The Victorian Government is taking action to rebuild the VCAA and restore confidence for Victorian students, families and schools.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced that the Government will accept all 11 recommendations of the second stage of Dr Yehudi Blacher PSM's root-and-branch review into the VCAA.
Dr Blacher's Stage Two report is a sweeping review of the VCAA's structure, operations, culture and capability.
In line with Dr Blacher's recommendations, the VCAA will continue as an independent statutory authority. As recommended, the organisation's leadership will be reset - excluding the newly appointed CEO. The VCAA board will reset its priorities and strengthen its focus on giving Victorian students, parents and teachers the confidence they deserve.
The new board includes members with strong experience in education, governance, finance, law and HR. To further strengthen oversight, the Minister for Education will issue a statement of expectations to the VCAA every two years.
The new board will lead improvements to governance, accountability and financial management.
Dr Blacher made further recommendations to continue to improve the VCAA's policies and procedures, and to reset external relationships to ensure better two-way communication with schools, staff and students.
The new CEO of the VCAA Andrew Smith will oversee implementation of the report's recommendations, while prioritising the successful delivery of the 2025 exams and preparations for the 2026 exams.
The report recognises progress already made this year and recommends an Independent Monitor remains in place for at least 12 months to protect the integrity of the 2026 exams.
Stage One's eight recommendations - focused on safeguarding the 2025 VCE exams - are on track to be delivered for this year's exams.
Following Stage One of Dr Blacher's root-and-branch review, the VCAA Board was replaced with an interim board led by Department of Education Secretary Tony Bates, which will oversee the 2025 exams and future governance.
Both Stage One and Stage Two of the Blacher Review are available at vic.gov.au/blacher-review-vcaa.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"Victorian students deserve a world-class education, and these actions will make sure the VCAA is fit to deliver that."
"This root-and-branch review of the VCAA has left no stone unturned in identifying the cause of last year's mistakes and we're wasting no time getting on with fixing them."
"Dr Blacher and his team have provided us with a roadmap for reform which, overseen by new CEO Andrew Smith, will deliver a stronger, more accountable, and more robust VCAA for Victorian students for years to come."
As stated by Independent Reviewer Dr Yehudi Blacher
"In preparing this report, we conducted extensive discussions and workshops with staff in the VCAA and the Department of Education. We also met with key stakeholder groups and received 180 written submissions from current and former VCAA staff, stakeholder organisations, teachers and students."
"The overwhelming sentiment was one of sadness and disappointment that the VCAA was not functioning at the level they would like, and a willingness to assist in making it operate more efficiently and effectively in the future. That sentiment underpins this report."
As stated by VCAA CEO Andrew Smith
"I understand that students and schools feel they have been let down by the VCAA. The last thing students need around their exams is additional stress."
"I thank Dr Blacher for his work in completing this review. I welcome the report and think it provides a very clear plan for the Authority going forward."
"I want to assure everyone studying their VCE this year that the VCAA is fully focused on delivering a successful 2025 exam period and students, schools, and families can have every confidence we will do just that."
