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Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
VCAL is a recognised senior secondary qualification that has been designed to increase the pathways for young people in Years 11 and 12. It is an applied learning alternative to the VCE that prepares students for further studies at TAFE or training through apprenticeships and traineeships, and for employment.
VCAL provides hands on learning, where students learn theory and gain knowledge and understanding through the practical application of skills. VCAL gives practical work-related experience as well as literacy and numeracy and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. This project based applied learning is meaningful, relevant, has a purpose and develops thinking and conceptual skills.
VCAL students must be enrolled in each of these four compulsory strands:
1. Literacy & Numeracy: Numeracy may comprise of any VCE Maths strand or VCAL Numeracy. Literacy may comprise of a VCE English strand or VCAL Literacy.
2. Industry Specific Strand: a VET course or a School Based Apprenticeship, and a timetabled VET; Cert II in Small Business
3. Work Related Skills: units - which develop employability through work preparation modules, including Structured Workplace Learning 1 day per week.
4. Personal Development Skills: structured activities that help develop self-confidence, teamwork and others skills important for life and work.
This format enables students to learn in areas of skill and practice particular to their interests and strengths.
VCAL Levels
VCAL Levels
Our aspiration is, where possible, students will complete their VCAL at the Senior level. All students entering the VCAL program will initially be enrolled at Intermediate level, this will be monitored during the first semester and enrolment will be reviewed accordingly as students demonstrate the outcomes.
Foundation VCAL develops knowledge and employability skills that lead to independent learning, confidence and a high level of transferable skills.
Students engage in the following:
VCAL Literacy Skills Foundation Reading and Writing
VCAL Literacy Skills Foundation Oral Communication or Unit 1 and 2 VCE in a chosen English strand
VCAL Numeracy Skills Foundation or Unit 1 and 2 VCE in a chosen Maths strand
VET subject or School Based Apprenticeship (SBA)
Unit 1 VCE Religious Education (taken over whole year)
Unit 1 VCE Industry and Enterprise (taken over whole year)
VCAL Work Related Skills units 1&2 incorporating a structured work placement one day a week that ideally relates to their VET study where possible
VCAL Personal Development Skills Foundation units 1 and 2
Intermediate VCAL develops knowledge and employability skills that lead to independent learning, confidence and a high level of transferable skills.
Students engage in the following:
VCAL Literacy Skills Intermediate Reading and Writing
VCAL Literacy Skills Intermediate Oral Communication or Unit 1 and 2 VCE in a chosen English strand
VCAL Numeracy Skills Intermediate or Unit 1 and 2 VCE in a chosen Maths strand
VET subject or School Based Apprenticeship (SBA)
Unit 1 VCE Religious Education (taken over whole year)
Unit 1 VCE Industry and Enterprise (taken over whole year)
VCAL Work Related Skills units 1 & 2 incorporating a structured work placement one day a week that ideally relates to their VET study where possible
VCAL Personal Development Skills units 1 and 2
Senior VCAL - A student would generally undertake Senior at Year 12
At this level knowledge and employability skills development leads to a high level of interpersonal skills, independent action and achievement of tasks that require decision- making and leadership.
Students engage in the following:
VCAL Literacy Skills Senior Reading & Writing
VCAL Literacy Skills Senior Oral Communication or Unit 3 & 4 sequence VCE in a chosen English strand
VCAL Numeracy Skills Senior or a unit 3 & 4 sequence of Maths (pre-requisites may apply)
VET subject or School Based Apprenticeship (SBA)
Unit 2 VCE Religious Education (taken over whole year)
Unit 2 VCE Industry and Enterprise (taken over whole year)
VCAL Work Related Skills Senior incorporating a structured work placement one day a week that ideally relates to their VET study where possible
VCAL Personal Development Skills Senior
HOW IS THE VCAL ASSESSED?
HOW IS THE VCAL ASSESSED?
Students must successfully achieve competency in each prescribed learning outcome in each unit or module of their VCAL program. VCE, other VET and accredited courses/certificates are assessed in accordance with existing requirements. VCAL teachers will explain the requirements to meet the learning outcomes for VCAL units. Students do not need to achieve a specific grade to successfully complete any units or modules that count toward their VCAL as it is competency based learning (ie. Students are deemed competent or not yet competent for each outcome).
VCAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
VCAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students are awarded a certificate on successful completion of a minimum of ten credits. Our preferred position is that students complete 12 to 13 units. This is reflected in our course structure. A credit is one VCAL unit, one VCE unit or approximately 100 nominal hours of VET units of competence.
VCAL students are required to complete Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). This component of VCAL provides students with the opportunity to integrate practical on-the-job experience and learnings in industry.
As part of the regulated SWL guidelines, students may undertake SWL during the holidays in Terms 1, 2 and 3, but not during the holidays at the end of the year. Students are, however, encouraged to undertake SWL during school time and within the school week. It is therefore not a requirement that students attend work placement during the school holidays. We do ask that students discuss this with their employers so they are aware of when a student will be attending work placement.
The total number of SWL days for a student must not exceed 40 days during each School Year and 10 days during each school term. The total number of SWL days a student may undertake with an employer must not exceed 20 days during any School Year. This means students will be required to complete SWL with a minimum of 2 Employers. To ensure 10 days per term are not exceeded and to assist with an easy transition from one employer to another we will put together a list of SWL dates, to be provided to students via Caremonkey. Students will work with one employer per semester and as such will need to change employers for the beginning of Term 3
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the VCAL Learning Leader.
VCAL Learning Leader: Ashley Warren
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