DATTA Vic - What we do

Our Mission

DATTA Vic empowers Design & Technologies educators to deliver innovative, sustainable, and future-focused learning. We support teachers through high-quality professional development, resources, and advocacy, and we champion the vital role of design, engineering, and creative problem-solving in Victorian schools.

Our Values Statement

At DATTA Vic, we believe in empowering educators to inspire the next generation of creators, thinkers, and problem solvers. We value excellence in Design & Technologies education, fostering innovation through the design process, and integrating cutting-edge technological knowledge. We champion collaboration and community, providing professional learning, resources and advocacy to support teachers across primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. We commit to sustainability and inclusivity, embedding First Nations perspectives, ethical practices, and environmental consciousness in design education. Through partnership, respect, and continuous learning, we strive to advance a more creative, equitable and future-ready educational landscape in Victoria.

DATTA Vic aims to:

provide advice and support for teachers to help improve the teaching of Design & Technologies
foster the study and teaching of Design & Technologies, VCE Product Design & Technologies and VCE Systems Engineering
develop and deliver professional learning opportunities and support materials for teachers and students
raise awareness of the importance of Design & Technologies education for a sustainable future

Our members teach :

The Australian and Victorian Curricula
F-10 Design & Technologies (including sustainability, electronics, engineering systems, coding, robotics, food & fibre production, materials & technologies specialisations
Primary & secondary
STEaM
VCE Product Design & Technologies
VCE Systems Engineering
VCE VET
Higher education
Community organisations

We support our members by:

Running annual conferences
Offering a rage of professional learning workshops
Delivering student sessions on VCE Product Design & Technologies and VCE Systems Engineering
Providing help and advice
Developing teacher support materials
Creating free resources for members
Contributing to education initiatives which benefit Design & Technologies teachers
Giving out annual awards
Establishing special projects which support our members and enrich the teaching of Design & Technologies
Addressing the critical shortage of Design & Technologies teachers in Victorian schools
Advocating on behalf of D&T teachers with government, industry and the university sector
Delivering our Annual Design & Technologies Week to raise awareness in the wider school community of our subject

We develop partnerships with key stakeholders that will benefit teachers and students of Design & Technologies. These include;

Department of Education
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
Council of Professional Teachers Associations of Victoria (CPTAV)
DATTA Australia
Individual subject associations for the purposes of professional learning
Other professional bodies
Educational Institutions
Relevant Industry, Community and Government Organisations

About our learning area

Design and Technologies is an area of the curriculum that applies the Design Process, and uses tools and materials and new technological knowledge to create products, services and environments for a range of end users.

DATTA Vic represents and supports teachers of F-10 Design & Technologies, VCE Product Design & Technologies and VCE Systems Engineering, as well as relevant VCE VET programs.

For more information on the learning areas we cover, click on the links below:

F-10 Design & Technologies

Australian Curriculum

VCE Product Design & Technologies

VCE Systems Engineering