Bundoora Secondary College - Partnerships

Partnerships

The college continues on its journey to forge new and innovative programs in education.

Pathway to Health Industry Partnership

Bundoora Secondary College leads the way in the Health and Community Services area.

The aim is to keep young people in education longer and to increase the number of young people qualified to take up local sustainable employment.

Bundoora Secondary College is Victoria’s first government school specialising in partnerships and pathways in the Health and Community Services training and employment sector.

Bundoora Secondary College has chosen to focus on the Community Services and Health Industry which is the largest local employer within the City of Banyule. There are two major hospitals (Mercy Health and Austin Health) within this local area as well as other medical precincts of both private and public health providers. There are also extensive child care and aged care facilities in the area.

Health is a broad industry with an extensive range of career opportunities linked to ongoing employment opportunities. There are currently 500 different occupations available in this field and employment opportunities in this field are predicted to increase, for example Nursing, Neonatal Care, Aged Care, Childcare, Physiotherapy, Orderly, Health Administration, Pharmacy etc.

After extensive consultations with Mercy Health Hospital Trainers, ACU and La Trobe Universities, Bundoora Secondary College agreed to participate in a partnership program. This means that Bundoora Secondary is able to offer their senior students entry into the health industry via the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector while the student is still at school and completing either the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). The VET certificate available is at level III in Allied Health, Aged Care or Childcare, all of which will assist in a smooth transition to further study post year 12 at either University or TAFE or to employment. The development of this program has the support of both Mercy Health Training Institute and a wide range of industry employers. Highlights of the program include: • For students who have been identified as being a part of the Industry Themed Project (Health) BSC will customise each student’s secondary school education to suit their interests and talents. This will in turn heighten their engagement with learning, as topics studied will be linked to the health industry. • Involvement in the program will assist the student to develop specialised knowledge, skills and work habits • Access to field placement in a hospital setting providing quality work placements for the participants. • Access to university units as a part of the VCE certificate and recognition in the student’s ATAR score. • Rigorous course selection advice provided for every participating student supporting them to identify, explore and refine career goals and make informed decisions about their future. • Successful completion will earn each student credits, certification and training that the tertiary institutions and the employment sector will recognise • The individual’s course however will remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways, should their goals and plans change. • Provision of a meaningful pathway for both girls and boys. • Opportunities exist to expand this program into other skill shortage areas in health such as dental health and audiology. The school has used locally raised funds to develop a dedicated facility to deliver some of the health programs on the school site. These include Allied Health Services and Community Services - Childcare.

Bundoora is enjoying the privileges that come from having a partnership with a number of universities but in particular with La Trobe University and RMIT University to enable students to access their facilities, programs and academic staff. Specifically through the college's partnership with La Trobe University students have access to a range of opportunities including enhancement studies and mentoring programs.