Direct enrolment

Students enrolling in the Medical (physical) category must have a specialist diagnosis of a physical disability that restricts their ability to attend a mainstream school for a period of six months or more.

Evidence required:

• School Referral Form
  The student’s most recent school must complete this form, outlining the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports that have been put in place for the student and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV. If the student is not at school, an Agency Referral Form is required, confirming their situation.
• Practitioner Referral Form
  A medical practitioner in the relevant field must complete this form; outlining how the student’s diagnosis and/or treatment prevents their attendance at a mainstream school; how this may impact upon their ability to engage with study; and what continuing treatment or support will be provided. In situations where an agency is also involved with a student, applicants are asked to provide an Agency Referral Form.

Students enrolling in the Medical (social/emotional) category must have a diagnosed mental health or social emotional difficulty, meaning it is not possible for them to attend mainstream school for an extended period of time.

VSV recognises that an important prerequisite for successful engagement with education is the establishment of effective ongoing treatment and support for mental health and social emotional difficulties. Students must demonstrate they are receiving ongoing professional treatment and/or support for their condition/s. The referring practitioner must commit to coordination of the care plan for this student.

Evidence required:

• School Referral Form
  The student’s most recent school must complete this form, outlining the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports that have been put in place for the student and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV. If the student is not at school, an Agency Referral Form is required, confirming their situation.
• Practitioner Referral Form
  A specialist practitioner (psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker) must complete this form, outlining how the student’s diagnosis and/or treatment prevents them from attending a mainstream school, how this condition and treatment may impact upon their ability to engage with study, what continuing treatment or support will be provided; and which professional will be coordinating the care plan for this student.

and/or

• Agency Referral Form
  Where there has been agency involvement in the care and support of a student (e.g. Department of Health and Human Services, Anglicare, Salvation Army) an Agency Referral Form must be completed by the relevant support worker. This should outline all relevant primary reasons why the student is unable to attend a mainstream school; any issues that may impact on the student’s ability to engage with study; and summary details of the ongoing treatment and/or support plan prepared for the student.

Students enrolling in the Travel category must be Victorian residents who are unable to attend a mainstream school because they are travelling within Victoria, Australia or overseas for two consecutive terms or six consecutive months. Travel may be required due to a parent’s or carer’s work commitments or an extended family holiday. The student must recommence enrolment at a mainstream school in Victoria after the period of travel.

Evidence required:

• A letter from student’s most recent school
  A letter from the student’s most recent school is required confirming:
  a) that the student was/is enrolled at the school
  b) that the student has left or is leaving for the purpose of travel
  c) the expected date that the student will return from travel and re-commence enrolment at a mainstream school.
  d) any supporting information if the student has learning difficulties or health conditions that may impact study.
• A letter from a parent’s employer
  This needs to outline the period of employment where the parent is expected to be out of Victoria and/or travelling or
• A certified Statutory Declaration
  This needs to be signed in front of an authorised witness, and must detail:
  a) the proposed itinerary of travel/work
  b) the nature of the travel (eg. work or family holiday)
  c) the expected date of return.

A statutory declaration is also required when travel is due to parent’s work and they are self-employed.

Generally it is expected that students who have been, or expect to be based in a location interstate or overseas for a period of more than two years should enrol in a mainstream school in the location where they are based.

Students who have been enrolled at VSV under the travel category for two or more years are required to seek approval from VSV to continue their enrolment by re-submitting the supporting documentation. Approval is at the discretion of the VSV Principal.

Students enrolling in the Sports/Performance category must have elite sporting or performing arts commitments which prevent them from attending mainstream school. These commitments may include performance or training commitments during regular school times, or extended interstate/international travel for training, competition or performance.

Evidence required:

• A letter from student’s most recent school
  A letter from the student’s most recent school is required confirming:
  a) that the student was/is enrolled at the school
  b) that the student has left or is leaving for sports/performing arts commitments
  c) that in their view, VSV is an appropriate alternative educational experience
  d) any supporting information if the student has learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that may impact on study.
• A letter from the sporting/performing arts association/agent
  A letter from the student’s sporting/performing arts association/agent is required confirming:
  a) the student is involved or competing in elite level sport or performing arts
  b) the student’s performance/training schedule prevents them from attending mainstream school
  c) that in their view, VSV is an appropriate alternative educational experience
  d) contact details of a sporting/performance supervisor that is authorised to liaise with VSV regarding student progress including name, organisation, phone, email and address.

