The Victorian College of Koori Education has four campuses. Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education, Mildura Campus, is one of these located 550km north-west of Melbourne. Of its 49 students, 47 are Indigenous.

PROGRAMS:
Accelerated Literacy. The school embraced the pedagogy of Accelerated Literacy (AL) in 2008, and became the first Victorian government school to implement AL across the school. This approach was adopted after considerable research into ways to improve low literacy outcomes. That year an external review of the school identified Literacy as a key area requiring improvement. The school leadership team wanted an approach that could create rapid but sustainable improvement.

The school’s approach to AL was notable for the collegial and wide-ranging way in which it was explored, researched and implemented. Without a strong history of AL in Victoria, it was decided to access knowledge from South Australia. Salisbury North Primary School was used as an exemplar, and visits were made there to witness AL in action by many people from Victorian P-12 College of Koorie Education, Mildura Campus, including the principal, all staff, several parents, a Committee of Management member and the Community Liaison Officer. Dare to Lead‘s Chris Harvey then provided Professional Development to the school in Mildura, not just for teachers but for non-teaching staff and community members as well.

“I know that the teachers at this school share my sense of excitement at the changes we are witnessing through the implementation of this program,” principal Barbara Wilson said. “It is not only powerful and sustainable, it’s actually life changing.”

Supporting Languages:

The main driver for Indigenous languages in Victoria is the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages established in 1994. VACL currently runs five language programs across the state that cover 10 languages. They also work with the Central Gippsland TAFE to deliver a Certificate in Australian Indigenous Languages which focuses on giving students revival skills rather than teaching specific languages.

Indigenous languages are underrepresented in the state and independent school sector. The Gunnai language and culture is central to the curriculum of the government funded Woolum Bellum campus of the Victorian College of Koorie Education in Morwell, where the majority of students are Koorie and mostly from Gunnai (Kurnai) families. Yorta Yorta is taught at the Worowa Independent Aboriginal College in Healsville, but students come from all over Australia. Apart from these two schools there has been little take up of Indigenous languages.

MORE INFORMATION:
Barbara Wilson, Principal Victorian College of Koori Education, Mildura Campus. 03 5023 2321 or Wilson.barbara.d@edumail.vic.gov.au