At the VU First Year College, we offer a unique learning experience designed specifically for first year students.

We make sure you have exactly what you need to get where you want to go, regardless of where you've come from, and give all students the opportunity to enter second year on an even playing field.

Our College is steered by a multidisciplinary team of specialist educators, who design and implement a curriculum that is engaging, authentic and focused on future success. At the end of your first year you will understand what it means to be a university student and have the skills, confidence and knowledge to successfully complete your degree. 

With more than 4000 enrolments each year, the First Year College (FYC) is one of Victoria University’s largest colleges.

 Block model for all VU students by 2020

“We have redesigned the university experience - so our students have the skills to succeed in a future filled with jobs that are yet to be invented.”

– Professor Andrew Smallridge, Dean.

Awards & recognition

Teaching award

2020 winner of the Australian Award for University Teaching – First Year College Block Model teachers.

Excellence award

2018 winner of the Victorian International Education Awards – Excellence in International Education

How the Block Model works

Going to university usually means juggling multiple subjects at the same time and high-pressure assessment periods - all while meeting your work and personal commitments.

With the VU Block Model, you can study one subject at a time. You'll have the time to focus completely on the subject over a four-week 'block'. 

We're the first university in Australia to offer the Block Model, and the results speak for themselves. In 2019, first-year pass rates were at 87% - 13% higher than standard model. Over 40% of students received distinctions or high distinctions, with no change to the assessments given.

globe icon in VU brand colour

Overarching

  • One unit at a time
  • Each unit immersed and self contained
  • Predictable schedule
  • Environment of connection and belonging
  • Student Centred; active and engaging
  • Small classes <35
  • Blended
  • Coherently aligned and informed by unit learning outcomes, graduate attributes, industry/professional requirements

Design & Development

  • Whole of course aligned
  • Real world/authentic assessment
  • Opportunity for early success
  • Feedback rich
  • Achievable in Block Model timeframe
  • VUC space available prior to commencement
  • All learning resources in VU Collaborate
  • Team-based, cross-disciplinary approach to D&D
  • Ongoing cycle of review

envelope icon in VU brand colours

Delivery

  • Feedback rich
  • Active learning
  • Inquiry based
  • Interactive learning activities
  • Opportunities for students to engage and connect
  • Opportunities for practice
  • Digitally enabled via collaborative learning spaces & interactive tools
  • Explicit instructions

check mark in VU brand colours

Assessment

  • Authentic, real world content
  • Varied and engaging
  • Clear expectations
  • Feedback rich
  • Opportunities for self and peer assessment
  • Explicit assessment instruction
  • Results issued before next block
  • Automated where possible

Our people

Name & role title Contact details
Professor Andrew Smallridge
Executive Dean
+61 3 9919 4758
andrew.smallridge@vu.edu.au
Rechelle Martinez
Head of Operations
+61 3 9919 4884
rechelle.martinez@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski
Associate Dean Learning & Teaching
+61 3 9919 5411
loretta.konjarski@vu.edu.au
Dr Bert Oraison
Deputy Associate Dean Learning and Teaching
+61 3 9919 5172
bert.oraison@vu.edu.au
Professor Tom Clark
Associate Dean Research & Research Training
+61 3 9919 2196
tom.clark@vu.edu.au
Professor Kathy Tangalakis
Professoriate
+61 3 9919 2618
kathy.tangalakis@vu.edu.au
Professor Stephen Bigger
Professoriate
+61 9919 2959
stephen.bigger@vu.edu.au

Name & role title Contact details
Rechelle Martinez
Head of Operations
+61 3 9919 4884
rechelle.martinez@vu.edu.au
Yildiz Djelal
Operations Coordinator
+61 3 9919 4699
yildiz.djelal@vu.edu.au
Monica De Melo Freire
Appointment Officer
+61 3 9919 4618
monica.surace@vu.edu.au
Maria Romania
Scheduling Coordinator
+61 3 9919 5798
maria.romania@vu.edu.au
April Missale
Administrative Officer
+61 3 9919 5131
april.missale@vu.edu.au

A

Name Contact details
Dr Sidney Adams +61 3 9919 5860
sidney.adams@vu.edu.au
Kirsten (Kirsty) Agius +61 3 9919 2107
kirsten.agius@vu.edu.au
Dr Ashik Alvi +61 3 9919 4023
ashik.alvi@vu.edu.au
Samantha Amjadali +61 3 9919 1950
samantha.amjadali@vu.edu.au
Dr Andrew Antiohos +61 3 9919 8158
andrew.antiohos@vu.edu.au
Paul Ashton +61 3 9919 7095
paul.ashton@vu.edu.au
Mariam Atib +61 3 9919 2111
mariam.atib@vu.edu.au
Dr Roger Averill +61 3 9919 5171
roger.averill@vu.edu.au

