Stepping stone to top careers

When the time comes for parents to decide which secondary school to send their children to, it’s important to pick one that provides plenty of opportunities and educational programs, and Victoria University Secondary College does just that.

The co-educational government secondary school has a year 7-9 campus at Deer Park, a year 10-12 campus at
St Albans and a new trade training centre at Cairnlea. The Cairnlea site will include the new senior campus, which is next to Victoria University.

“We have 1000 students and more than 130 staff at the college and we aim to deliver personal, academic and practical experiences, catering to each individual student,” principal Genevieve Simson says.

“The vision we work towards is ‘create the future’ and we do this by keeping our school values in mind. They are ‘aspire to achieve, strengthen the community and respect ourselves and others’.”

Ms Simson says the college is committed to providing the best education for students as they prepare for adulthood and the workforce.

“Our intention is to maximise opportunities for each student by developing their talents and challenging them to have high aspirations, to achieve their potential and become logical, self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive people,” she said.

The college delivers programs to achieve these aims. It’s one of only three schools in Victoria to introduce the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program, an elective which teaches students academic skills to prepare them for university. The college also has VCE, VET and VCAL programs, accelerated studies for high achievers, careers and aspirations programs, a sport academy, including rugby league and union teams trained by college staff and Melbourne Storm/Melbourne Rebel coaches, an early university program that allows students to start their degree while studying VCE, and a ‘Team9’ program for year 9 students to help them with growth and development.

“And we are involved in ongoing professional training to improve educational outcomes for students,” Ms Simson says.

Victoria University Secondary College’s junior campus is at 88 Billingham Road, Deer Park. The senior campus is at Jamieson Street, St Albans, and the trade training centre is at 43 Ken Jordan Road, Cairnlea.

Inquiries: 9363 1155 (junior campus) or 8312 0200 (senior campus)