V Mag VCAL Magazine

2014 YEARBOOK EDITION

bendigotafe.edu.au/youth 29

PREPARING OUR

FUTURE LEADERSSenior VCAL students travelled to the Northern

Territory for the adventure of a lifetime and an

experience they will never forget! FULL STORY – PAGE 14

VCAL Magazine | bendigotafe.edu.au/youth

2014 YEARBOOK EDITION

Study LEVELSFoundation, intermediate and senior education levels, plus Young Mums program.

Campus LOCATIONSCommunity based learning at Bendigo, Echuca and Castlemaine campuses.

VCAL AWARDSRecognising the endeavours and achievements of outstanding students.

APPLIED LEARNINGOutdoor recreation, work related skills, personal development, literacy and numeracy.

V•MAG MANAGER’S REPORT

Manager’s report 2

Foundation studies 4 Intermediate studies 8 Senior studies 12 Conservation and land management 16 Gravel Hill Gardens 17 Echuca Campus 18 Castlemaine Campus 18 Young Mums Program 20 Community projects 21 Industry liaison 22 Youth work 23

Student awards 24

Staff profile 26

Contents

All information is accurate at the time of printing and is subject to change. Please visit bendigotafe.edu.au for the most current information. Printed December 2014.

Manager's reportKELLIE BA INES

At Bendigo TAFE VCAL, our main focus is to enable every one of our students to gain their VCAL Certificate and start them on a pathway to a career or further study; a pathway that they will enjoy.

Since commencing with Bendigo TAFE in March this year, I’ve enjoyed getting

to know all the students, teachers, youth work team members and administration staff. We have some very keen students that are investigating pathways to employment (or further study) through their VCAL studies, and our supportive teaching teams are working collectively to ensure our students succeed.

This year has been one of development for Bendigo TAFE VCAL. We have built on our core subjects: work-related skills, numeracy, literacy, and personal development to add some Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects to the curriculum: Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management and outdoor recreation, giving more opportunity and choice to our students.

All of our Bendigo TAFE campuses – BTEC, Castlemaine, Echuca and Young Mums at the City Campus now have a wide range of subjects on offer for students. We have also upgraded some of our campuses to include cooking facilities, which means up to twice a week we have a family breakfast across the campuses – great for personal and skill development.

We have extended the selection of certificate qualifications on offer to our students this year. Students have been able to enrol, through their VCAL studies, in courses such as community services, children’s services, information

technology, hospitality, hairdressing, beauty, automotive, plumbing, building and construction, electrical, engineering and agriculture.

We are very pleased to cater for such a variety of interests and to see so many students achieve success and a step further towards their career goals.

In 2015, we will continue to deliver a flexible learning program to give our students these opportunities to gain a certificate II qualification in their intermediate and senior years.

These qualifications will give them an edge over students studying elsewhere, and increase their employability. We are very pleased to cater for such a variety of interests and to see so many students achieve success and a step further towards their career goals.

Other activities, partnerships and programs have continued to grow and strengthen across the campuses.

We are very pleased to see so many students achieve success.

2 VCAL Magazine bendigotafe.edu.au/youth 3

Our team The VCAL BTEC team

Through BTEC, John Maher has been active in engaging students at the Gravel Hill Community Gardens – a great opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and really get ‘hands-on experience’ while also giving back to the community.

A highlight of the year for our Echuca students was the opportunity to spend a day volunteering at the Special Olympic National Games (SONG) in Melbourne. Students gained a lot from the experience and came away feeling inspired.

Castlemaine students have been working collectively with Castlemaine Community House and St. Luke’s to build the community garden project; providing better ‘hands-on’ skills and experience. Also, the Young Mums VCAL program has shown that the move into a better facility has given these mums a greater opportunity to learn, while also providing a caring environment for their children to play while they study.

Again this year some of our senior students travelled to the Northern Territory to assist with work in the Lajamanu Aboriginal community, with the support of teaching staff, Kevin Harrison and Brooke Warren.

The dedication, effort and enthusiasm the students showed toward fundraising throughout the year for the trip was admirable.

On location in Lajamanu, our students assisted the local school by making a fence around the pre-school, paving and making bin stands, playing sport with the students and assisting in the pre-school. Along with the hard work, students were also able to meet some of their outdoor education learning outcomes at Kakadu National Park, Edith Falls and Darwin. It was an amazing experience for all concerned, and one that they will remember for a long time.

Bendigo TAFE work closely with local industry to provide work experience opportunities for our students. Vince Murtagh, our Industry Liaison Officer, assists the students with resumes, mock interviews, work trials and both school-based and full-time apprenticeships.

We again have had success with a number of students being signed up into part-time positions and apprenticeships/traineeships. We are very proud of their efforts and wish them continued success for their future careers.

When reflecting on this year, I am excited to see the students whom have grown into young adults and those students who will be coming back next year to gain their next certificate. At the end of year there is always a sense of sadness that we will farewell some students; however there is also pride and delight for what they have achieved and where they are heading in their lives.

I would like to thank the staff for delivering such engaging programs, and for their dedication to every student, both in their mentor group and those they teach across all four sites of VCAL.

Also, l would like to thank parents, guardians and the local and wider community for their continued support – your efforts are acknowledged and appreciated.

Thanks again for a rewarding and enjoyable year and l look forward to what our students can achieve in 2015.

Kellie BainesManager, Bendigo TAFE VCAL

Manager's reportKELLIE BA INES Students at our BTEC Campus


Students learn basic woodworking skills, basic culinary skills by cooking

breakfast for fellow students and family, participate in industry tours, complete mock interviews, and undertake work experience.

