VCAA appoints Catharine Hydon, bringing ECEC perspective to Victorian curriculum

The Victorian Government has recently announced three new appointments to the board of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), one of whom is Catharine Hydon, a prominent voice in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.

In addition to Ms Hydon’s appointment, Victorian Minister for Education, James Merlino, announced the  appointment of Ms Aayushi Khillan to the VCAA Board, significant in that Ms Khillan will represent the perspective of students completing their final years of high school, given she graduated in 2018. 

Ms Khillan was a member of the Victorian Student Representative Council (VicSRC) Executive team in 2017-18 and won a Premier’s VCE Award for Psychology in 2019, also captaining the school’s debating and public speaking team.

As a recent VCE graduate, Ms Khillan is aware of the issues facing students both at school and in their transition to further education and work, and will bring this perspective to the Board through her involvement with youth in Victoria’s multicultural communities, tutoring disadvantaged students and interest in cyber safety, health and wellbeing.

The two other important appointments made to the Board, in Seir Holley and Catharine Hydon, will also bring diverse perspectives. 

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government described Ms Hydon as a highly qualified early childhood professional with broad experience across a range of early childhood settings both in Australia and internationally. 

Ms Holley is Assistant Principal at Keilor Heights Primary School and has significant experience in government primary schools.

The VCAA board is comprised of 8 to 15 members appointed by Governor-in-Council following nomination by the Victorian Minister for Education.

VCAA Chair Chris Wardlaw welcomed the three new appointees to the VCAA Board, saying he looked forward to working with them in the future.