Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment: Portfolio Preparation Program

The submission and assessment of a professional portfolio is a key component of the Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment (VAPA). 

The VAPA Portfolio Preparation Program is a collaborative workshop that unpacks the portfolio requirements and supports you to apply this to your own documentation. 

Over one day, you will work with members of the VAPA team to understand the:

• rules of evidence
• key elements of the portfolio structure and requirements
• Leadership Initiative File. 

By the end of the program, you will understand how to develop, progress and refine your professional portfolio for submission. 

Note: this program is solely for candidates who been accepted to do the VAPA and have already commenced their assessment.

Audience

Roles

• school leaders
• aspiring principals. 

School sectors 

This program is available to the following school sectors:

• Victorian government
• Catholic
• Independent.

Aaron Wolaniuk 

Aaron joined the Academy in July 2024, working as part of the Pathway to Principalship and Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment teams.

Before he joined the Academy, Aaron spent the previous 4 years working in the South-Western Victoria Region in several roles focused on school improvement including DSSI Leadership Partners Executive Principal, Acting Senior Education Improvement Leader, Acting Executive Director School Performance and Senior School Improvement Practice Lead. Throughout his career Aaron has worked in a range of early childhood, primary and secondary school settings, as a kindergarten director and school teacher, leader, and principal.

Aaron holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Graduate Diplomas in Leading Pedagogy and Mental Health. Aaron is an accredited coach with Growth Coaching International and a certified practitioner with Genos International Emotional Intelligence.

In his spare time, Aaron enjoys spending time with his family, a range of sports, music, gardening, and travelling.

Delivery

The VAPA Portfolio Preparation Program focuses on the portfolio portion of the VAPA Assessment stage. Over one day, you will actively engage in and contribute to one workshop (face-to-face or online; 5 hours).

The overall learning commitment is approximately 5 hours.

Attendance requirements

We strongly recommend completion of the Portfolio Preparation Program, as it supports portfolio development.

Learning outcomes

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• the VAPA portfolio assessment process and key elements
• how to develop a portfolio that includes the key elements and adheres to the portfolio guide
• how to identify appropriate portfolio evidence
• how to take the next steps to develop your portfolio.

Fully subsidised by the Department of Education for Victorian government and non-government school participants.