Year 12 VCE Vocational Major (VM) students have been applying their learning in practical, community-focused settings that build both skills and confidence beyond the classroom.
At St John’s Primary School, students recently designed and delivered numeracy lessons for Grade 3 and 4 classes. Working collaboratively, they created engaging, hands-on activities to make maths fun and accessible. One highlight was “Numeracy Twister,” which combined physical movement with problem-solving tasks. The primary students responded enthusiastically, enjoying the interactive nature of the lessons and the variety of activities led by the VM cohort.
For the Year 12 students, the experience provided a valuable opportunity to develop leadership, communication and planning skills while gaining insight into a primary school environment. Students reflected on the enjoyment of working with younger learners and the satisfaction of seeing their planning come to life in the classroom.
Lucian shared that he enjoyed engaging with the students and running activities such as celebrity heads, while Tilly noted the enjoyment of working with older primary students than she is used to and the fun of creating games for them. Alessia reflected on the experience as rewarding, highlighting the opportunity to observe and contribute in a real school setting.
In addition to this, VM students are contributing to the preservation of local history through the Veterans Biographies project. The first two student-written biographies published on the Virtual War Memorial Australia are that of Barry Smith and Les Myers. Their stories can be viewed here:
Virtual War Memorial Australia – Barry Smith.Virtual War Memorial - Les Myers
Together, these experiences highlight the VM program’s emphasis on applied learning, community engagement and developing practical skills through authentic, real-world opportunities.