Distinguished experts have been appointed to lead the root-and-branch review of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and conduct the independent monitoring announced in the wake of the 2024 VCE exams errors.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced the appointment of Dr Yehudi Blacher PSM as Lead Reviewer and the appointment of Margaret Crawford PSM as the Independent Monitor.
Dr Blacher was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2012, was made a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia in 2014 and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Monash University in 2022. He was also a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne between 2012 and 2022.
Margaret Crawford has served for many years as a senior public servant in Victorian, New South Wales and Commonwealth governments and as Auditor-General for New South Wales for the past eight years. In 2023 she was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding service in ensuring the integrity of the NSW Public sector.
Dr Blacher and Ms Crawford will operate in tandem and leave no stone unturned to provide full confidence to Victorian students, families and schools.
Dr Blacher will head up a team of specialist experts who will conduct a comprehensive organisational review of all elements of the exam authority's structure and operations. They will also run a review into the production issues that affected the 2024 exams.
Ms Crawford will oversee all aspects of exam preparation, management and production. Her work will include consideration of recommendations from previous reviews, including the Bennett Review, and any early recommendations from the root-and-branch review.
The complete organisational review and independent monitoring will strengthen the integrity of the VCE exams and provide full confidence to Victorian students, families and schools.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"The independent monitor will oversee all aspects of next year's exams and ensure that the VCAA will deliver a successful exam period."
"The root-and-branch review of the VCAA will leave no stone unturned in examining the operations and culture within the Authority."
