Each year we provide 3 to 4 Free Parent Seminars and 1 Educator Seminar per Term.
The parent seminars are developed with the same approach as the educator seminars with a focus on best practices for advocating and working alongside schools and teachers.
Parent-carer initiatives provide a space for parents and families to come together to share their experiences and learn from others. These may include seminars and workshops on topics such as developmental milestones, educational options, best practices in developing strong school-family relationships, assessments and career counseling.
Using research-based recommendations, the parent seminars aim to connect parents with their children and their children’s teachers, serving to not only strengthen community engagement but to also help build parental confidence in schools.
The seminars provide both a platform for parents to gain essential resources to support their parenting journeys and act as a forum in which individual parents can connect with other parents in similar situations to share their stories in a safe and supportive environment.
These seminars aim to set high standards for teachers and students and employ evidence-based strategies to support gifted and talented students.
The educator seminars on identification are relevant to all educators of kindergarten to Year 12 learners, including pre-service teachers, casual relief teachers, and early childhood professionals.
The VAGTC teacher seminars are aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) and meet the requirements under the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). All registered participants who complete the seminar will receive a VAGTC Certificate of Attendance, citing the relevant standards addressed under the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
For educators, professional development seminars and workshops range from the identification of high capacity students to understanding and working with assessments. Through our seminars, educators will learn how to interpret educational psychologist reports, and develop individualized learning plans, as well as working with families to support gifted children and young people’s education.
For example, identification for students who are gifted and talented includes identification of underachievers, EAL and culturally diverse students, as well as students with high capacity but present with learning challenges.
VAGTC also offers Tailored Seminars for Schools, Parent Consultations, and Mentoring for High-Ability Leaders.
Funded by the Department of Education
Acknowledging that change, particularly within educational contexts, can be challenging for students and their parents, we will focus on strategies for positive schooling transitions, such as: preschool to school, primary to secondary, acceleration (full grade skips), starting senior secondary, leaving school and changing schools.
Educator Reading Meeting - highlights from the World Gifted Conference
Susan and Amy will present highlights from the World Gifted Conference
Funded by the Department of Education
What happens when the traditional school environment doesn’t meet the needs of your gifted child? This seminar will explore alternative educational options for families seeking a better fit. Join us as we discuss the practicalities, benefits, and challenges of home schooling, online learning, and other flexible pathways designed to support gifted students’ academic and emotional wellbeing. Parents will gain insights from lived experiences, along with guidance on how to make informed decisions that prioritise both learning and balance.
Whether you’re just starting to explore alternatives or already considering a change, this session will provide guidance, reassurance, and connection with others on a similar journey.
Hear about the work of VAGTC this year from President Kathy Harrison and ask any questions about this year’s reports. This is an informal opportunity to talk about gifted ed with other parents and educators after the formal meeting. There will be a brief presentation from committee members Amy Horneman and Susan Nikakis on their learnings and illuminations from the World gifted conference in Braga last term. All reports will be available online on our website prior to the meeting.
Funded by the Department of Education
Raising a gifted child is exciting, but it can also come with unexpected challenges. Sometimes gifted children lose motivation, become reluctant to go to school, or struggle to show their true abilities. In this relaxed and practical seminar, we’ll look at why this happens and share simple, effective ways you can support your child to stay engaged, feel confident, and reach their potential. Come along to connect with other parents and take away ideas you can start using straight away at home and in partnership with your child’s school.
Funded by the Department of Education
Parenting a gifted child comes with unique joys and challenges, particularly when it comes to their mental health and overall well-being. In this session, along with Dr Alison Brown, a psychologist who specialises in gifted education, we will explore key issues that affect a student’s mental health.
Gifted children display thought processes, social interactions and emotional responses well beyond their years, and often in far greater proportion than would be expected. Regular social situations and interactions with other children often result in misunderstandings, frustrations or angry outbursts. Managing daily routines and workload often results in extreme feelings of frustration and exhaustion due to perfectionism and unrealistic expectations.
Learn practical strategies to support your child’s emotional resilience, encourage healthy routines, and navigate challenges that may arise. This session is designed to equip parents with tools and insights to help their gifted child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Zoom link will be sent on booking confirmation
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These seminars aim to set high standards for teachers and students and employ evidence-based strategies to support gifted and talented students.
The educator seminars on identification are relevant to all educators of kindergarten to Year 12 learners, including pre-service teachers, casual relief teachers, and early childhood professionals.
The VAGTC teacher seminars are aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) and meet the requirements under the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). All registered participants who complete the seminar will receive a VAGTC Certificate of Attendance, citing the relevant standards addressed under the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
For educators, professional development seminars and workshops range from the identification of high capacity students to understanding and working with assessments. Through our seminars, educators will learn how to interpret educational psychologist reports, and develop individualized learning plans, as well as working with families to support gifted children and young people’s education.
For example, identification for students who are gifted and talented includes identification of underachievers, EAL and culturally diverse students, as well as students with high capacity but present with learning challenges.
As part of the VAGTC Membership, You are eligible for Free Membership at the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT). To Receive this, you agree to pass on to them my email address, contact number, and postal address.