What is the ABI presentation?Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) – The aim of this presentation was to provide information to all the students about what this type of injury does to one self and how simple it is to obtain such an injury through different risks we take as teenagers and in early adulthood.

Why are the students playing board games?As part of numeracy, the students get to take a break by playing games to use their brain to help their understanding of

maths through a different learning style. This is also a way to encourage students to use numeracy as part of everyday life.

Look after your matesDiscussion and hands–on learning in relation to risky behaviour – partying and driving.

StreetShot competitionHepatitis Vic conducted a workshop to develop knowledge about hepatitis, and photography expeditions to create an image to educate others. Several of our students rated highly and had their photos included on the Streetshot Facebook page for People’s Choice voting.

Industry tour Foundation group 2 and 3 participating in an industry tour of Hoffman’s Engineering.

What we learn in numeracy and literacyStudents gain numeracy through four key areas of learnings: family and social life, workplace settings, education and training, and community and civic life.

Our VCAL students participate in personal organisation activities, that involve money, time and travel. They also learn from interpreting society through reflecting on numerical, statistical and graphical information of relevance to self, work and community. From a practical perspective they address all aspects of the physical world in relation to designing, making and measuring. Some areas we cover are space, data, measurement and algebra.

Students gain literacy through reading, writing and oral communication. These are covered through family and social life, workplace settings, education and training and community life. These skills are learnt through focusing on aspects of personal and family life, culture and how these are shaped in life. Communication is also used to ensure our students are made work–ready.

Together, both numeracy and literacy showcases social contexts in which we function in Australian society.

Foundation studiesAPPLIED LEARNING

V •MAG FOUNDATION STUDIES

Tim Daris Foundation Studies

Brayden Everett, Michan McClure-Wood and Jay Beazley playing board games as part of their personal development skills unit.

A large part of VCAL foundation studies including work-related skills, personal development, numeracy and literacy.


Personal development skills – Brodie Hunt, Jack Stephens and Ethan Jacka building bird boxes in the workshop.

‘Family’ breakfastsAll three foundation groups participate in family breakfast on Wednesday mornings; the students really enjoy themselves, cooking together and then having a chat with each other. We see this as a key personal development to social interaction and working in a team environment. The students have gained many life skills using the cooking facilities, together and individually.

Mock interviewsIn October, the foundation groups participated in mock interviews. Students were allocated a time to arrive, dressed in appropriate workwear with their resume and portfolio. They participated in a pretend job interview in an area they are interested in. Afterwards, the students were given feedback on their interview.

Shed classesThroughout the year, the foundation students made chairs and bird boxes in woodwork classes at the Charleston Road Campus and through the BTEC workshop with Tim. These lessons where based around a taster program to give all students the opportunity to start to look at what trade they are interested in working towards next year. Much of this class is about using tools and learning skills that may lead them into a career in building or carpentry.

Work experienceAll foundation students are required to complete two work experience blocks in two different areas of work. Through VCAL, we see this as a major component to getting students ready for the worforce. Students worked at Myer, the Bendigo Bank, building and construction companies, automotive dealerships and many other places. Over the year BTEC has given over 180 students the opportunity to undertake a number of work experience placements throughout the community.

Industry toursThis year we visited a number of workplaces to learn about various industries. It was interesting to learn about different workplaces and what it would be like to work in them.

What we learn in Work Related Skills (WRS)WRS units 1 and 2 are core units of the VCAL curriculum at all levels – foundation, intermediate and senior. These units are crucial to engaging the students in meaningful and hands-on learning to recognise and improve on their skills necessary to make a successful transition to the workplace.

Students have taken up in many opportunities to improve their communication, teamwork, problem solving abilities and work ethic. Work experience – all (except our Young Mums) had the opportunity to explore workplaces and vocations that might be of interest. Work experiece is a fantastic chance for students to try out a variety of workplaces and build a network to gain employment now or in the future. We are proud of the students who achieved outstanding feedback and went on to gain school based apprenticeships, apprenticeships or ongoing employment.

Work related skills Adrian Malavisi, Jake Wallace, Kye Grimley, Anthony Bourne with teacher Marc McDonald participating in a in family breakfasts

Volunteers discussing the effects of Acquired Brain Injury with students at BTEC.

Matthew Deary, Adrian Malavisi, Michan McClure-Wood and Thomas Hamilton building pallet projects at the Charleston Road Shed.


Students who enrol in this course learn the basics of outdoor education: how to set up a tent, cooking in the open, canoeing, fishing and bushwalking, as well as how to work together in a team, and other personal development skills.

Foundation studiesAppl ied le arn ing

Jordan Haimes, Taylor Jackson and Alex Underhill Cooking pasta on Trangias at BTEC.

V •MAG FOUNDATION STUDIES

Vanda Darminan, Dylan Johnson, Matt O’Shae, Jayden Bodilly and Michael Ducrotoy Practicing setting up tents at Ewing Park.

Mandy Kellow Foundation studies

Moesha Weston and Michan McClure–Wood Canoeing at Lake Eppalock as part of their outdoor recreation studies.

Kurt Forder and Hamish Galea Trangia cooking at BTEC.

CanoeingA canoeing skills day was held at Lake Eppalock where students learnt basic canoeing techniques, then canoed by themselves in groups of two. It was a great day, everyone really enjoyed themselves.

Setting up tentsIn May, two foundation groups participated in a skills session where they learnt how to set up a tent properly. The students ran a competition, and the group that set up their tent the fastest were able to leave early.

Trangia classIn May, VCAL foundation students learnt how to safely use a trangia outdoor stove. Everyone was part of a group and brought something to cook; it was a really enjoyable lesson.


FishingOn several occasions, the foundation students participated in fishing skills days at various locations. The students didn’t have much luck at the beginning, but as they learnt more skills they caught more fish.

