2025 VET NATIONAL TEACHING
& LEARNING CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 VET National Teaching & Learning Conference, held as an in‑person event at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) on 14–15 August. It was fantastic to once again deliver a sold‑out conference, marking a significant milestone — 20 years since the commencement of VDC operations. As CEO Martin Powell noted in his opening address, VDC is proud to have delivered more than 4,500 professional development programs to over 110,000 participants during the past decade.

The 2025 VET National Teaching & Learning Conference theme, ‘From Competence to Excellence – Taking the Journey’, emphasised learning as an ongoing process of growth and improvement. It highlighted the pivotal role educators play in guiding learners towards excellence, recognising that the journey itself—characterised by reflection, commitment and passion—is just as important as the destination.

Across the two days, delegates engaged in a broad range of professional learning opportunities designed primarily for VET practitioners, alongside a dedicated stream of sessions featuring VET applied research for the wider VET sector.

Building on the strong foundations of previous conferences, the 2025 program was designed to empower VET professionals by celebrating and strengthening their own professional journeys, while supporting them to take learners and students on journeys of their own. Delegates heard from high‑profile keynote speakers, participated in presentations and panel discussions, and attended concurrent interactive workshops and research sessions. The Conference also provided valuable opportunities for connection and collaboration with colleagues from across Australia.