Corryong College is a small government school in the far north-east of Victoria providing teaching and learning for Foundation to Year 12 students.

Corryong College will establish a weekly lunchtime wellbeing program for all students, designed and delivered by VCE Vocational Major (VM) students. The program will provide inclusive, structured activities that promote connection, resilience, and positive mental health for younger students. It will give VCE VM students hands-on experience in planning, leadership, and community engagement. Grant funding will purchase games, art supplies, and wellbeing materials to deliver activities that are engaging and sustainable. These resources will ensure the program provides variety and inclusivity, catering to students with different interests and needs. The project aims to address a gap in wellbeing-focused lunchtime activities at this F–12 school. This is particularly important for a community in which the ongoing impact of bushfire and floods has heightened the need for intentional wellbeing programs that build connection, resilience, and belonging.

Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School in northern regional Victoria provides education for children aged 5–18 years with intellectual and associated disabilities. 

Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School will develop a student-led news and filmmaking program that empowers students of all abilities to share stories from around the school. The program builds skills in acting, interviewing, camera operation, sound, editing, animation, and storytelling, tailored to each student’s strengths and needs. Grant funding will make filmmaking accessible to every learner by providing adaptive equipment such as body-mounted cameras, gimbals, boom microphones, Wacom tablets, lighting, and headsets. These tools will enable full participation for students with physical or intellectual disabilities. The project enhances literacy, numeracy, and employability skills while promoting creativity, collaboration, and confidence. It connects students with local industry mentors, competitions, and community partnerships, opening real-world pathways in digital media and communication.

Gleneagles Secondary College is a government secondary school in Endeavour Hills in metropolitan Melbourne.

Gleneagles Secondary College’s Year 12 VCE VM Community Cookbook will be a student-led project celebrating the school’s rich cultural diversity while addressing real community challenges such as food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. Through storytelling, interviews, recipe writing, budgeting, and design, students connect their personal and family histories to authentic learning in Literacy, Numeracy and Personal Development Skills. Funding will support essential resources including ingredients, photography equipment, and professional printing, enabling every student’s work to be showcased in a high-quality publication. In partnership with local businesses, the cookbook will strengthen family and community connections, foster pride and inclusion, and leave a lasting legacy. Proceeds from sales will sustain future projects, ensuring ongoing impact and authentic applied learning opportunities.

Hampton Park Secondary College is a government secondary school in Hampton Park in metropolitan Melbourne. 

Hampton Park Secondary College will use the grant to fund an intergenerational volunteering project. By partnering with Lynbrook Park Aged Care and Dementia Australia, the project will foster empathy, understanding, and community connection. To gain insight into ageing and dementia, students will undertake professional Dementia Australia training, including a virtual reality immersion program. Using this knowledge, they will design and deliver volunteering sessions such as art, cooking, games, and storytelling to enrich residents’ wellbeing. Funding will support professional education, training, and program delivery costs. The project develops students’ leadership, teamwork, communication, and work-ready skills while combating social isolation among older people. Outcomes will be celebrated at a community showcase, strengthening intergenerational connections and creating lasting social and educational impact across students, residents, and the broader community. 

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a specialist assistance school in western Melbourne that supports students who have disengaged from mainstream education due to social, emotional, or other challenges. 

Hester Hornbrook Academy will re-engage students who have become disengaged from education through producing a children’s literature podcast in partnership with a local publisher. Students will read and record picture books, edit audio, design artwork and write promotional material, developing literacy, digital and creative skills in an authentic context. Each participant will contribute according to their strengths and interests, from narration to editing or design. Grant funding will provide professional-quality recording equipment to ensure high production standards and genuine industry experience. The project builds students’ confidence, teamwork, and employability skills while creating free, high-quality literacy resources for families and schools. It also serves as a pilot model to embed podcasting into the Academy’s VPC delivery and sustain ongoing, student-led creative learning opportunities.

John Paul College is a Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Frankston, Victoria. 

John Paul College will engage VPC students in designing, building, and operating a sustainable garden and café, providing an authentic context for developing literacy, numeracy, personal development, and work-related skills. Students will plan layouts, plant and maintain crops, manage budgets, prepare food, and serve customers, mirroring real workplace experiences. Grant funding will be used to purchase essential infrastructure such as gardening tools, soil, compost, seeds, a greenhouse, and raised beds ensuring a safe and functional environment for hands-on learning. The project will enhance engagement, teamwork, and employability while fostering community partnerships with local businesses and families. By promoting sustainability and inclusion, the school will make the garden and café a vibrant, student-led enterprise that strengthens learning, wellbeing, and community connection.

Merri River School is a government school in Warrnambool providing individualised programs for students with an intellectual disability. 

Merri River School's digital media project will empower senior VPC students to develop crucial digital storytelling and communication skills. Students will learn to plan, film, and edit short vlogs and documentaries, creating tangible digital work. The grant will fund the purchase of high-quality, durable equipment, including a camera, microphones, and tripods. This will ensure equitable access to 21st-century skills and support students’ pathway goals in media, digital literacy, and independent communication. The project will also celebrate existing applied learning initiatives including the school’s Donut Enterprise, R U OK Day event and school garden. It will benefit students by building their confidence, employability skills, and independence. The project will harness students' individual strengths, such as communication, technical problem-solving and creativity and will authentically showcase the capabilities of young people with disabilities. 

Rushworth P–12 College is a government school in Rushworth, central Victoria, that educates students from Foundation to Year 12. 

This project will establish a VCE VM student-led Media Production Hub, where students create school and community media content – including news, interviews, event coverage, and creative features – across video, photography, online, and print formats. In partnership with the Waranga News, the region’s only community newspaper, students will gain authentic industry experience while revitalising a valued local publication. Through real-world media production, learners will strengthen literacy, communication, and employability skills to develop their confidence and professionalism. Grant funding will provide essential industry-grade equipment, including a camera, tripod, lighting, green screen, and an iMac for editing and design. This investment will re-establish Media Arts at the school and empower students to bridge school and community through creativity, collaboration, and storytelling, while building future-focused digital and media capabilities.

Yea High School is a co-educational government secondary college located 100 km north-east of Melbourne. 

The Our Town, Our Story sign project at Yea High School will engage VCE Vocational Major (VM) students in researching, designing, and installing heritage signage across the township to celebrate the stories of historic buildings and sites. Students will work with the Yea and District Historical Society, Murrindindi Shire Council, local residents and a signage company to gather oral histories, verify information, and produce professionally designed signs. Grant funding will support signage design, production, installation, and a community launch event. The project will develop students’ research, communication, and project management skills while creating a lasting public resource that strengthens intergenerational connections, fosters civic pride, and enhances the experience of locals and visitors. It will provide authentic applied learning opportunities that link directly to the VCE VM curriculum, empowering students to leave a meaningful legacy for their town.