One Tree Hill walkIn October, as part of outdoor recreation we completed a 14 km bushwalk from BTEC to One Tree Hill. This was hard work but a fun day for everyone. All students had different leadership roles such as navigation, first aid, breaks and snacks and whips.

Each person had a role to play on the day to help the walk run smoothly. The students had lunch at Strath Village and were very happy to have made it over the top of One Tree Hill.

WalkingThe foundation groups participated in a walk on several different occasions which involved the students walking from the school to Lake Weeroona. The students walked one lap around the lake and then walked back to school.

Foundation group 2 and 3 after hiking up One Tree Hill as part of their bushwalking units.

BTEC Campus

Brianna ApplebyGage BaileyTalena Joy BakerJay BeazleyKassandra BellJayden BodillyAnthony BourneOlivia BriggsChristopher BroadhurstAnthony James CampbellJayden CollicoatKeegan DarlingVanda-James DarmaninMatthew DearyMaddison DockseyJaidyn DredgeMichael DucrotoyTristen DuffinBrayden EverettTori Ferguson

Emily FitzgeraldMary FitzgeraldDavid FolvigKurt ForderHamish GaleaCrystal GiriDamon GordonSyan GreeneKye GrimleyHakan GurkanMatthew GuymerJordan HaimesElouise HaleyThomas HamiltonJayk HansfordDylan HicksBrodie HuntZamien HutchisonLachlan JackEthan Jacka

Taylor JacksonDylan JohnsonSeth JolleyYanni KanakarisAshleigh KellyJoshua KendallSteven Logan-ChristieAdrian MalavisiBrenton MatthewsTanesha McCarthyMichan McClure-WoodJoel McGregorTyla MorrisonMatthew O’SheaChelsea RandallConnor RodwellLachlan RussellGeorgia SawatzkyCassandra SchillingFidel Shirvington

Dray ShortIan SpinelliLuke SpinelliJack StephensCodie StoneCarly StrattonCourtney StrattonJake SymesAlex UnderhillChelsea ValentineJake WallaceEloise WalterDylan WareSamantha WarnerKatelyn WebbZac Welch-CotterMoesha WestonJake WillieSarah Wingrave

Echuca Campus

Jerrome Egan-WilsonRaymond ElliottTaylah Lewis-GibbsMontana MelouryBrooke MooreJasmine RobertsTravis StrachanErena White

Castlemaine Campus

Matthew BruceLatisha CreeveyEthan Heritage-PrestonTane McIntyre-BartlettKieren Quinn-DawsonZach McGrathWade Warnock

Vanda Darminan, Ethan Jacka and Kye Grimley fishing at Cairn Curran.

2014 CLASS LIST – FOUNDATION STUDIES

Ethan Jacka, Matthew Deary, Thomas Hamilton and Michan McClure–Wood Walking along the Bendigo Creek Track.


V •MAG INTERMEDIATE STUDIES

Intermediate studies build on our foundation studies and prepare students for further study, work placements or both.

Personal development students had a choice of projects this year.

Gravel Hill Community Gardens provided a great variety of work, including weeding, making compost, rearranging garden beds, improving the new worm farm and development of the shopfront.

Students also worked at Heathcote Primary School, starting a paving path to a reflection area. This project will be continued in 2015 until completion.

A relationship with Heathcote Hospital has allowed students to assist in the refurbishment of a large courtyard area. This will be completed in 2015 year.

Some students have also taken on fundraising for the annual Northern Territoy Lajamanu trip by constructing cubby houses and selling them to fund the experience.

Students have found rewards in all of these projects, from growing vegetables at Gravel Hill to the accomplishment of delivering hand constructed cubby houses. From start to finish, students can be proud of achieving and completing the various personal development projects.

John ‘Bluey’ Maher, Brooke Warren and Kevin HarrisonBendigo VCAL teachers

Intermediate studiesAPPLIED LEARNING

Mark Williams Intermediate studies

Brayden Everett, Michan McClure-Wood and Jay Beazley Playing board games as part of their Personal Development Skills unit.

Gravel Hill Gardens The boys cleaning up






Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Traum in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.)A very hands-on learning opportunity developed by the Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospitals. A simulated hospital environment was set up at the Capital Theatre and students actively participated in the many vocations that a hospital environment offers, together with a snapshot of the consequences of risky behaviour.

Employment services professionals Greg Harris from Skills Plus provided a skills session where our students assessed applicant’s resumes and letters applying for a position. Frances Constable from AiGroup Training offered the students advice on gaining an apprenticeship in the group training environment.

Donating blood awareness campaignWe created our own special group to register the number of lives we saved. Several students were brave enough to roll their sleeves up and donate. Well done!

P.A.R.T.Y. A full on day in the hospital environment, starting in emergency department.

Cupcake glory Students participated in baking classes. And yes, they tasted as good as they looked!

Streetshot photo competition Excursion with students in search of photo inspiration.

Bendigo Blood Bank Students not only raised awareness, but generously gave their blood!

Garden work Foundation pathways students planning and scheming at Gravel Hill Gardens.




View from the top Climbing at Mt Kooyoora term 4 day trip.

This year, as a part of their Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation, students participated in a number of activities.

Intermediate studiesAPPLIED LEARNING

V •MAG INTERMEDIATE STUDIES

Students had a fun day climbing and caving at Kooyoora State Park, an

hour’s drive just out of Inglewood. The area was quite secluded, so we had to make do with the things we had brought, including cooking our food on trangia stoves and trying to make the food as healthy as possible.

Another activity was an enjoyable day walk to One Tree Hill. Students walked all the way from BTEC to the summit about 6 kms – the walk took most of the day. All students had a leadership role for the day, as well as a surprise first aid scenario to practice first aid skills.

