Seminars & Events

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.

Upcoming Seminars

October 29, 2024
16:00 -
17:00

Educator Professional Reading

Tuesday October 29, 2024

Online

04:00pm - 05:00pm

Following the success of our Term 3 afternoon, members are invited to a discussion on a recent article from Gifted and Talented International. 'Strategies that parents of gifted children use in tense situations with teachers in mixed-ability classes.'
Note that this is primarily for members who are teachers. The article presents research that helps teachers to advance dialogue with parents of gifted children.

Online

Free Parent Seminar

Funded by the Department of Education

November 13, 2024
19:30 -
21:00

Games and Holiday Ideas
Wednesday 13 November, 2024
7.30pm - 9.00pm online

Join Victoria and Kathy to explore some games suitable for gifted children and families along with some holiday ideas. There will be an opportunity to share your favourites too.

Online
None at this time
Please keep checking back on this page and our socials for added seminars throughout the year and beyond.

Past Seminars & Events

October 15, 2024
19:00 -
19:00

AGM & Social Meet and Greet (face to face!!!)
All are welcome.
Tuesday 15 October

AGM - 7:00PM - 7:30PM

Social Event: 7:30PM - 09:00PM

We are delighted to invite you to a meet and greet in conjunction with our AGM. The AGM will go for half an hour at 7pm where you can hear about what has been happening and what is coming up.
From 7.30pm we will be sharing refreshments and enjoying relaxed conversations. This is a great opportunity to meet committee members in person, to talk with them and other parents and educators.

We are meeting at Hawthorn Community Centre
32 Henry St, Hawthorn 3122
7.00pm AGM
7.30pm social time

As this is a catered event, please let us know that you are coming via your booking if you are attending face to face there will be questions where you can answer these questions.
Members and non-members are welcome. Members will receive further information about nominations etc for the meeting separately

If you are attending online you will be sent the zoom linke a day prior to the event

Contact Details:

info@vagtc.org.au

Hawthorn Community Centre 32 Henry St, Hawthorn 3122
September 17, 2024
16:30 -
17:30

Professional Reading Discussion Group 

For Members and those who have been attending our educator series

We are excited to invite you to join the VAGTC Committee for a regular professional reading discussion group focused on gifted education. Each session will be led by a member of the committee, offering an opportunity for us all to engage in meaningful conversations as we learn and grow together.

Our first session will be led by Victoria Poulos, whose recent research paper was published in the AAEGT journal. Victoria will share her insights and lead a discussion on some of the ideas in her paper. All registered participants will receive a copy of the article prior to the event to read beforehand. Please join us via Zoom on Tuesday, the 17th, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. A link will be sent to you after registration. 

This discussion group is a wonderful opportunity to hear about what is happening in gifted education both locally and globally, as we read a variety of different articles, share perspectives, and enjoy getting to know one another as we work together to support gifted students.

Online

Thursday 9 November 7:00pm - 8:45pm

7:00pm VAGTC President Kathy Harrison will speak on what the VAGTC has achieved this year.

7:30pm formal business. Observers welcome but only VAGTC members may vote.

If you are a non-member but would like to sign up for any of the evening, especially the free discussion time, please register using the following link.

https://www.trybooking.com/CMXCK

AGM - Discussion Time

8:00 pm

In conjunction with this year's AGM, we are offering both members and other interested people the opportunity to join in informal discussion with members of the VAGTC committee.  Participants will be able to join a room of their choice or split their time between rooms.

Break-out Room 1: VHAP Come and meet with two current teachers and original curriculum writers of the Victorian High Ability Program ("VHAP").  Claire and Kathy are also presenters of the VAGTC parent and educator seminars.  Questions, suggestions and ideas welcome!

Break-out Room 2: Vision Come and meet with the current creative dream team - Laura, Karen and Amy - that designs, collects articles, edits and puts together the magnificent Vision magazine. Questions, suggestions for topics, contributors, and ideas on how to include student voice welcome.

Break-out Room 3: Variety of sector perspectives In this room you can meet with curren highly knowledgeable educators from the State, Catholic, Independent and home education sectors.  Bernadette, Susan and Victoria are keen to engage with you on any subject to do with supporting gifted students in their settings.

Come and hear from a diverse group of gifted and high-ability young people as they share insights that will enlighten and inspire those who work with them.

Light Refreshments provided

Registrations are essential by Wednesday 17th May

CHES (Centre for Higher Education Studies), 669 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141

Seminars for educators, teachers, pre-service and CRT teachers

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.