Independent review of the VCAA in response to issues arising from the 2024 VCE examinations

At the Minister for Education’s request, in December 2024 the Secretary to the Department of Education established an independent review of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). This was in response to issues during the the 2024 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) examinations.

The independent review was led by Dr Yehudi Blacher PSM, and the Terms of Reference outline the scope and stages of this review.

Stage One report

The first stage of the review looked at issues with the production of the 2024 VCE exams to determine what happened, why and how.

Dr Blacher handed down the first report in April 2025 with 8 recommendations:

1. Ensure clear, specific accountabilities that align to defined milestones in the examination development process.
2. Clearly document the examination development process end-to-end, identifying and managing key risks.
3. Create a more senior executive director role as a single point of accountability for end-to-end delivery of examinations.
4. Cease the creation of sample cover pages.
5. Reconstitute the VCAA Board to include additional capabilities in critical governance areas.
6. Strengthen the risk and project management capability of those responsible for the examination development process.
7. Conduct regular crisis planning at an executive level in conjunction with the VCAA Board.
8. Pilot the development of an examination repository for select subjects.

The government has accepted all recommendations. Implementation is underway as a priority to safeguard the 2025 VCE examination development and production processes.

Stage Two report

The second and final stage of the report looked at the VCAA’s structure, operations, technology, governance, culture and capability.

Dr Blacher has handed down the second report with 11 recommendations:

1. Retain the VCAA as a Statutory Authority.
2. Strengthen governance focus of the Board on key reforms and refreshed oversight committees.
3. Clarify the VCAA’s relationship with the Department of Education.
4. Establish a sustainable VCAA budget.
5. Implement structural changes to strengthen accountability and refocus the organisation on critical capability uplifts.
6. Reset organisational leadership, capabilities and culture, commencing with a progressive spill-and-fill of senior roles.
7. Critically review and redesign operating policies and processes.
8. Continue strengthening examination processes end-to-end with a focus on stronger process management in the early stages and enhanced integrity controls.
9. Establish a clear technology roadmap with priority focussing on the most critical operational risks.
10. Reset external stakeholder relationships and strengthen the focus on external ‘customer’ needs.
11. Maintain an Independent Monitor for a further 12 months or until the Minister is satisfied that the VCAA has the systems and processes to undertake its functions effectively.

The government has accepted all recommendations.