and skills, including sequencing chronology, using historical sources as evidence, identifying continuity and change, analysing cause and effect and determining historical significance. Students will develop the capacity to undertake historical inquiry, including skills in the analysis and use of sources, and in explanation and communication of arguments.

Content/Skills:

Students will focus on The Modern World and Australia, including World War I and II, the Holocaust and the Australian and American civil rights movements. Students will investigate causes, significant places and events and effects of these events. They will explore the significance of these events on Australia’s international relationships in the twentieth century and the different historical interpretations of the events.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Humanities

History Units 1-4

Sociology Units 1-4

Australian and Global Politics Units 1-4

Overview:

Learning the Italian language can be very rewarding as it opens up the riches of Italy’s cultural past and its dynamic present. Using the communicative approach, this specialisation focuses on the development of pronunciation, grammar and practical vocabulary. Grammatical concepts are covered through dealing with real situations, including relationships, dining, celebrations, film, music, hobbies and work. Outcomes and assessment tasks for this course will evaluate the student’s reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities.

Content/Skills

Students will experience speaking in a conversational manner. Writing styles will include personal, imaginative and informative. Students will have the opportunity to learn practical and useful information that is authentic and contemporary.

Topics include:

• Childhood and Youth

• The Environment

• Staying Healthy

• Art Movements in Italy

• School and Employment

• Italian Cinema

Links to further study

VCE Subjects in Language

Italian Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Applied Language

Overview

In Literature and Writing, students will be provided with opportunities to read deeply, widely and critically; to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of texts; and to write creatively and analytically. By reading and exploring a diverse range of established and emerging literary works, students will become increasingly empowered to discuss texts. As both readers and writers, students will extend their creativity and high-order thinking to express and develop their critical and creative voices.

Content/Skills

Students will read and analyse one or more of the following:

- one prose text, such as a novel, collection of short stories, biography, autobiography, memoir or collection of letters

- a collection of poetry (12 poems or more)

- one multimedia text, such as a film, podcast or television series

- one Australian text by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander author or creator.

Examples of Assessment tasks include: a close analysis of one of more selected passages, an essay (comparative or analytical), a debate, reading journal entries, an in-class seminar, a creative response to a text(s) studied, an oral or a written review or a multimedia response.

Links to Further Study: 

VCE English Units 1 - 4

VCE Literature Unit 1 - 4

Overview:

In Music, students listen to, compose and perform music in a wide range of styles from diverse cultures, times and locations. Listening underpins all music learning. Students compose and perform music using the voice, body, instruments, found sound sources and digital technologies. As composers, they create music in different styles and forms, exploring personal interests and given ideas.

Students develop their ability to identify and describe, using terminology and symbols (notation), aspects of the music they listen to, compose and perform.

Content/Skills:

In Music, students will explore, experiment and express ideas through improvisation, composition and performance. They will create, practise and rehearse music including notation. Students will rehearse and perform. Students will respond to and interpret the use of the elements of music and stylistic features, exploring viewpoints of contemporary and past-time compositions and styles of music.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Music

Music Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Music Industry

Overview:

Science provides an empirical way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world. Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to make sense of our world by exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries, making predictions and solving problems. Science knowledge is contestable and is revised, refined and extended as new evidence arises.

Content/Skills

Students will develop their science inquiry skills of questioning and predicting, planning and conducting, recording and processing, analysing and evaluating and communicating as they explore. Students can choose the strands of Science they are most interested in from the specialisation offerings of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Environmental Science. 

Overview:

This specialisation is aimed at providing students with a theoretical and practical insight into the fields of Sports Science such as exercise physiology, biomechanics and sports psychology. These fields help to inform what we understand about healthy, safe and active choices.

Content/Skills:

Areas studied include coaching, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, components of fitness, psychological strategies to enhance performance, techniques and strategies to promote recovery and the use of technology in Sports Science. Students will develop an understanding of the human body and skills that will allow them to improve their levels of fitness, wellbeing and sporting performance.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Sports and Exercise Science

VCE Physical Education Units 1-4

VCE Health and Human Development Units 1 – 4

VCE VET Program

Sport and Recreation

Overview:

Students will analyse varying coaching methods and styles and learn how to use this information in a practical setting. They will learn the process and skills development and the requirements of the coaching role for various team sports. They will apply their skills through coaching opportunities with student groups.

