Student centred learning and road safety in the later years.

The principles of road safety education have application well beyond the early years. Practical and ‘on road’ learning experiences delivered within an applied learning framework have a high level of relevancy in the later years. A new senior school certificate introduced in Victorian schools in 2003, the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), provides for student centred and discovery-based learning focusing on skills development for life, training and work. As a passage to adult independence, students can engage in a unit of work that provides them an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of behaviours that affect road safety for young drivers. Achievement is demonstrated through students’ self-management, decision-making and interpersonal skills; communication of their learning to others; and understanding of the responsibility they and others have to ensuring a safe use of the roads. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214057. Printed volume contains peer-reviewed papers. CD-ROM contains submitted papers.