In 2016, the Child Safe Standards were implemented in Victoria for all organisations that work with children and young people, including schools.

Like all Victorian schools, VSV works hard to ensure student safety and wellbeing but we must be vigilant to ensure effective arrangements are in place to manage and reduce the risk of child abuse.

Parents/carers of students enrolling in the Sports/Performance category frequently engage third party organisations and/or individuals prior to enrolling their child at VSV. Parents/carers are strongly encouraged to ensure that third party organisations are compliant with the Child Safe Standards and/or third party individuals hold a current Working with Children Check.

Students enrolling in the Distance category must be Victorian residents who live in a remote area where it is not feasible to travel to a local mainstream government school. The requirements for enrolment in this category vary depending on the age of the student. The following minimum distance requirements must be met:

Students over nine years of age who live more than 4.8 km from the nearest government school and the nearest bus route.

Students under nine years of age who live more than 3 km from the nearest government school and the nearest bus route.

Evidence required:

• A letter from the closest government school
  This letter should confirm the student’s current residential address, and that this address meets the minimum distance requirements outlined above. Families or schools should provide supporting information if the student has learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that might affect study.

Students aged at least 17 years of age at the beginning of the semester they wish to commence in and less than 21 years on the 1st January 2020, may enrol to study a VCE course of study with VSV in 2020.

Evidence required:

• A Young Adult Referral Form
  This form needs to be completed by either:
  a) the student’s previous school
  b) a treating specialist medical practitioner
  c) an agency working with the student or their family

This form should outline the student’s prior schooling experience, the supports that have and will be put in place for the student, and a recommendation regarding the suitability of an enrolment with VSV.

Application should provide supporting information if the student has learning difficulties, disabilities or health conditions that might affect study.

Students enrolling in this category must complete the Student Enrolment Information page in their application, outlining why they feel that VSV and online learning is the most appropriate educational option for them rather than studying at a mainstream school, TAFE or other educational provider.

Students who are currently registered for home schooling with the VRQA for 12 months or more, and have made a decision to return to a government registered school for their senior years (Year 10, Year 11 or Year 12), can apply to enrol directly into a Year 10 or VCE program with VSV in 2020.

Evidence required:

Confirmation of previous home schooling

Demonstrating registration with the VRQA, or an equivalent authority in other states, for the previous consecutive period of 12 months or more.

Confirmation of home schooling deregistration from the VRQA (or interstate equivalent)

Please note: It is not possible to be both registered for home schooling and be enrolled as a VSV student at the same time.

Students will need to make an appointment to attend Virtual School Victoria (315 Clarendon Street, Thornbury) to complete two one-hour long, computer-based moderated assessments looking at their literacy and numeracy capabilities as part of the enrolment process. To make an appointment, please email the Enrolment Office at [email protected]. Parents/carers will need to propose a date and time during school terms, arriving between 9am and 2pm. VSV staff will confirm this date and time.

Students who are in a chronological year level lower than Year 10, or have less than 12 months of registered home schooling, will be required to meet one of our other eligibility criteria, as outlined above, to be eligible to enrol at VSV.

Virtual School Victoria and Home Schooling – what is the difference?

Virtual School Victoria (VSV) is a Victorian Government school that provides flexible learning opportunities to Victorian students who are unable to attend mainstream schooling. In order to directly enrol with VSV students must meet our eligibility criteria. VSV’s learning programs are in line with the Victorian Curriculum. In Years 11-12, VSV follows the curriculum set by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in our wide range of VCE subjects.

Home schooling is where a family takes responsibility for teaching their children at home. Families who home school their children are registered to do this with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). Registered Home Schooling families select appropriate learning materials for their children’s learning program.

Please note, Virtual School Victoria will no longer be providing our current or previous printed learning materials for purchase by registered home schooling families.