Outdoor recreation has been lots of fun with activities like trangia cooking, climbing at Y-Rock, putting up tents and setting traps at Gravel Hill Community Gardens, as well as games and a few movies throughout the year.

Brooke Warren, John ‘Bluey’ Mayer and Bryce HerbertBendigo VCAL teachers

Learning the ropes Bluey tying in Jordan, ready for his first climb.

Bec and Ash Kitted up waiting for their turn to climb.

Bryce Herbert Intermediate studies


Wise words A pre–climbing safety brief before participating in the climbing activity.

2014 CLASS LIST – INTERMEDIATE STUDIES

Rock climbing Students learning the ropes.

BTEC Campus

Isaiah AbsonJack BarnabyTemily BlachfordJames BoyackBianca BoyerDaniel BroadhurstNatasha BryantBrodie BurkeJoshua CamilleriJohn CannardSteve CarmodyKymberly CastleKyle ChapmanGrace ClarkeJemma CocksClaire DillonAlysha DowningBrock EamesOdin GillinDarcy HaddockTyson HarrisonZac HealeyRhiannon Hearne

Braden HikeRebecca JoblingMatthew Joyberry-DentonBradley KeithConnor LomasLuke LoucaJesse MerciecaJoshua MilesTayla MinahanAshlee MitchellPeter MurphyThomas MyersReece Newsome–TampionTayla Norton–DoidgeCher Norton–DoidgeAshleigh O’BrienMichael O’DowdJames O’KeefeDylan ParkerSean PearceHarley PearceBrianna Jane PickerHarlee Porter

Jamiee PritchardMayla-Jame RoachJared RobertsBradley RobertsMadelyne RogersKelsie RogersBrayden RussellCarly SommersRichard SoulsbyCaleb SpencerCaitlyn StephensonJayden SuttonBrodan TaylorSamantha ThatcherJordan ThrethowanJessica WallaceJordan WebbTayla WellsRacheal WelshTroy WestBrandon WilkieSam Winspear Joel Winzar

Young Mums program City Campus

Kaitlyn Rorke Louisa Moore

Echuca Campus

Michaela Clark-GrundyHudson EssexKassidy FlightNissa HenwoodBrendan KissellMatthew MahonenJanae McConnellKristopher MensforthJack NevilleMichael WatersAlice–Rose Wickey

Castlemaine Campus

Eloise CampbellLisa CoffeyNathan DawBrooke LeeShantel McGrathAiden McGrathJana McKillopErika MinnsCorey MossZach PecoriniPhillip ReidyJoseph Smith

Walking Students walking in various terrains. Working together Setting up tents.


At senior level, learning is considered to be independent, with regard to planning and work activities whilst under supervision.

In August, 14 VCAL Senior students embarked on a five day (80km)

paddle trip starting in Yarrawonga and finishing in Cobram.

The students were blessed with great weather, with the exception of a cracking thunderstorm that dumped 100mm of rain on us all one evening. Getting by without their usual luxuries, the students camped in tents and tarps, cooked their own meals using trangias or camp fires and paddled/floated down the river.

The students learnt a variety of skills: how to cook/burn damper, how to ration one stick of salami for five days, how to build a fire (we had some real experts at this one), how to pack light (students were not as good at this) how to play frisbee, golf and how to get towed by another canoe without them noticing.

The trip was a great success! Thank you to all those students involved, to Brooke for all her planning, Bryce and Bluey for assisting on the trip, Kev and Tim for driving, and Cole Walter at Castlemaine Secondary College for the use of their canoes.

As well as the paddle trip, students participated in a canoe skills session day at Lake Eppalock where students learnt how to pack a canoe trailer, safety regulations of canoeing, basic canoeing skills and what to do in a capsize situation. Again, a great day.

Paddle begins Students packing their canoes ready to launch off on their journey.

V •MAG SENIOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Senior studiesAPPLIED LEARNING

Blazing Getting a fire started so students could cook dinner.





Brooke Warren Senior studies


2014 CLASS LIST – SENIOR STUDIES

BTEC Campus

Luke ArcherJacob BakerCraig BeerWade BonhamHarry BramleyCallum BuchananKelsey BullTaliah BuntSamantha BurnettTaylia BurtonclayJesse CarolanJake ClaphamCrystal CookGemma CottinghamTimothy CrittendenBradley DallasCourtney DudleyScott EllisNicholas FlemingNeal GunnNukyah Gunthorpe

Hafize GurkanTorin Harper–SeearsEmmileigh HunterZevon JamesBenjamin JollyDamian JusticeShelby KeelLucille KennaLochlan Kerr–GittinsMeaghan KleehammerKayla LeaJozua LutzowJoseph MackawayDaniel MatarazzoJackson MatthewsHamish McGregorJarvia McCarthyWilliam MilesJasmine MorganDarcy MurrayScott Murray

Riley NoonanJonathan O’ConnellJoshua O’MalleyMichelle PillarKourtnie ProlongeauSkye ReidKirby RobinsLachlan RyanDean SmithJoseph SpencerMatthew StammersRenee SullivanChristopher TowersBenjamin TresizeSamantha WagstaffEbony WaldronJayden WhiteKrystina WojciechowskiLachlan Young

Echuca Campus

Shontay AtkinsonRebecca BowersMadalyn McKellarJoshua MilneKoby PowlesSamara SchwarzerBrittany TurnerCaitlin WhitneyIan Young

Young Mums Program, City Campus

Braelyn ButtCandice JacksonMichelle MarschallSamantha PalmerLucille TaylorEbony Wee HeeChrystol Davies

Sand seats Students making their own furniture. Surprisingly very comfy!

