Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community
As I sit to write to you this morning, it is very dark, cold and wet outside and I am thankful for the heating that is warming my feet. The tree outside my office, while in the process of shedding, is still holding onto many leaves, but Charlie enjoys foraging in the many fallen leaves each day — as do the Year 7 students who frequent the area outside of class time. Winter has well and truly set in and given this is the last day of Semester 1, I am thankful for the approaching holiday period as — you would understand are the teaching and support staff. I expect the students, too, are looking forward to the break after their exams and finalisation of assessment for Term 2. I hope that each of them is looking forward to their report as a celebration of a semester of achievement; a semester spent on campus and within community. There is plenty which we should be grateful for and give thanks.
Today, I wish to draw your attention to several matters, each of which is quite different:
(1) New Child Safe Standards to strengthen child safety will commence in Victoria on 1 July 2022
The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) commenced in Victoria in January 2016. As you will already be aware, Mount Lilydale Mercy College has been diligent in ensuring we continue to meet these standards. As is the case with most things, Child Safe Standards are constantly reviewed, and in line with a new Ministerial Order (1359) are undergoing some important changes. After five years, the introduction of some new Standards will take effect from 1 July 2022 to help improve safety for children and young people.
The 11 new Standards will replace Victoria’s current seven standards and principles. MLMC has been working hard over the past 12 months to ensure we, as a College, will have them in place ready for the commencement of Term 3.
The key changes include some new requirements:
- to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
- for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
- to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
- for greater clarity on the governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.
There are 11 new Child Safe Standards:
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people
Below are some links to the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) that has more information, one of which is a frequently asked questions section:
(2) COVID-19 update
As you would be aware, following advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government recently announced changes to the pandemic orders.
There will no longer be a mandated vaccination requirement for any staff working at MLMC and no further records will be kept pertaining to staff vaccinations. This change will come into effect from 11.59pm Friday 24 June, so in effect from the start of Term 3 2022.
With almost 100% of College staff now vaccinated, this should cause little change on our campus.
As part of the changes, parents and carers who have COVID-19 can transport their non-COVID-19 children via private vehicle to the College when an alternative person is not available to assist and other transport is not available.
The parent or carer must travel directly to and from the College only. They must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to walk the student to and from the entrance of the College safely, however, this should be unnecessary given College drop off and pick-up procedures. COVID-19 positive parents and carers must not visit the office, first aid or other classroom facility on College grounds. They must wear a face mask at all times.
Family members are asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to both the Department of Health and to the College, as has been the case for some time now.
You must also let the College know if your child is a close contact. Students who are close contacts and want to attend on-campus should still take five RATs over seven days and wear a face mask while indoors. The College is still issuing RAT kits to those families and students who require them and we have ample supply. Please encourage students to pick up test kits from the office should they be needed.
Students should continue to stay home if they are unwell, even if they test negative on a RAT.
I continue to be thankful for the support of our community as we continue to work with all things COVID-19 and keep our campus as safe as possible. Please continue your support our community by encouraging students to be health conscious, obey cough and social distancing etiquettes where possible and continue with personal hygiene measures including the washing of hands at least every two hours and using hand sanitizer where provided.
(3) Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) at MLMC
Victoria’s senior secondary education is changing and MLMC is adapting to a new VCE, which now features a VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) qualification. From 2023, more students will study the VCE because the VCE will include the Vocational Major, a two-year program that sits within the VCE.
The new VCE VM will replace Intermediate and Senior VCAL. This means the VCE will recognise different students equally. This reform recognises the diversity in talents and pathways within one qualification.
In addition to the introduction of the VCE VM, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) have also announced the new Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) will replace Foundation VCAL. The intent is to implement this in 2025.
The VCE Vocational Major means students will have more education choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences—preparing them for further study, training at TAFE or employment.
This has implications for our current Year 11 VCAL students and current Year 9 and 10 students who will be facing Pathway selections for 2023 in the coming weeks.
Year 11 VCAL students entering Year 12 in 2023 will face no change to their subjects or pathway program, however, on satisfactory completion, students will receive a VCE VM certificate.
Year 10 students entering Year 11 in 2023 will have the following stream options within the VCE:
In Term 3 we commence with our annual Pathways and subject selection process, during which you will be provided with more specific information pertaining to subject offerings, subject descriptors, subject prerequisites, benchmarks, recommendations and pathway selection guidelines via the MLMC Pathways Portal. Year Level assemblies as well as Year 10 and 11 2023 Parent Information Nights will be held on 19 and 20 July 2022.
A team of staff will be available throughout the year to answer your questions and support students as they make decisions about their final years at the College.
To further assist in understanding these changes parents may wish to post any questions they have in this ONE VCE@MLMC parent query form. Click HERE.
Current Year 10 students are also encouraged to express their level of interest in these stream options by completing this ONE VCE@MLMC Streams two-minute survey HERE.
These are exciting initiatives and we will undertake a process during Term 3 to provide all the information parents will need.
(4) MLMC Community Forum Group (CFG)
Just a reminder that in the last newsletter I introduced the concept of the Community Forum Group (CFG), for which I am looking for several parent participants. If you are interested please email me at principal@mlmc.vic.edu.au as we wish to start this group next semester and publish meeting dates as early as possible next term so that agendas can be published.
Enjoy a well-earned, warm and hearty winter holiday.
God bless
Philip A Morison
