Committee For Lorne: Community Profile - Cherie Osta

Have you noticed how ‘like new’ the iconic shark sculpture looks in Sharky’s Surf Shop window?

Well, that’s thanks to just one of Lorne P-12 College, multi award winning teacher, Cherie Osta and her team’s many VCAL programs.

Much has been written about Cherie’s achievements recently (VCAL Teacher of the Year 21017) but she is far more interested in talking about those of her students. She is the totally dedicated, highly motivated coordinator of VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) at the Lorne School – which, by the way, she attended herself for some years. She loves her job and the connection she has with her students and her supportive colleagues. Her energy is endless. Lorne’s programs have been so successful that she has been asked to mentor and support other schools, including Horsham and Mildura. She has conducted master classes in Melbourne.

Cherie’s family has always had a house in Lorne. She was brought up in an environment where giving back to the community was highly valued. “My mother, Jenifer Collins, has always been a strong advocate of ‘hands on giving’, from supporting those with addictions on the streets to volunteering in the Lorne Op Shop. She was a wonderful role model to all of us.” This is the spirit that flavours Cherie’s life, at home and at work. Social justice is the focus of the programs she creates to individually suit her students every year, such as working with The Sisters of Charity and feeding homeless men, being involved with the Arts Festival, renovating the ‘Dolls House’ and making a documentary of the construction of The Great Ocean Road. “Refugee teenagers have been welcomed into Lorne through the students’ initiative to experience our wonderful community and swim in the ocean for the first time”. Soon her VCAL students will travel to Alice Springs to work with a group of Aboriginal teenagers who, in October, will make a return visit to Lorne.

“My main highlight has been to witness the incredible link between community and the Lorne VCAL students. Not just financial support but through people’s time and energy – sharing stories, experiences and skills”. With this community support and providing them with knowledge, personal skills and confidence, she has been able to inspire students into starting their own businesses or work in a profession that they are passionate about.

Cherie says she is blessed to have the opportunity to work with people who are not only intelligent, gifted teachers but who share her passion. “At the end of the day, it’s all about my amazing students. I learn as much from them as they do from me”.

There would be few of us who couldn’t help but wonder what a difference a teacher like Cherie, could have made to our own education and ultimate careers. Nothing wrong with dreaming!