Round Two: VCE Collaboration Fund
Round Two applications for the VCE Collaboration Fund are now open, with rural and remote schools encouraged to apply promptly.
The Fund has been created to support school partnerships that will broaden VCE subject choice for rural, remote and regional students, with a funding pool of more than $1.2 million over four years (2019 to 2022).
Who can Apply
Funding is available to support partnerships between schools from all sectors where at least one school is a government school in a regional, rural or remote area.
New and existing inter-school partnerships are eligible to submit an expression of interest (EOI) provided they demonstrate a capacity to expand VCE subject choice and improve quality beyond the current arrangements.
Funding will be provided to each VCE partnership for up to one year, noting that partnerships are expected to be sustainable beyond the funding period.
Applications from schools involved in more than one partnership will be considered on merit.
How to Apply
To apply, read the guidelines and complete all sections of the expression of interest form, which can be found in the 2019 VCE Collaboration Fund (Round Two) Guidelines and EOI (docx – 117.39kb).
Applications must be made using Microsoft Word and adhere to the word limit for each criterion. Each school in the partnership is expected to contribute to the joint application.
Completed applications must be submitted to the Department by email to vce.collaboration.fund@edumail.vic.gov.au.
Applications for round two funding close on Friday 27 September 2019, with further rounds scheduled for 2020 and 2021.
Applications received after the close of business on the due date will not be considered for this round.
Use of Funds
Successful schools can use the funds to set up collaborative partnerships that allow the sharing of resources, timetabling, knowledge and expertise to provide classes for students.
Funding is intended to cover costs such as (but not limited to):
- time release for teachers to design and/or support shared arrangements (e.g. initial meetings to establish relationships and agree on the aims and protocols of the partnership, cross-school timetabling, assessment and reporting)
- hiring a facilitator to build the partnership and nurture collaborative expertise
- one-off establishment costs, such as the preparation of shared-use agreements
- purchase of equipment to support collaboration/sharing of resources (e.g. additional servers, software and other supports for virtual learning, etc.)
- professional learning.
Government schools should align their partnership activities to their Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) priorities and their Annual Implementation Plan.
VCE subjects can be delivered collaboratively, either face-to-face, virtually or through a blended approach.
A Summary of Round One
- Charlton College, Wycheproof P–12 College, Donald High School and St Arnaud Secondary College
This funding will support an expansion of the partner schools’ blended approach to VCE delivery through the establishment of teacher moderation groups and the purchase of an additional small room Cisco Webex kit.
- Boort District School, Pyramid Hill College, Wedderburn P–12 College and East Loddon P–12 College
This school partnership will use the funding to focus on upskilling staff in virtual delivery approaches, supported through the purchase of additional Cisco Webex equipment.
- Birchip P–12 School, Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, Murtoa College and Hopetoun P–12 College
The schools in this partnership will identify ‘exemplar’ teachers from each school to deliver specific VCE subjects via virtual and face-to-face delivery, and staff will be given time release to better coordinate timetables and student support.
- Ouyen College, Murrayville College, Werrimull College, Manangatang College and Robinvale College
These schools will engage a facilitator to establish a cluster-wide approach to VCE delivery, which will include cluster-wide master classes and student days. Teachers will undertake professional learning and develop curriculum materials accessible to students and teachers via a cluster-wide portal.
- Ararat College, Nhill College and Goroke P–12 College
Through this partnership, VCE teachers will work with virtual learning and pedagogical coaches, and participate in peer observation. Virtual delivery will be expanded through additional Cisco Webex equipment.
- Horsham College, Stawell Secondary College and Warracknabeal Secondary College
The funding will be used to upskill teachers in virtual delivery of VCE subjects, including through a pedagogical coach and purchase of additional Cisco Webex equipment.
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