Terms of Reference for the Review of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
At the Minister for Education’s request, the Secretary of the Department of Education has established a full ‘root-and-branch’ Review of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) in response to issues arising from the 2024 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) examinations.
Dr Yehudi Blacher PSM has been appointed as the Lead Reviewer and will be supported by expert advisors commissioned to advise on workstreams related to their areas of specialisation, including curriculum and assessment, and organisational design and governance.
The Review will:
- examine whether all aspects of the Authority are working in the best way possible to deliver on its functions and statutory responsibilities
- take stock of how the Authority is performing in light of recent reviews, and
- identify further reforms that will ensure Victoria has an Authority that is fully fit for purpose and has the confidence of students, schools and the Victorian community at its centre.
The Review has 2 concurrent streams of inquiry:
- A detailed review of the issues associated with the production of the 2024 VCE exams.
- A review of the VCAA’s structure, operations, culture and capability, including benchmarking and comprehensive consultation with VCAA staff and key stakeholders.
A Stage 1 Report will be provided to the Minister and Secretary into the issues related to the production of the 2024 VCE examinations. This will include recommendations to strengthen the VCAA’s processes for the 2025 VCE exam series to ensure that these issues are not repeated. Margaret Crawford has been appointed as an Independent Monitor to provide assurance that the VCAA is fully implementing these recommendations.
A Stage 2 Report examining all elements of the VCAA’s operations – addressing delivery of the VCE examinations as well as its other key statutory functions – will provide recommendations and a blueprint for the future operation of the VCAA to ensure it acquits its responsibilities to the highest standards.
Both reviews will be finalised in 2025.
Scope
The Review will include a detailed analysis into the exact circumstances leading to the issues related to the production of some of the 2024 VCE examinations and of all elements of the VCAA’s operating model.
The Review will address the adequacy of the VCAA’s structure, operations and capability to deliver its key functions as set out in section 2.5.3 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETRA), including:
- design and delivery of examinations for VCE
- development of VCE course and the Victorian Pathways Certificate
- development of Curriculum F-10 and guidance to support delivery
- development of policies, criteria and standards for learning which relate to early childhood
- development of assessment tools
- administration of national assessments.
As part of the Review, the Lead Reviewer and expert advisors will consider the findings and recommendations from the Independent review into the VCAA's 2023 VCE examination-setting policies, processes and procedures (the Bennett Review) and any other relevant prior reviews.
Approach
The Lead Reviewer, supported by the expert advisors, will:
- undertake a benchmarking exercise against equivalent authorities in Australia and any relevant international authorities to identify best practice against which to assess the work of the VCAA
- assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the current design and operations of the VCAA drawing upon relevant contemporary frameworks such as the Australian Public Service Commission’s Capability Review Framework and the New Zealand Public Service Commission’s Agency Capability Model
- consider the recommendations from previous reviews and examine the degree to which they have been implemented by the VCAA
- consult with key stakeholders and experts to understand the performance of the VCAA against its key functions
- engage with the VCAA’s Chair, Board, Chief Executive Officer, Audit and Risk Committee, senior leaders and the Department of Education, to gain insights into current issues
- design and conduct a comprehensive consultation process with VCAA staff
- provide advice to the Minister and Secretary on the VCAA’s operations and areas for improvement, and a blueprint for the future operation of the VCAA.
To facilitate this work, the Lead Reviewer has been delegated powers to require the provision of information from the VCAA, and to permit the Review to advise the Secretary and the Minister of, and to work with and provide guidance to the VCAA on, any relevant findings or matters, under section 13A of the Public Administration Act 2004.
Governance
The Lead Reviewer will report to the Secretary of the Department of Education. The expert advisors will report to the Lead Reviewer.
Resourcing
The Lead Reviewer is being supported by a specialist team from a third-party organisation with governance, project management and organisational design expertise, together with administrative support sourced by the Department of Education.
Terms of Reference for the Independent Monitor for the 2025 VCE examinations
At the Minister for Education’s request, the Secretary of the Department of Education has established an Independent Monitor to provide advice and assurance regarding the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s (VCAA) end-to-end preparation and delivery of the 2025 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) examinations, including compliance with legislative obligations and published guidelines. The role is being carried out by Margaret Crawford PSM.
This function has been established in response to issues arising from the 2024 VCE examination series, and is intended to provide additional and specific assurance and oversight of the preparation and delivery of 2025 exams.
The Independent Monitor will assess the compliance of the VCAA’s work in preparing, producing and managing the 2025 VCE examinations with its documented processes – including improvements to processes and protocols introduced via previous reviews – and regulatory requirements, and provide recommendations for refinement and adjustment where required.
The Independent Monitor will report to the Minister and Secretary and will advise the VCAA Board and Chief Executive Officer of any identified issues to support their early rectification.
The Independent Monitor was appointed in December 2024 and continue their work throughout the 2025 school year, concluding in December 2025.
Scope
The Independent Monitor will provide assurance regarding the adequacy and progress of each stage of the 2025 examinations development and delivery process:
- Establishment and induction of exam panels
- Exam writing
- Production of exams and supplementary material
- Checking of exams and supplementary material
- Printing and distribution of exams and supplementary material
- Conduct and management of exam process
- Any other relevant processes.
The focus will be on assuring that the VCAA’s protocols and processes for each of the above stages as outlined in published guidelines and legislative obligations are clearly defined and being implemented with fidelity, and appropriate risk procedures are in place.
As part of their work, the Independent Monitor will consider the VCAA’s implementation of recommendations from prior reviews, including the Independent review into the VCAA's 2023 VCE examination-setting policies, processes and procedures (the Bennett Review).
Examinations for all VCE subjects are within scope, including both written and performance examinations.
Matters that are out of scope for the Independent Monitor include:
- the design and development of VCE study designs
- the quality/merits of individual items included in examinations, as the focus is on the VCAA’s processes.
Approach
The Independent Monitor will:
- track and assess the adequacy and progress of the VCAA’s preparation and delivery of the 2025 VCE examinations
- receive regular briefings from the Chief Executive Officer on the VCAA’s preparation and delivery of the 2025 VCE examinations, and meet with the VCAA board as required
- provide quality assurance advice and reports to the Minister and Secretary on the adequacy and progress of the VCAA’s preparation and delivery of the 2025 VCE examinations
- provide independent advice to the Minister and Secretary as requested by the Secretary from time to time.
To facilitate this work, the Independent Monitor has been delegated powers to require the provision of information from the VCAA, and to permit the Independent Monitor to advise the Secretary and the Minister of, and to work with and provide guidance to the VCAA on, any relevant findings or matters, under section 13A of the Public Administration Act 2004.
The Independent Monitor will consider any early findings from the Review of the VCAA’s structure and operations that go to the failures associated with the 2024 VCE exams, to inform monitoring of the 2025 exams.
Governance
The Independent Monitor will report to the Secretary of the Department of Education.
Resourcing and support
The Independent Monitor is being supported by a specialist team from a third-party organisation with audit and project management expertise together with administrative support sourced by the Department of Education.
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