2 June 2008

CEFA is delighted to announce the commencement of the Victorian schools Parliamentary Club pilot program in conjunction with the Social Education Victoria (SEV) and the Melbourne Museum professional day of learning.

CEFA delivered training for teachers wishing to implement The Parliamentary Club civics, citizenship and student leadership project in their school. Social Education Victoria invited CEFA’s Director of The Parliamentary Club, Don Perna, to facilitate the training as part of the SEV and Melbourne Museum professional day of learning for Victorian schoolteachers with civics and citizenship the major focus of the event.

SEV representatives Diane Mansour (Project Officer Professional Development) and Warren Prior (Project Officer Civics and Citizenship) became aware of this whole-of-school initiative when in attendance at the Social Educators Association of Australia (SEAA) national conference in Newcastle earlier this year, where CEFA showcased  The Parliamentary Club.

The training was very well received and attended by schoolteachers, representatives of the Victorian Electoral Commission, Victorian Student Representative Councils and other interested participants wishing to gain an increased knowledge of the strategies and resources needed to successfully implement the project.

The Parliamentary Club successfully addresses the new Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) introduced recently with specific reference to civic knowledge and community engagement. 

Assisting Mr Perna in the professional development was Nancye Banks, Parliamentary Club co-ordinating teacher at St Leonard’s College Melbourne, Victoria’s first school to implement the initiative. Ms Banks was able to provide strategies specifically related to the VELS and provide evidence highlighting the educational benefits for her students. Mr Perna presented Ms Banks and St Leonard’s with a golden mace for their school parliament and will continue to do so for schools successfully implementing the initiative. Congratulations must go to Ms Banks for delivering a wonderful learning experience for the students of St Leonard’s College.

Schools participating in today’s Professional Development:

Wanganui Park Secondary College
St Leonard’s College Cornish Campus
Geelong Grammar School
Mirboo North Secondary College
Loreto Mandeville Hall Girls School
Brighton Secondary College
Caufield South Primary School
St Joseph’s College Geelong
Cranbourne Secondary College
FCJ College
Braemar College Woodend 

CEFA will now fully support the Victorian pilot of the Parliamentary Club supplying resources, online support and tele-conferencing, enabling teachers to successfully implement the project. Progress of the pilot will be available on our website in the case study/reports section as these become available.