By BEN CAMERON
First independent VCAL College in town…
PAKENHAM students looking for alternative pathways in education will be able to enrol at the first independent VCAL College in town.
Community College Gippsland (CCG) has green lit plans to establish a second campus of its ECG College – a Registered Independent Senior Secondary School – which will operate from next year with 45 available places.
ECG College in Warragul caters for 50 students, offering the Victorian Certificate in Applied Learning as a senior secondary school alternative.
The new college will be located in the current OzChild premises on the Princes Highway from January this year, offering an “alternative learning environment”, including VCAL Foundation, Intermediate and Senior level studies.
OzChild’s Community VCAL program will finish at the end of the year as its funding model required further philanthropic assistance to continue.
CCG chief executive officer Sue Geals said the Pakenham college would offer an option for young people who have left school early or were unable to stay in the mainstream.
She said there was a strong need for the service in Pakenham, with eight students already signed up for the course for next year and a further 10 indicating they would.
“We’ve had interest from about 30 people,” she said.
“Although there will be a slight difference to the program we offer (compared to OzChild).
“We haven’t invested any money into the building, we have simply leased it from Cardinia Shire Council.
“It’s been set up well by OzChild.
“I’ve budgeted for 35 students for next year.”
She said students would gain valuable work placement experience to build their confidence and job readiness.
“As ECG College is an independent registered college for VCAL, young people can enrol directly with us. This means students who have left school can also enrol,” she said.
Ms Geals said Community College Gippsland currently delivered the Certificate in General Education for Adults at its Toomuc Valley Road campus in Pakenham for young people.
It is anticipated that a number of these students will transfer to ECG College Pakenham and take up VCAL.
CGEA will still be available to students from the Toomuc Valley campus.
For more information on ECG College and Community College Gippsland phone 5622 6000.
