At the 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
[email protected]
Rechelle Martinez
Head of Operations
+61 3 9919 4884
[email protected]
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski
Associate Dean Learning & Teaching
+61 3 9919 5411
[email protected]
Dr Bert Oraison
Deputy Associate Dean Learning and Teaching
+61 3 9919 5172
[email protected]
Professor Tom Clark
Associate Dean Research & Research Training
+61 3 9919 2196
[email protected]
Professor Kathy Tangalakis
 
+61 3 9919 2618
[email protected]
Professor Stephen Bigger
 
+61 9919 2959
[email protected]

 

Name & role title Contact details
Rechelle Martinez
Head of Operations
+61 3 9919 4884
[email protected]
Yildiz Djelal
Operations Coordinator
+61 3 9919 4699
[email protected]
Monica De Melo Freire
Appointment Officer
+61 3 9919 4618
[email protected]
Maria Romania
Scheduling Coordinator
+61 3 9919 5798
[email protected]
April Missale
Administrative Officer
+61 3 9919 5131
[email protected]
Kerryn Thornbury
Administrative Officer
+61 3 9919 5361
[email protected]

 

A

Name Contact details
Dr Sidney Adams +61 3 9919 5860
[email protected]
Kirsten (Kirsty) Agius +61 3 9919 2107
[email protected]
Dr Andrew Antiohos +61 3 9919 8158
[email protected]
Paul Ashton +61 3 9919 7095
[email protected]
Mariam Atib +61 3 9919 2111
[email protected]
Dr Roger Averill +61 3 9919 5171
[email protected]

B

Name Contact details
Rachael Beatson [email protected]
Jessica Bennett +61 3 9919 5804
[email protected]
Patricia Berardone +61 3 9919 5714
[email protected]
Bhashika Bhattarai + 61 9919 2733
[email protected]
Professor Stephen Bigger +61 3 9919 2959
[email protected]
Richard Bolaffi +61 3 9919 5231
[email protected]
Kiernan Box +61 3 9919 5824
[email protected]
Associate Professor Michael Burke +61 3 9919 4238
[email protected]

C

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Domenico Caridi +61 3 9919 8077
[email protected]
Professor Tom Clark +61 3 9919 2196
[email protected]
Simone Cliffe +61 3 9919 4121
[email protected]
Dr Jenna Corcoran +61 3 9919 5149
[email protected]
Corene Courtnage +61 3 9919 2006
[email protected]

D

Name Contact details
Sam Dang +61 3 9919 8162
[email protected]
Joelle De Saint +61 3 9919 95861
[email protected]
Dr Jingliang Dong + 61 9919 5622
[email protected]
Dr Shane Dooley +61 3 9919 4779
[email protected]

E

Name Contact details
Gerard Everett +61 3 9919 7811
[email protected]

F

Name Contact details
Dr Neil Fernandes +61 3 9919 5808
[email protected]
Roman Fida +61 3 9919 4015
[email protected]
Dr Julie Fletcher +61 3 9919 5262
[email protected]

G

Name Contact details
Mihai Gavrilescu +61 3 9919 2009
[email protected]
Shiran Geng +61 3 9919 5917
[email protected]
Dr Effy George +61 3 9919 8747
[email protected]
Robert Grant +61 3 9919 5832
[email protected]
Navneet Grewal +61 3 9919 2012
[email protected]
Natasha Grimble

+61 9919 5692

[email protected]

H

Name Contact details
Jackie Hammill +61 3 9919 5429
[email protected]
Katherine Harkin +61 3 9919 1043
[email protected]
Dr Dale Harris [email protected]
Roderick Herbert +61 3 9919 1084
[email protected]
Dr Samuel Howe +61 3 9919 8342
[email protected]
Julie Huf +61 3 9919 5169
[email protected]
Dr Maja Husaric +61 3 9919 1156
[email protected]

I

Name Contact details
Dr Susan Irvine [email protected]

J

Name Contact details
Dr Susan Johnston +61 3 9919 1392
[email protected]