Beach break Canoes parked for a lunch break on a nice beach.

Docked After a long trip the canoes finally get a rest from the students.



Canoe for one Students trying out some solo paddling.


V •MAG NORTHERN TERRITORY EXPERIENCE

On Friday 25 July 2014, 14 senior VCAL students along with staff members Kevin Harrison and Brooke Warren travelled to the Northern Territory for an experience of a lifetime.

Over the past four years Bendigo TAFE has built a very strong and

special relationship with Lajamanu community and the Northern Territory. This project is a massive undertaking for students and staff involved.

The process starts immediately. By the end of week two at BTEC, the students needed to submit an application letter. After Kevin and I read this, we conducted interviews and the team for 2014 was formed.

The months that followed were very demanding, as we needed to raise $28,000.00. To start with, we sold chocolates – at last count we sold 115 boxes! We also had a Fete Day at BTEC, a trivia night with a silent auction at the City Campus, mobile phone recycling drive, a movie night at Star Cinema, a trivia night at the Golden Vine, a bunnings BBQ, cheese board sales and cubby house sales. All in all it was non stop and we are very thankful to such generous support from the wider Bendigo community.

Once most of the money was raised, we had another interview process; this confirmed the final commitment to attending the trip before we purchased our flights.

After an overnight flight to Darwin, the group left on their 890 km journey to Lajamanu early the next morning. The remote community is located 560 kms southwest of Katherine, on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert and the eastern side of Hooker Creek.

The journey took them to Edith Falls via the Douglas Hot springs for an enjoyable swim; arriving very hot and very tired! The next day, continuing their long journey, they arrived in Lajamanu to spend the next seven days working at the school, meeting the community and having lots of fun in the heat.

Work included helping the community to make a fence around the pre-school, paving and making bin stands.

Northern TerritorySENIOR STUDy EXPERIENCE

Working hard at it Kourtnie and Michelle making concrete.

Marked in time The last paver in our paving work at the pre-school.

The Northern Territory crew Group shot just before we turn to finish the last couple of 100 kms on dirt road to Lajamanu.


The school students spoke Warlpiri, as well as English. Our students were able to meet some of the community elders who took them on a tour. It was fun to play sport with the community kids each morning, and some great friends were made.

Students ate breakfast and lunch with the community, and then in the evenings, cooked dinners at the school - and even did the washing up! The team enjoyed helping cook meals, and made good friends with the cooks, who took them on walks in the evening.

As a reminder of their amazing and unique experience, many students purchased local artwork from the Warnayaka Art Gallery before saying fond farewells to the Lajamanu community. The group then headed off to the beautiful Gregory National Park for a night, where they did some bushwalks in gorges and to lookouts.

Next was the sightseeing tour of Kakadu in Gurrung (dry season). Students enjoyed hiking in some

beautiful places and saw amazing aboriginal rock art, staying overnight at Gunlom Falls and then camping near East Alligator on the second night - and spotting crocodiles! The group assisted with a helicopter evacuation of a man who fell at a waterfall, (whom wasn’t a student) this was exciting and scary (the man was ok in the end).

At the Nanguluwur art site and lookout, students learnt more about indigenous history in the area from an informative talk by a local ranger.

Then on to the Warragjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre which consolidated some of the things learnt at the community.

The two, very enjoyable, weeks in the Northern Territory finished in Darwin where the final day was spent looking around the city: eating, shopping, going to the museums, and the wave pool.

Words cannot really explain how much was learnt, seen and experienced in the Northern Territory.

The students obtained the following learning outcomes to ensure they are prepared for their future careers:

• working effectively with young people• providing arrival and departure

assistance• research and sharing general

information on Australian Indigenous cultures

• creating electronic presentations• planning outdoor recreation activities• guiding outdoor recreation sessions• conducting and interpreting an

outdoor activity.We strongly recommend anyone to take the chance to go on this trip.

Brooke Warren and Kevin Harrison The Northern Territory team 2014Bendigo VCAL teachers

Having a kick Morning ‘football’ with the Lajamanu kids.

Picturesque Gregory national park escarpment on our way back to Darwin.

Northern Territory Trip Friday 25 July 2014

Hundreds of kilometres

14 VCAL students

2 teachers and 1 volunteer

Countless memories to last a lifetime


V •MAG CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT

Conservation and land managementAPPLIED LEARNING

Our students gain employability skills and learn how to communicate within a workplace.

The partnership between the Gravel Hill Community Garden and Bendigo TAFE has grown substantially in 2014. This year has seen the addition of a conservation land management (CLM) class being delivered through VCAL at intermediate and senior levels. These classes worked for one day a week at the Gravel Hill Community Gardens. Students also participated in CLM community projects at various other locations.

VCAL also combined the three year levels of personal development classes through foundation, intermediate and senior VCAL. These students were able to attend the garden for some periods collectively throughout their year, this meant there were students at the garden every day of the week, this had a huge impact on the garden in 2014.

The students also obtained three grants during the year to undertake: • the construction of the new shade

house (CVGT Australia)• the new nursery shop (City of

Greater Bendigo)• landscaping of the pond area and

the entrance to the railway land (Fosterville Mine).

Obtaining these grants has shown students the importance of giving back to the community so we can all benefit through the use of this garden.

The students have worked hard through the summer heat and frosty winter, alongside the garden volunteers, other school groups and community members. As a result, the garden has never looked so good or produced so much excellent learnings for the students!

Students have worked on the following tasks in 2014: • created and maintained garden beds • weeded garden beds • designed and built the garden shop • pluming water run off • constructed a new shade house • created a chook pen • created garden paths • created compost • installed irrigation systems • propagated plants • designed and landscaped the

pond area • general maintenance • designed gardens • fence design • planted vegies • worked in a team.

