Overview
The Victorian Deaf Education Institute (VDEI) is a centre of expertise for deaf education, part of the Inclusive Education Professional Practice (IEPP) Branch in the Inclusive Education Division (IncEd).
VDEI is committed to ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing children and young people have equitable access to a full and rewarding education through evidence-based teaching practices that promote inclusion, enrich learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes.
VDEI’s commitment to deaf education is demonstrated through:
- Excellence in professional learning design and delivery. We deliver high-quality blended professional learning that strengthens the practice of teachers, education support staff and allied professionals.
- Enhancing learning and communication through technology. We enable the delivery of online learning, digital resources and communication access through effective use of technological solutions.
- Commitment to educational research. We strengthen professional practice by identifying pedagogy that supports strong educational and wellbeing outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing students.
- Strengthening partnerships and stakeholder relationships. We enhance collaboration and professional practice in deaf and inclusive education through the development of strong departmental, academic and community partnerships that build the capability of the deaf education workforce.
VDEI is committed to engaging with internal and external stakeholders in ways that foster collaboration, maintain trust and are responsive to changing expectations and needs in the deaf education sector.
To further consolidate our stakeholder engagement, VDEI collaborates closely with the Deaf community and with peak organisations to ensure that programs, policies and initiatives address issues that impact deaf and hard of hearing young people. We frequently meet and consult with leaders of deaf education programs to keep abreast of current trends in teaching practice and are guided in our design of professional learning resources and research projects that inform and support educational practice.
VDEI highly values collaboration with advisory groups that represent deaf and hard of hearing students, peak bodies, families and educators. These advisory groups play an important part in shaping VDEI’s strategic goals and serve to strengthen our commitment to the deaf education community.
VDEI logo
The VDEI logo signifies the diversity of needs of deaf and hard of hearing children The colour and shape of the logo change and move to reflect innovation, technological advancements and 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 deaf education in an environment of community, diversity, dynamism, energy and positivity. The bright orange tones were chosen to signify hope and bright futures.
VDEI Acknowledgment of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation, and we pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.
We recognise the richness of the culture and language of First Peoples and respect their indigenous sign languages that are as old as the culture itself.
From our First Nations peoples we learn about the value of diverse forms of communication in communities that embrace inclusion.
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