Established in 2010, the Victorian Deaf Education Institute (VDEI) is part of the Inclusive Education Professional Practice Branch in the Department of Education and Training (DET). The institute is located on St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, sharing Deaf Children Australia’s heritage space with the Victorian College for the Deaf.
VDEI’S vision is to contribute to improvement in the educational outcomes for the 4,000 students in Victoria who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). To achieve its vision, VDEI engages in partnerships with schools, early childhood programs, universities and other professional organisations to:
- Deliver excellence in professional learning programs
- Identify leading practice in teaching and learning to support the educational, social and psychological development of children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Enable improved curriculum access and inclusion for students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Promote the specialised skills of Teachers of the Deaf and allied professionals by supporting the role they play in providing educational experiences that are inclusive and rewarding for all students.
- Contribute to the development of a local and global learning community by strengthening networks for knowledge-sharing and capability building
- Identify the leading pedagogical practices in deaf education to ensure that Victoria becomes a truly inclusive Education State
VDEI Logo
The VDEI logo signifies the diversity of needs of children regardless of their level of hearing loss, communication mode, cultural or educational environment. The colour and shape of the logo change and move to reflect innovation, pushing technological boundaries and promoting openness to new ideas.
The fluid motion of the logo promotes the notion of continual learning and change, connectedness, and bringing together a local and global network of skills and expertise in an environment of community, diversity, dynamism, energy and positivity. The bright orange tones were chosen to signify hope and bright futures.