As the main teacher of CLM and personal development skills (PDS), l have found the experience of using the garden to be beneficial to both the community and to our students.

Students have gained, through their experience of working in the Gravel Hill Gardens, employability skills in working with timber, iron, plant material, rocks, stones and shown them all how to communicate within a workplace.

I personally would like to thank the students for the fantastic effort they have put into the garden this year, Bendigo TAFE staff and for the assistance provided from Marc O’Donald and all the garden volunteers. Feel free to visit the garden any day.

John ‘Bluey’ MaherBendigo VCAL teacher

John ‘Bluey’ Maher Conservation and land management

Building structures VCAL students gained many skills in building these structures at Gravel Hill Gardens.


Our students have put in a fantastic effort this year, seeing growth in the garden and in themselves.

GRAVEL HILL GARDENS V •MAG

Playful Students working with the kindergarten kids.

Cutting garden stakes Nick, Neal and Jesse. Reclaimed fence Students creating fence from recycled materials.

Team effort Students working together on clearing the gardens paths.

Tough work Tim and Damian making garden beds.

Gravel Hill GardensPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT


V•MAG ECHUCA CAMPUS

EchucaAPPLIED LEARNING

Our Echuca students have undergone significant personal development and formed a strong, supportive network with their peers.

What a year! VCAL students in Echuca have worked tirelessly this year to achieve many personal bests in their academic journey, and we’ve had some fun along the way.

From playing basketball, cooking (and eating) muffins, investigating stable structures using spaghetti and marshmallows (very messy but tasty), building straw towers to develop employability skills, and conducting campus BBQs; our Echuca VCAL students have undergone significant personal development and formed a strong, supportive network with their peers.

Students were also busy in the wonderful workshop facility at the Echuca Campus, creating mosaics, designing clay jewellery, and producing quality woodwork pieces.

The main focus of this year’s VCAL class was on work preparation, and to assist with this, students investigated career options, updated their resumés, practiced writing professional cover letters and completed several structured work placements with regional employers.

A highlight of the year was definitely the days spent volunteering at the Special Olympic National Games (SONG) in Melbourne in October. Prior to attending the games, the class had a visit from a local SONG competitor who had won gold in golf at a games event held in Macau, which inspired the class to volunteer.

Catching the train from Echuca, the VCAL ‘SONG Game Changers’ arrived in Melbourne in time to book into accommodation in St. Kilda, then onto to the Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park for the opening ceremony. On Tuesday, the students volunteered at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre where students (and teachers) performed varied roles of ushers, marketing and promotions, cheer squad, and assisting competitors to receive their medals. What a great day!

Volunteering at the games was, for most students, the first time working with intellectually disabled people, and the students stepped up enthusiastically to the challenge, which was commendable. As teachers, we are very proud of our students to see how far this year they all have grown!

Alison Dunstan and Heather JeffreysEchuca Campus VCAL teachers

Volunteer team Students who attended the Special Olympic National Games (SONG).

Echuca students Class group 2014.

Alison Dunstan and Heather Jeffreys Echuca Campus

Echuca Campus Teachers Alison Dunstan and Heather Jeffreys with VCAL students.


Castlemaine students gained valuable experience in the community with both personal and skills development.

The Castlemaine VCAL students have had a busy year, working closely with a number of local organisations and clubs, to gain valuable experience in the community with both personal and skills development. Throughout the year, the class had regular guest speakers talking about projects and employment opportunities in the area.

This year we had a strong horticultural theme. Students built on our own community garden project in conjunction with Castlemaine Community House and St. Luke’s, and also worked on the Salvation Army garden near the Castlemaine train station. In addition, our class had the opportunity to plant vegetables for the weekly community lunch; a Castlemaine Community House project. The plants for this were propagated by inmates at the Loddon Prison, and were then grown in wicking beds in the grounds of the Old Castlemaine Gaol.

The class also initiated a recycling project with the Loddon Prison using disused wooden pallets donated by the prison to design and build furniture for the community garden.

The program ‘Delicious Dishes’ enabled us to learn about the importance of good nutrition through a free cooking demonstration run by the Mount Alexander Shire and La Trobe University students. Students actively participated in the preparation and the cooking of beautiful, healthy and fresh local produce.

Recently, through the help of the Castlemaine Clay Shooting Club, students were taught about firearm safety and usage, students were able to shoot a few targets on the day. The members of the club were very helpful, and students and teachers alike had a great day.

Students also undertook organising a fundraiser at the beginning of the year, to raise money for our breakfast program we have on a weekly basis, and for other local youth projects across the region.

All these exciting and interesting activities go to show how important VCAL studies are to local communities and vice versa. Sure beats sitting in a classroom!

Next year in 2015 we will see the introduction of VCAL Senior program at Bendigo TAFE Castlemaine Campu.This will be a fantastic option for mature age students to undertake and obtain their senior certificate in VCAL.

Marc McDonald and Michael BesleyCastlemaine Campus VCAL teachers

CASTLEMAINE CAMPUS V•MAG

CastlemaineAPPLIED LEARNING

Marc McDonald Castlemaine Campus

Castlemaine Campus Staff and students out the front of our Castlemaine Campus.

Big catch Zac McGrath showing off his catch at the Castlemaine fishing day.

Having a kick Students playing soccer in a local park as part of personal development.


V •MAG YOUNG MUMS PROGRAM

Young MumsAppl ied le arn ing

Young Mums Some of our current Young Mums with their children.

Community quilt Our Young Mums all contributed to the making of this handknitted and crochet banner.

