Due to overwhelming demand, Early Bird registrations for the VET National Teaching & Learning Conference 2026 have been extended to 25 May — tickets are limited and selling fast.

This is your final opportunity to register and secure your Early Bird ticket for one of the VET sector’s most anticipated professional learning events, bringing together educators, leaders and practitioners committed to shaping the future of teaching and learning.

Under the 2026 theme Healthy workplaces. Thriving teachers. Inclusive outcomes., this year’s Conference goes beyond discussion – offering practical strategies, fresh thinking and real-world application to support sustainable, high-impact teaching practice.

A Focus on Practical Impact: Concurrent Workshops

A highlight of this year’s program is the set of concurrent workshops, designed to move beyond theory and equip delegates with immediately applicable strategies for their own contexts. These sessions are designed for busy educators—cutting through theory to provide clear, actionable strategies you can take straight back to your classroom, team or organisation.

Improving Learning Design & Reducing Educator Workload

Dr Deniese Cox

If you’re looking to reduce rework, boost learner engagement, and reclaim your time, this workshop is not to be missed.

Dr Deniese Cox will share practical, research-backed strategies to address one of the most persistent challenges in VET: learner disengagement and its impact on educator workload. Her workshop, “Two small learning design changes that deliver better outcomes and lighten your workload”, reveals simple yet powerful design adjustments that can significantly shift learner behaviour and participation.

Delegates will explore:

  • Why learners disengage and skip content
  • Practical communication frameworks that boost engagement
  • Learning design adjustments that reduce rework and frustration

This session demonstrates how small changes can deliver big gains—for both learners and educators.

Building Safe, Inclusive & Gender-Equitable Classrooms

Paul Hrasko

As expectations around inclusion continue to evolve, this session tackles one of the most important challenges facing the sector: building trust in increasingly diverse learning environments.

Paul Hrasko’s workshop, “Building Safe, Inclusive and Gender-Equitable VET Classrooms”, provides practical strategies to create classroom cultures where all learners feel safe, supported and able to succeed.

Delegates will gain:

  • Practical approaches to building inclusive classroom cultures
  • Strategies to embed gender-equitable practice
  • Tools to support diverse learner needs while maintaining teaching quality

Grounded in both international research and sector experience, this session offers practical, immediately applicable approaches to strengthen inclusion and learner outcomes.

Think. Listen. Talk. Thrive.

Kay Schlesinger

Looking to strengthen connection, communication and wellbeing—for both you and your learners? This highly engaging, flipped workshop delivers.

Kay Schlesinger’s “Think Listen Talk Thrive” session is designed to spark active learning while equipping delegates with practical strategies they can apply immediately. Delegates will begin with pre-session learning, exploring how to balance communication to support both shared learning and wellbeing, alongside techniques to enhance listening and connection.

The face-to-face session builds on this foundation, with a strong focus on application.

Delegates will explore:

  • Thinking about thinking (metacognition) to strengthen awareness in teaching
  • Sketch-noting techniques to unlock visual thinking and support learning
  • A practical “Better, not Perfect” approach to educator wellbeing
  • Reflective practice as a tool for resilience and continuous improvement

This session is ideal for educators seeking fresh, creative approaches to wellbeing, communication and learner engagement while building more connected and thriving learning environments.

Don’t Miss Out: With demand continuing to grow and Early Bird places strictly limited, we strongly encourage you to register before 25 May to secure Early Bird pricing.

This is your opportunity to:

  • Gain practical strategies you can implement immediately
  • Re-energise your teaching practice and professional thinking
  • Connect with peers across the sector
  • Contribute to shaping a stronger, more inclusive future for VET

Secure your Early Bird rate

  • Early Bird fee: $575 (incl. GST) available until 25 May 2026
  • Standard fee: $660 (incl. GST) from 26 May 2026

Explore the full program and keynote speakers on our website and register now to secure the Early Bird discount.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Sponsorship Levels Available: Platinum, Network Function, Gold, Silver & Bronze.
Contact Sandra Ball, Chief Operating Officer, sball@vdc.edu.au, to enquire about Sponsor Opportunities.