The AYCE (Access Yea Community Education) Program aims at providing education for students who, for a wide variety of reasons, are not enrolled at a school. In 1999 the school ran a pilot program and, in practice, the program attracted mainly students who had been, up until that time, home educated.
By the end of 2005, the program had extended to eight off-campus centres. The program is able to be suited to all age groups, including students who have left school before doing their VCE. It is a requirement that students are enrolled at a school in order for them to attempt their VCE, and this program gives students not attending a mainstream school, the opportunity to access this qualification.
The program requires weekly attendance at the centre of choice, and compulsory attendance two days a term at Yea High School for a meeting from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. between teachers, parents, students and administration. This day also allows for classes, practical work, contact with other students and parents, access to specialist teachers and time to use resources held at the school. Students have the use of the Science Laboratory and Science equipment, Careers Room with career advice and guidance and a variety of Technology rooms. Attendance on this day is essential to the success of the program.
Many home ed students use this program as a transition to formal study.
Telephone: (03) 9758 6604
Facsimile: (03) 9758 6510
Address: Racecourse Road, Yea 3717
Website: http://www.yeahs.vic.edu.au
Email: moc.dnopgibnull@shy.ecya
AYCE Program Leader: Mrs Annette Scales
We visited the Frankston AYCE centre and received a lovely welcoming from staff and students. We were able to have more time than expected to talk over needs and expectations and went home with samples of some work available. I was left with the impression of a respectful and encouraging work environment.
I have a 16yr old, who has major school refusal. He is a high achieving Asperger’s, who learns differently, but has been through the Catholic Education system, who have tried very hard, but unfortunately they’ve been trying to squeeze
a square peg into a round hole, anything else is just too hard & too expensive. He has a high aniexty levels, and because
he has not achieved much at school, he feels disenfranchized. He has totally opted out this year (11). On a more positive level he has been able to organize his own work experience, attends the Lab @ Vic. Uni, interested
in Kung Fu and computer games, would like to design games & has a general interest in IT. I am interested in finding
an alternate way to educate him. Can you help? We live in Sunbury,Vic.
Hi Cheryl,
I recommend Open Uni for your son. There are no prerequisites for most first year subjects apart from being over 11 years of age. Your son could just start with one subject at a time and continue with his lab experience and other interests. You can do your entire degree online if you wish or get a few subjects under your belt and then apply for a Commonwealth Supported Place through VTAC.
School obviously isn’t meeting his needs – just skip VCE and get him into uni. They have some good subjects in IT and games design. One of our members completed a few of their IT subjects and has been accepted into 2nd year Deakin for an IT degree this year. His story will be in the May issue of Otherways. We have many other examples of HEN members getting into uni without VCE via this route – see Otherways 128 for details.