Child friendly learning space Back (left to right): Amy, Lynel, Cindy, Leanne, Tayla. Front (left to right): Louisa, James, Braelyn, Evie, Lucy, Jonah, Candice, Braxton and Mackenzie.

Cindy Grant and Leanne Hamilton Young Mums Program

This program gives Young Mums the opportunity to continue their education in a safe, nurturing and caring environment.

Our Young Mums VCAL program commenced in February 2013, this

program runs over 18 months, three days a week, it gives young mums the opportunity to continue their education in a safe and nurturing environment. Child minding is provided by Lynel (our carer), so the students’ children can be immersed in fun and play whilst their mums are learning.

In June 2014 our first intake of Young Mums completed their various levels of VCAL: Kaitlyn Rorke, Ebony Wee Hee, Danielle Goss, Rikki-Leigh Harris, Jaime Lawton, Angela Thomas and Leah Munn.

Many other Young Mums have been involved in this program along the way. With the constraints of time and children, teachers Leanne and Cindy have received fantastic support and involvement from local community partners including:

• provision of safe and active play for toddlers (Tumbletots)

• Golden Dragon Chinese Museum • Talking Tram • participating in the Street shot

completion through Hepatitis Vic • crafts and knitting with the Country

Women’s Association • financial counselling and health advice

with Bendigo Community Health Services

• discussion of women’s health issues with Loddon Mallee Women’s Health

• children’s oral health with Smiles4Miles • food and baby essentials with

FoodShare • Bendigo TAFE Library and

Bendigo Library • Jacinta Allan, Member for Bendigo East

• Haven; Home, Safe • Gianna Centre • Centre for Non-Violence • employment and funding advice

with SkillsPlus • ABI Road – acquired Brain Injury

presentation.

We have also involved our students in many community and craft projects tailoring our program to their life skills and personal demands. Some of the opportunities to network and enhance their growth include:

• aquarium visit – fundraising and planning

• Youth Fete and Open Day 2014 – creating a crocheted blanket, jewellery and other products

• cooking and creating a cookbook • RSPCA Cupcake Day • upcycling craft activities.

In this program, the mums benefit from the sharing of information and experiences; they provide support and advice to each other, while their children are together. The Bendigo TAFE Young Mums program engages young mums across the community that may not have been able to complete their education. This platform provides an excellent interactive and supportive environment for students to achieve life skills and enables our Young Mums to be work ready and well equipped to enter into becoming busy, nurturing, working mums.

Cindy Grant and Leanne Hamilton Bendigo VCAL Young Mums teachers


Students participating in community projects have a real sense of pride in what they achieve – leaders in the making.

Community services projectVCAL students from Bendigo TAFE Echuca Campus had a great time making a range of wooden toys, including blocks and rhythm sticks, which were donated to the local Koori Berrimba Childcare Centre. Lots of fun and great team work!

Heathcote Primary School projectBendigo TAFE VCAL students were given a community project to undertake within the Heathcote Primary School. Students learnt new skills in landscaping, worked with the younger students, and worked up a sweat while landscaping at the school.

The Heathcote students cooked lunch for our students, which is always a treat – and all the produce used to cook the lunch came from the school garden. The program was a big success and will continue in 2015.

Thank you to all the VCAL students for their hard work, Michele at Heathcote Primary School for organising this partnership, and the Heathcote Primary School students for feeding the VCAL team amazing meals.

Clean Up Australia DayClean Up Australia Day inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment. A simple concept became an international success story thanks to the foresight of our founders. Bendigo TAFE VCAL students participated in this event to give back to the community. It was a fun day with many of the students arriving back at school with a real sense of pride of what they had achieved for the day.

Passion and PathwaysBendigo TAFE VCAL students worked with Eaglehawk Primary School and Lightning Reef Primary School to construct a cubby house for the preps to play in. All the students worked together to plan and construct the cubby house; each student buddied with a primary student – kids teaching kids. This worked both ways, and made leaders out of our VCAL students.

This project was part of an initiative through the Goldfields Local Learning and Employment network, (GLEN). In its second year, it again showed that such a program can reach across many elements of the community. Well done to all involved as this is truly a fantastic program and we hope that this will continue onto 2015.

Community Projects V •MAG

Community projectsWORK RELATED SKILLS

Working hard Students landscaping the area for new paths at Heathcote Primary School.

Paving the way Students laying bricks for the new paths at Heathcote Primary School.

Clean up Students cleaning up Eaglehawk cemetery on Clean Up Australia Day.


V •MAG INDUSTRY L IA ISON REPORT

Industry liaisonVINCE MURTAGH

Preparing our students to enter the workforce builds confidence and strong work ethics. It’s a promising start to their careers.

It has been great to see students participating in work experience and

structured workplace learning this year. Most of the students that were signed up to school based or full time apprenticeships and traineeships achieved this by showing up to work on time, listening to employers and doing a great job in the workplace with an eagerness to learn. By demonstrating to employers their range of skills acquired at school, along with a strong work ethic, this has ensured that these students have secured a promising start to their careers. I wish these students all the best in their chosen endeavours.

I would also like to thank the large number of employers and businesses who have supported our programs and our students throughout 2014. These employers do not all necessarily

put on students as apprentices or trainees; however they do provide our students with an opportunity to do work experience and structured workplace learning. Students also gain exposure to real life scenarios, work skills – this builds confidence in students, some who previously had little.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone all the best in their chosen fields. Good luck for those leaving in 2014, and for those coming back, I look forward to seeing you again next year. Ciao!

Vince Murtagh Industry Liaison Officer Bendigo TAFE

Vince Murtagh Industry Liaison Officer

Mock interview Michan McClure-Wood with Industry Liaison Officer Vince Murtagh as part of Work Related Skills foundation.

