The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is a statutory body established under the repealed
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Act 2000 which continues to operate under the
Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (the Act).
The Authority is responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education and is also responsible to the Minister for Children and the Minister for Skills and TAFE in relation to sections of Part 2.5 of the Act. The VCAA is responsible for developing high quality early learning and development frameworks, curriculum for school aged students and assessment products and services. The VCAA is a registered Senior Secondary Awarding Body with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).
As part of its functions the VCAA -
- develops policies, criteria and standards for learning, development and assessments which relate to early childhood; and
- develops policies, criteria and standards for curriculum, assessments and courses for school aged students.
The VCAA is the owner of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) - a registered Senior Secondary Qualification with the VRQA - and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) - an accredited foundation secondary qualification under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) and aligned to Level 1 in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
The VCAA also owns Accredited Senior Secondary Courses (Studies) leading to the awarding of the VCE and VPC and is responsible for authorising VRQA registered schools to deliver the VCE and VPC.
To deliver on its learning and development and curriculum responsibilities the VCAA publishes, monitors and supports the implementation of -
- The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework Birth–8 (VEYLDF)
- The Victorian Curriculum Foundation to Year 10
- Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), including the VCE Vocational Major (VM) and Vocational Education and Training (VET)
The VCAA oversees the delivery of, and conducts assessment for the VCE, including assessments of students undertaking accredited senior secondary courses. This includes arranging with schools and other providers to conduct school based assessments on behalf of the VCAA.
The VCAA also conducts assessments against the national standards for measuring and reporting on student performance including the National Assessment Program.