B

Name Contact details
Rachael Beatson rachael.beatson@vu.edu.au
Jessica Bennett +61 3 9919 5804
jessica.bennett@vu.edu.au
Patricia Berardone +61 3 9919 5714
patricia.berardone@vu.edu.au
Bhashika Bhattarai + 61 9919 2733
bhashika.bhattarai@vu.edu.au
Professor Stephen Bigger +61 3 9919 2959
stephen.bigger@vu.edu.au
Richard Bolaffi +61 3 9919 5231
richard.bolaffi@vu.edu.au
Kiernan Box +61 3 9919 5824
kiernan.box@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Michael Burke +61 3 9919 4238
michael.burke@vu.edu.au

C

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Domenico Caridi +61 3 9919 8077
domenico.caridi@vu.edu.au
Professor Tom Clark +61 3 9919 2196
tom.clark@vu.edu.au
Simone Cliffe +61 3 9919 4121
simone.cliffe@vu.edu.au
Dr Jenna Corcoran +61 3 9919 5149
jenna.corcoran@vu.edu.au
Corene Courtnage +61 3 9919 2006
corene.courtnage1@vu.edu.au

D

Name Contact details
Sam Dang +61 3 9919 8162
sam.dang@vu.edu.au
Joelle De Saint +61 3 9919 95861
Joelle.DeSaint@vu.edu.au
Dr Jingliang Dong + 61 9919 5622
jingliang.dong@vu.edu.au
Dr Shane Dooley +61 3 9919 4779
shane.dooley@vu.edu.au

E

Name Contact details
Gerard Everett +61 3 9919 7811
gerard.everett@vu.edu.au

F

Name Contact details
Dr Neil Fernandes +61 3 9919 5808
neil.fernandes@vu.edu.au
Dr Julie Fletcher +61 3 9919 5262
julie.fletcher@vu.edu.au
Tahlia Funnell +61 3 9919 2047
tahlia.funnell@vu.edu.au

G

Name Contact details
Mihai Gavrilescu +61 3 9919 2009
mihai.gavrilescu@vu.edu.au
Shiran Geng +61 3 9919 5917
shiran.geng@vu.edu.au
Dr David Goss

+61 3 9919 5090

david.goss@vu.edu.au

Robert Grant +61 3 9919 5832
robert.grant@vu.edu.au
Natasha Grimble +61 3 9919 5692
natasha.grimble@vu.edu.au

 

H

Name Contact details
Jackie Hammill +61 3 9919 5429
jackie.hammill@vu.edu.au
Katherine Harkin +61 3 9919 1043
katherine.harkin@vu.edu.au
Dr Dale Harris dale.harris@vu.edu.au
Mercy Henry +61 3 9919 2021
mercy.henry@vu.edu.au
Roderick Herbert +61 3 9919 1084
roderick.herbert@vu.edu.au
Dr Samuel Howe +61 3 9919 8342
samuel.howe@vu.edu.au
Julie Huf +61 3 9919 5169
julie.huf@vu.edu.au
Dr Maja Husaric +61 3 9919 1156
maja.husaric@vu.edu.au

I

Name Contact details
Dr Susan Irvine susan.irvine@vu.edu.au

J

Name Contact details
Dr Susan Johnston +61 3 9919 1392
susanl.johnston@vu.edu.au

K

Name Contact details
Craig Kappes +61 3 9919 6378
craig.kappes@vu.edu.au
Kostas Kastis +61 3 9919 2908
kostas.kastis@vu.edu.au
Emily Keohane +61 9919 4391
emily.keohane@vu.edu.au
Colin King +61 3 9919 1859
colinj.king@vu.edu.au
Dr Rudi Klein +61 3 9919 1859 2558
rudi.klein@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Natalie Kon Yu +61 3 9919 2036
natalie.konyu@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski +61 3 9919 5411
loretta.konjarski@vu.edu.au
Dr Bichok Kot +61 3 9919 5556
bichok.kot@vu.edu.au
Kaitlyn Krahe +61 3 9919 5699
kaitlyn.krahe@vu.edu.au

L

Name Contact details
Dr Rui Li +61 3 9919 5812
rui.li@vu.edu.au
Caroline Linus +61 3 9919 5601
caroline.linus@vu.edu.au
Dr Edward Lock +61 3 9919 4172
edward.lock@vu.edu.au
Dr Sidney Lung +61 3 9919 4427
sidney.lung@vu.edu.au