Crystal Giri and Elouise Haley Students were presented with a certificate and a cheque after completing work experience at Bendigo Bank.

Mock interview Ben and Mim with Jordan Haimes.


With the right amount of care and support, our students are well equipped for the future.

Well it’s been another busy and fun filled year!

During term one, students were involved in planning, organising and running our Youth Week celebrations: building wooden planter boxes in the workshop, baking bread at the Bendigo TAFE City Campus, and making jewellery in the VCAL Young Mums class. Fete Day on the last day of term one, was a fantastic way to celebrate the ending of a busy and productive first term which left the students with skills in event organising, fundraising and teamwork.

Parents, teachers and members of the public attended the Fete Day. They were able to purchase items that were made by the students, with all of the proceeds going to our Northern Territory Experience. We also had Bendigo Community Health Services participate by providing health information and a range of goodies for students.

Later in the year, our foundation students attended a series of Sexual Health Workshops and information sessions on Bullying and Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Many thanks to Mary–Anne Richardson from Bendigo Community Health Services and Peter Eames from Victoria Police for collaborating with us to provide these services - our students will be better equipped for the future.

In my role as the Youth Worker, I have been able to interact and get to know some of the fantastic students completing VCAL studies in 2014. Some of our students have had to push through the year having suffered difficult times and various challenges along the way. To these students, I would like to congratulate them on sticking with it and for seeking help when needed. And for future students, I would like to encourage them to seek help when they are struggling. No issue is too big or too small, we are here to help!

Amy GrossYouth Worker Student Support Services

YOUTH WORKER REPORT V •MAG

Youth workAMY GROSS

Fete Day Students celebrated National Youth Week by organising baked goods sales, handmade stalls and fundraising BBQs at Fete Day.

Fete Day Young Mums VCAL students sellling handcrafted wares.

Fete Day Senior students selling their baked goods that they prepared themselves.

Amy Gross Student Support Services


V •MAG STUDENT AWARDS

Student awardsRECOGNISING ACHIEVEMENT

Personal Development Skills AwardBrodie Hunt Claire Dillon Jack Barnaby Nick Fleming Matt Bruce

Certificate III – Overall AwardEbony Waldron

Outdoor Recreation AwardZamien Hutchison Jordan Webb Daniel Matarazzo Gemma Cottingham

Most Outstanding Student Northern Territory Award Jozua Lutzow Meaghan Kleehammer

Most Outstanding StudentJay Beazley Brodie Burke Neal Gunn Louisa Moore Candice Jackson Erena White Madalyn McKellar Tane McIntyre-Barlett Eloise Campbell

Conservation and Land Management – Overall AwardBrodie Burke Tim Crittenden Damian Justice Jayden White

Most Improved AwardMaddie Docksey Jordan Webb Riley Noonan Dean Smith Brendan Kissell Koby Powels Zac McGrath

Most Outstanding Apprentice/Pathway into employmentSteve Carmody Darcy Murray Tayla Wells Zac Pecorini Ethan Heritage–Preston

Young Mums AwardEbony Wee Hee Leah Munn

Work Related Skills – Overall AwardKye Grimley Jessica Mercieca Brad Dallas Darcy Murray Nissa Henwood Ian Young Nathan Daw

Numeracy – Overall AwardAnthony Bourne Tayla Norton–Doidge Sean Pearce Krystina Wojciechowski Koby Powles Aidan McGrath

Literacy – Overall AwardMary Fitzgerald Thomas Myers Kirby Robins Madalyn McKellar Aidan McGrath

Best Overall AttendanceDamon Gordan Sean Pearce Luke Archer Matthew Mahonen Joe Smith

Most Outstanding FundraiserCrystal Cook

Manager’s Award – Student of the YearEbony Waldron (Bendigo) Leah Munn (Young Mums program) Madalyn McKellar (Echuca Campus) Aiden McGrath (Castlemaine Campus)


Campus staff TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF

A team of dedicated and passionate teaching and support staff to guide students on their VCAL jounrey.

BTEC Campus Back (left to right): Mark, Mim, Kevin, Tim, Bryce, Brooke, Enya, Ben, Tracey. Front (left to right): Kellie, John ‘Bluey’ Maher, Mandy, Jo and Karen.

Young Mums Program at the City Campus Cindy Grant and Leanne Hamilton.

Castlemaine Campus staff Marc McDonald, Carli Springate and Michael Besley.

Echuca Campus staff Heather Jeffreys, Teagan Priestly and Alison Dunstan.

TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF V •MAG


Baked goods Students enjoying the food on offer at Fete day.

Sweet tooth Toffee apples and other tasty goodies were sold by students at Fete day.

Green thumb VCAL staff running the plant stall at Fete day.

Scenic swim Senior VCAL students relax at Gunlom Plunge Pool, located on Waterfall Creek in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.

Tough work Students working together building a fence in Northen Territory.

Road trip Students at the entrance to Kakadu National Park.

Loading up Working hard at Gravel Hill Gardens.

Hospital excursion Students at the P.A.R.T.Y. trauma prevention program developed by the Alfred and Royal Melbourne hospitals.

V •MAG PHOTOS 2014


Student autographsSTUDENT AUTOGRAPHS V •MAG


VCAL Magazine | bendigotafe.edu.au/youth bendigotafe.edu.au/youth 29

Bendigo Technical Education College (BTEC)21 St. Andrews Avenue Bendigo VIC 3550

Echuca CampusCorner Hare and Darling streets Echuca VIC 3564

Castlemaine Campus65-67 Templeton Street Castlemaine VIC 3450

Bendigo City Campus23 Mundy Street Bendigo VIC 3550

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