Content/Skills:

Students will be exposed to learning opportunities in coaching methods and styles, the roles and responsibilities of a coach and working in a practical setting. Students will be part of a coaching program for the younger students where they will unpack stages of learning a skill and apply this knowledge in a practical setting. Students will consider how they may need to cater for individual difference in their practice.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects

Outdoor and Environmental Studies Units 1-4

Physical Education Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Community Services

Sport and Recreation

Overview:

In this specialisation, students will adapt and present information and ideas on a variety of topics, using presentation modes selected to suit different audiences to achieve specific purposes. Students will learn to express opinions of an event or performance, such as a contemporary film or a theatre performance, present information in different formats such as captioned photos, power points or emails on cultural events and create persuasive texts such as brochures or video clips. Students will develop and sustain different roles and characters to realise dramatic intentions and engage audiences. They will perform devised and scripted drama in different forms, styles and performance spaces. They will plan, direct, produce, rehearse and refine performances. They will select and use elements of drama, narrative and structure in directing and acting and apply stagecraft. They will use performance and expressive skills to convey dramatic action and meaning.

Content/Skills:

Students will develop an understanding of different performance styles and conventions. They will develop and refine expressive and performance skills while learning about the processes used to develop and create performance works.

Students will use digital technologies to record performances and engage in critique of filming techniques and how this enhances performance.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Performing Arts

Theatre Studies Units 1-4

Drama Units 1-4

Overview:

The creative nature of the visual arts provides individuals with the opportunity for personal growth, the expression of ideas and a process for examining identity. Studio Arts encourages and supports students to recognise their individual potential as artists and develop their understanding of art making, exploring various mediums for creating.

Content/Skills:

Students will explore visual arts practices and styles as inspiration to develop a personal style. They will learn how artists use materials and techniques, technologies and processes to produce artworks. Students will conceptualise an idea and create works considering how ideas are conveyed to an audience. Students will examine and respond to others' artworks.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Visual Arts

VCE Art Creative Practice Units 1 – 4

VCE Art Making and Exhibiting Units 1 – 4

Overview:

Visual Communication Design aims to develop confidence, curiosity, imagination and enjoyment through an engagement with visual communication design practices. It is about finding creative and innovative ways to communicate ideas and information. Students develop aesthetic knowledge, including the application of design elements and principles. Students engage their creative, critical and reflective thinking whilst they learn about the diverse roles and practices of designers.

Content/Skills:

Students will learn to respond to a brief and a target audience. They will develop visual communications which demonstrate the methods, materials, media, design elements and principles explored. Students will use manual and digital drawings to create visual communications. Students will evaluate, reflect on, refine and justify their decisions and aesthetic choices.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Visual Communication

Visual Communication Design Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Creative and Digital Media

Overview:

Through Design and Construction, students plan and manage projects from conception to realisation. They apply design and systems thinking and design processes to investigate ideas, generate and refine ideas, problem solve, produce and evaluate designed solutions. They develop a sense of pride, satisfaction and enjoyment from their ability to create innovative designed solutions. Through the practical application of metal and wood resources, students develop dexterity and coordination. Students interests guide their selection of projects. They contribute to the wider school community by providing design solutions to other learning programs within the school.

Content/Skills:

Students will design and produce designed solutions. They will investigate, generate and critique designed solutions. Students will use design and systems thinking to generate innovative and ethical design ideas. Students will use metal and wood based materials, systems, components, tools and equipment. They will re-imagine and repurpose materials, considering sustainability and environmental impact. Students will also investigate the roles and responsibilities of people in design and technologies occupations and how they contribute to society.

Links to further study:

VCE Subjects in Design Technologies

Product Design and Technologies Units 1-4

Food Studies Units 1-4

VCE VET Programs

Applied Fashion Design and Technology

Building and Construction