The VDC 2024 Year in Review is now available on the VDC Website click here.
Throughout 2024 VDC embraced innovation and explored new opportunities to provide professional learning themes for the teaching workforce, with a new focus on Generative Artificial Intelligence, teacher and student wellbeing, and sustainability.
The momentum of the diversity and range of programs continued with records broken such as 174,000 engagements in the VDC-Learn platform (learning management system) achieved for self-paced learning, and a record 20,000 registering for professional learning in Victoria and across Australia.
VDC delivered and supported over 400 sessions with an average satisfaction rating of 97%. Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) funded Workforce Development Grants, teaching fellowships and the introduction of digital badges provided further variety for training providers to explore.
The VDC is grateful for the Hon. Gayle Tierney MP. Minister for Skills and TAFE maintaining the ongoing commitment to the government funded programs as part of the Victorian Skills Plan and broader TAFE, ACFE and Family Violence initiatives. This enabled the continuity of contracted professional learning for the Victorian TAFE, Learn Local and Skills First funded RTOs workforces.
Through VDC’s collaboration with the VSA the organisation was funded to provide specific professional learning to TAFE and Skills First funded providers in Victoria. Ongoing relationships with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and the Adult and Community Further Education Board of Victoria continued with specifically designed programs for VET in Schools teachers and the Learn Local workforce.
Many partnerships thrived in 2024 where VDC supported 5,800 in-kind participants through professional learning and hosting services, including those with the Australian Centre for Career Education, WorldSkills Australia and the International Specialist Skills Institute. The VDC led professional learning for judges, volunteers and assessors for WorldSkills competitions received record engagement as did the Illuminate Forum collaboration between the VDC, ISS Institute and the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA). VDC also successfully piloted a regional workshop at Bendigo TAFE for a VSA funded professional learning program.
The VET National Teaching & Learning Conference was held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for the second consecutive year focusing on the journey from competence to excellence, consolidating the venue and event as a significant professional learning experience on the Australian VET calendar, with record attendance and enthusiasm and engagement to match. VDC also continued its sponsorship and contribution to judging the Teacher / Trainer of the Year Award at the Victorian Training Awards.
For the second consecutive year the organisation provided training internationally, delivering a program in both Vietnam and Bhutan and hosting Bhutanese participants in Australia.
VDC celebrated the contribution and achievements of educators, teachers and trainers in the VET sector on several occasions, including the annual national free online seminar on World Teachers’ Day “Celebrating Small Successes”, as well as an inaugural in person Thought Leaders session entitled ‘How Can Teachers Effectively Use AI’ at the Study Melbourne Hub in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.
Commitment by the organisation to the clean economy and sustainability saw the second Australian VET Sustainability Fellowship for Vocational Education & Training awarded, to fund travel abroad to research new skills and best practice in areas such as clean and alternative energy, upcycling, recycling, innovative technologies and sustainable processes and procedures, then disseminate the findings to the Australian VET sector upon return.
