COMMUNITY LANGUAGES SCHOOLS PROGRAM
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ACCREDITATION / REACCREDITATION GUIDELINES – 2014
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Community Languages
Schools Program enables students to maintain their mother tongue/heritage language. Funding under
this program is available to accredited not-for-profit, community-based organisations operating after
hours languages programs. For the purposes of this program, a community language is defined as
one used on a day to day basis by members of cultural/linguistic groups resident in Victoria to
communicate with family members, and within their own community.
These guidelines are provided to assist Community Languages Schools (CLS) seeking
accreditation/reaccreditation from the DEECD for Community Languages Schools per capita funding
for 2014. CLS seeking accreditation/reaccreditation must provide the following documentation and
information:
1. Certificate of Incorporation indicating that the community group or school is registered as a not
for-profit organisation under any of the following Acts:
1.1. Associations Incorporation Act 1981
1.2. Corporations Act 2001 as a Company Limited by Guarantee
1.3. Religious and Accessories Charitable Trust Act 1958
2.
A copy of the organisation’s constitution
3.
The organisation’s Australian Business Number (ABN)
4. Details of School Council/Parent Committee/Board
addresses, phone numbers)
of Management membership (names,
5. A certified copy of current Working With Children clearance for Principal and all staff OR current
Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration
6.
A School Charter or Plan for the period for which accreditation is sought
7. An outline of the course provided by the school/organisation based on the Australian Curriculum
in Victoria – AusVELS which requires teaching of the language for a min of 2.5 hours per week for
around 40 weeks per year
8. Samples of the school’s/organisation’s student progress reports based on assessment and
reporting policies and practices for Victorian schools, including a regular communication with parents
9. A certified copy of a First Aid Certificate for at least one current member of staff for each campus
of the school/organisation
10. A copy of the school’s/organisation’s student supervision roster for the term immediately
preceding the application for accreditation/reaccreditation
11. A copy of the school’s/organisation’s student attendance roll for the term immediately preceding
the application for accreditation/reaccreditation
12. A commitment from school to providing Professional Development opportunities for staff and a
commitment from staff to attend around 25 hours of Professional Development per year
13. A list of the school’s/organisation’s teachers who do not have a recognised qualification in
languages teaching, to be placed on the waiting list for participation in an accredited tertiary
Languages Methodology course
14. A commitment to maintaining detailed and accurate recordkeeping practices (of enrolled students
and programs/services provided, expenditure)
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Explanatory Notes

DEECD Accreditation to Community Languages Schools for funding purposes, may be granted for
up to 3 years

Community Languages Schools seeking accreditation for the first time must demonstrate that
they have operated successfully and independently for a minimum of 12 months and are
financially viable, prior to applying for accreditation. The following must be provided with their
application:
-
Number of years of operation
Date when the school/organisation commenced language classes
Number of student enrolments since commencing classes
hold accreditation for funding purposes from DEECD for the year they are applying
for funding

Community Languages Schools seeking accreditation must provide tuition in a language to school
age students, for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week, for approximately 40 weeks a year. The
language program provided must be consistent with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards
(AusVELS) for languages, issued by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
(http://ausvels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/)

Accreditation is granted to a school only for campus/campuses/locations specified on original
accreditation application

Accreditation for a new Community Language School or a new campus of an existing Community
Language School will NOT be granted if the same language is offered by the Victorian School of
Languages (VSL) (www.vsl.vic.edu.au) or another Community Languages School in an area
within a radius of five kilometres from the proposed location of the new Community
Languages School or the new campus, except under exceptional circumstances as determined by
the Department

Accredited Community Languages Schools planning to open up additional campuses OR relocate
their classes to a new location due to their existing premises becoming unavailable must notify
the Department and complete the relevant documentation to recognise additional/relocated
campuses and to ensure these are compliant with Departmental guidelines, in order to maintain
Accreditation

The Department reserves the right to seek further information, including conducting its own
analysis in relation to the impact on other providers, of the new Community Languages School or
a new campus of an accredited Community Languages School

Community Languages Schools which do not provide languages programs for two consecutive
years will lose their Accreditation and would need to apply as a new school to gain Accreditation

Community Languages Schools which are unsuccessful in gaining accreditation/reaccreditation
may seek a review of the accreditation decision

Funding cannot be claimed for students in the following categories:
 students for whom tuition is being provided as a result of an agreement negotiated with a
day school
 students who are temporarily residing in Australia
 overseas students who pay full fees in order to attend government or non-government
schools in Australia
 students who study the same language at a Victorian School of Languages (VSL) Centre
 students for whom the Community Language School is providing tuition or coaching in
other subjects such as maths, English, music, etc.- even if the course /program are also
conducted in the community language
 students who enrolled at the Community Language School after 4 April, 2014
 pre-school children or adults
All applications and documentation for Accreditation/Reaccreditation should be forwarded to:
Ms Vicky Marinelis, Senior Project Officer, Community Languages Schools
Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre (LMERC), 150 Palmerston Street, CARLTON 3053
Applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their applications. Further information or assistance can be obtained by
contacting Ms Marinelis by telephone on (03) 9349 2861 or email at: community.languages@edumail.vic.gov.au
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COMMUNITY LANGUAGES SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Accreditation/Reaccreditation Application Form – 2014
This form is to be used by new or existing Community Languages Schools (CLS) applying for
accreditation or reaccreditation. This form must be submitted by 30 September 2014. The
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) will advise of the outcome of the
application by 31 December 2014.
1.
Community Language School name:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2.
Language: ___________________________________________________________________
3.
Australian Business Number (ABN): _______________________________________________
4.
Campus location/s (for existing CLS schools please include accredited and non-accredited
campuses):
(For existing CLS schools)
Suburb
Campus address
Accredited by
DEECD
YES/NO
Eg. Oakleigh
Oakleigh Primary School, Warrigal Road, Oakleigh
YES
5.
Declaration
Please provide details for two applicants who will take responsibility for this application:
Details of Applicant 1
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Position: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
Telephone/Mobile: ______________________________________________________
E-mail:________________________________________________________________
I certify that all documentation provided is true and correct.
Signature: _____________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________________________
Details of Applicant 2
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Position: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
Telephone/Mobile: ______________________________________________________
E-mail: _______________________________________________________________
I certify that all documentation provided is true and correct.
Signature: _____________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________________________
Application form and all support documents must be submitted to:
Ms Vicky Marinelis
Senior Project Officer, Community Languages Schools
150 Palmerston Street, CARLTON 3053.
For further information please contact Ms Marinelis by telephone on 9349 2861 or by e-mail at
community.languages@edumail.vic.gov.au