M

Name Contact details
Meagan (Meg) McInnes +61 3 9919 2170
meagan.mcinnes@vu.edu.au
Dr Scott Michael +61 3 9919 4203
scott.michael@vu.edu.au
Renita Michielin +61 3 9919 5007
renita.michielin@vu.edu.au

N

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Thinh Nguyen +61 3 9919 4281
thinh.nguyen@vu.edu.au

O

Name Contact details
Dr Steven O'Bryan +61 3 9919 5806
steven.obryan@vu.edu.au
Dr Lannie O'Keefe +61 3 9919 2465
lannie.okeefe@vu.edu.ua
Dr Shane O'Riordan +61 3 9919 5293
shane.oriordan@vu.edu.au
Dr Daniel Ooi +61 3 9919 2200
daniel.ooi@vu.edu.au
Dr Bert Oraison +61 3 9919 5172
bert.oraison@vu.edu.au
Samuel Orchard +61 3 9919 5816
samuel.orchard@vu.edu.au
Dr Shane O'Riordan +61 9919 5293
shane.oriordan@vu.edu.au
Sera Osmani +61 9919 5329
sera.osmani@vu.edu.au

P

Name Contact details
Stella Pardalis +61 3 9919 1865
stella.pardalis@vu.edu.au
Tess Paturzo +61 3 9919 5297
tess.paturzo@vu.edu.au
Stephanie Permal +61 3 9919 1870
stephanie.permal@vu.edu.au
Sunam Pradhan +61 3 9919 5803
sunam.pradhan@vu.edu.au
Michelle Prawer +61 3 9919 5815
michelle.prawer@vu.edu.au

R

Name Contact details
Dr Gayathri (Gaya) Rajaraman +61 3 9919 2132
gayathri.rajaraman@vu.edu.au
Kathleen Raponi +61 3 9919 1998
kathleen.raponi@vu.edu.au
Darren Reston +61 3 9919 5966
darren.reston@vu.edu.au
Sam Romijn +61 3 9919 2676
sam.romijn@vu.edu.au

S

Name Contact details
Dr Darryl (Owen) Saunders + 61 3 9919 1836
owen.saunders@vu.edu.au
Dr Fotios Sidiroglou +61 3 9919 4913
fotios.sidiroglou@vu.edu.au
Aaron Simson-Woods +61 3 9919 5134
aaron.simson-woods@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Puspha Sinnayah +61 3 9919 2262
puspha.sinnayah@vu.edu.au
Dr Ming Song +61 3 9919 5831
ming.song@vu.edu.au
Dr Gabriele (Gabe) Sorrentino +61 3 9919 5227
gabriele.sorrentino@vu.edu.au
Andrea (Ande) Szendroe +61 3 9919 7075
andrea.szendroe@vu.edu.au

T

Name Contact details
Professor Katerina (Kathy) Tangalakis +61 3 9919 2618
kathy.tangalakis@vu.edu.au
Dr Nicholas (Nick) Tripodi +61 3 9919 1603
nicholas.tripodi@vu.edu.au

V

Name Contact details
Jeremy Vassallo +61 3 9919 5291
jeremy.vassallo@vu.edu.au
Elmer Villanueva 61 3 9919 5269
elmer.villanueva@vu.edu.au
Dr Kristina (Kris) Vingrys +61 3 9919 5339
kris.vingrys@vu.edu.au

W

Name Contact details
Associate Professor John Weldon +61 3 9919 2584
john.weldon@vu.edu.au
Associate Professor Max Winchester +61 3 9919 4618
maxwell.winchester@vu.edu.au
Rebecca (Bec) Wospil +61 3 9919 1303
rebecca.wospil@vu.edu.au

x

NAME CONTACT DETAILS
Alexander Xynas

+61 3 9919 5470
alexander.xynas@vu.edu.au

Y

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Thomas (Tom) Yeager +61 3 9919 8103
thomas.yeager@vu.edu.au

Z

Name Contact details
Dr Mahtab Zaerilolmani +61 3 9919 5813
mahtab.zaerilolmani@vu.edu.au

 

AVID Australia

AVID operates as a not for-profit unit within the First Year College.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. It is a whole-school improvement system that supports teachers and school leaders to raise the education outcomes of underachieving students. AVID designs, delivers, and sustains bespoke, continuous professional learning and school improvement programs in partnership with schools across Australia.

AVID helps schools to achieve their goals by:

  • Equipping students with the academic behaviours and social skills that will enable them to succeed at school and beyond
  • Helping teachers become facilitators of learning in a student-centred classroom.
  • Supporting principals to change the existing paradigms at their school

Visit the AVID website for more information and resources.

More information

Find out more about AVID Australia.
Phone: +61 3 9919 7832
Email: avid.australia@vu.edu.au