K

Name Contact details
Craig Kappes +61 3 9919 6378
[email protected]
Kostas Kastis +61 3 9919 2908
[email protected]
Emily Keohane +61 9919 4391
[email protected]
Colin King +61 3 9919 1859
[email protected]
Dr Rudi Klein +61 3 9919 1859 2558
[email protected]
Associate Professor Natalie Kon Yu +61 3 9919 2036
[email protected]
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski +61 3 9919 5411
[email protected]
Dr Bichok Kot +61 3 9919 5556
[email protected]
Kaitlyn Krahe +61 3 9919 5699
[email protected]

L

Name Contact details
Dr Rui Li +61 3 9919 5812
[email protected]
Caroline Linus +61 3 9919 5601
[email protected]
Dr Edward Lock +61 3 9919 4172
[email protected]
Dr Sidney Lung +61 3 9919 4427
[email protected]

M

Name Contact details
Meagan (Meg) McInnes +61 3 9919 2170
[email protected]
Dr Scott Michael +61 3 9919 4203
[email protected]
Renita Michielin +61 3 9919 5007
[email protected]

N

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Thinh Nguyen +61 3 9919 4281
[email protected]

O

Name Contact details
Dr Steven O'Bryan +61 3 9919 5806
[email protected]
Dr Lannie O'Keefe +61 3 9919 2465
[email protected]
Dr Shane O'Riordan +61 3 9919 5293
[email protected]
Dr Daniel Ooi +61 3 9919 2200
[email protected]
Dr Bert Oraison +61 3 9919 5172
[email protected]
Samuel Orchard +61 3 9919 5816
[email protected]
Dr Shane O'Riordan +61 9919 5293
[email protected]
Sera Osmani +61 9919 5329
[email protected]

P

Name Contact details
Stella Pardalis +61 3 9919 1865
[email protected]
Tess Paturzo +61 3 9919 5297
[email protected]
Stephanie Permal +61 3 9919 1870
[email protected]
Sunam Pradhan +61 3 9919 5803
[email protected]
Michelle Prawer +61 3 9919 5815
[email protected]

R

Name Contact details
Dr Gayathri (Gaya) Rajaraman +61 3 9919 2132
[email protected]
Kathleen Raponi +61 3 9919 1998
[email protected]
Darren Reston +61 3 9919 5966
[email protected]
Sam Romijn +61 3 9919 2676
[email protected]

S

Name Contact details
Stefan Sambol + 61 3 9919 4043
[email protected]
Dr Darryl (Owen) Saunders + 61 3 9919 1836
[email protected]
Dr Fotios Sidiroglou +61 3 9919 4913
[email protected]
Aaron Simson-Woods +61 3 9919 5134
[email protected]
Jesse Singh +61 3 9919 5082
[email protected]
Associate Professor Puspha Sinnayah +61 3 9919 2262
[email protected]
Dr Ming Song +61 3 9919 5831
[email protected]
Gabriele (Gabe) Sorrentino +61 3 9919 5227
[email protected]
Andrea (Ande) Szendroe +61 3 9919 7075
[email protected]

T

Name Contact details
Grace Tan +61 3 9919 4685
[email protected]
Professor Katerina (Kathy) Tangalakis +61 3 9919 2618
[email protected]
Dr Simon Taylor +61 3 9919 9527
[email protected]
Dr Nicholas (Nick) Tripodi +61 3 9919 1603
[email protected]

V

Name Contact details
Jeremy Vassallo +61 3 9919 5291
[email protected]
Elmer Villanueva 61 3 9919 5269
[email protected]
Dr Kristina (Kris) Vingrys +61 3 9919 5339
[email protected]

W

Name Contact details
Associate Professor John Weldon +61 3 9919 2584
[email protected]
Associate Professor Max Winchester +61 3 9919 4618
[email protected]
Rebecca (Bec) Wospil +61 3 9919 1303
[email protected]

x

NAME CONTACT DETAILS
Alexander Xynas

+61 3 9919 5470
[email protected]

Y

Name Contact details
Associate Professor Thomas (Tom) Yeager +61 3 9919 8103
[email protected]
Associate Professor Janet Young +61 3 9919 4762
[email protected]

Z

Name Contact details
Mahtab Zaerilolmani +61 3 9919 5813
[email protected]

 

+61 3 9919 8747
[email protected]

 

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: [email protected]