Program
Get ready for HTAV’s expanded VCE History Conference in 2026!
HTAV is proud to present a bigger VCE History Conference program in 2026 designed to inspire, inform, and support VCE History teachers. This program features:
- Targeted professional learning to help you unpack examination reports and refine your exam preparation strategies
- 22 workshops to choose from to help expand your content knowledge, pick up classroom-ready tips and resources, think deeply about VCE assessment
- 4 workshop sessions across the day, to pack in extra learning and value
- Networking opportunities to catch up with peers and mentors from all over Victoria.
And so much more!
VCE History Conference
Friday 27 February 2026, 9.00am – 3.45pm
Novotel Hotel, Preston, 215 Bell Street, Preston
Early bird registrations close Friday 6 February 2026.
All registrations must close Thursday 12 February 2026.
Please note: Those with special dietary requirements should indicate their needs when registering online and must be received by Wednesday 11 February 2026.
Program booklet – coming soon |
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Download the Session Description and Presenter Biographies |
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Check out the new venue! |
Bring your own device
Program
| 9.00am – 9.40am | Registration |
| 9.50am – 10.10am | Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners / Welcome and Housekeeping |
| 10.10am – 10.25am | VCAA Advisory Session: 2026 VCAA Update Dr Adam Brodie-McKenzie, Curriculum Manager (History and Civics), VCAA Adam will reflect on the first three years of implementation of the VCE History Study Design 2022 and outline what the VCAA has prepared for 2026. |
| 10.30am – 11.20pm | Session 1: Please choose one workshop from this session. |
Making Sense of the Examination Reports plus Best Practices in Exam Preparation The VCAA has advised Chief Assessors that they will no longer be able to deliver sessions/events such as ‘Examination Reports’ or ‘Meet the Assessors’ as they have done for many years. To ensure History teachers have access to these rich conversations, HTAV have invited highly experienced VCE History teachers to bring their insights, expertise, triumphs and past pitfalls to unpack the demands of examination preparation. Drawing on published Examination Reports and other sources available on the VCAA website, the presenters will share their expertise on things like:
From their own experiences, the presenters will also cover some or all of the following:
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| 1A | VCE Units 3 and 4 Revolutions: Making Sense of the Examination Reports plus Best Practices in Exam Preparation Sam Cavnoudias, Haileybury VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS |
| 1B | VCE Units 3 and 4 Australian History: Making Sense of the Examination Reports plus Best Practices in Exam Preparation Bill Lewis, Haileybury VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY |
| 1C | VCE Units 3 and 4 Ancient History: Making Sense of the Examination Reports plus Best Practices in Exam Preparation To be confirmed VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | ANCIENT HISTORY |
| 1D | Feedback Matters Amanda Hann and Chloe Tayler, Coburg High School BYOD | VCE UNITS 1–4 | TEACHING IDEAS | GENERAL |
| 11.25am – 11.55am | Morning Tea |
| 12.00pm – 12.50pm | Session 2: Please choose one workshop from this session. |
| 2A | Fragile Foundations: The Early Days of Weimar Stephen White, Oxley Christian College BYOD | VCE UNITS 1 AND 2 | MODERN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 2B | Teaching the Russian Revolution in Times of War Dr Natasha Wilson, The University of Melbourne BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: Russia | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 2C | Understanding the Delian League Through Evidence and Research Namrata Shipstone, Melton Christian College BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | ANCIENT HISTORY: Greece | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 2D | Gamification and Creative Student Engagement in the Empires Classroom Sarah Mandie, Wesley College VCE UNITS 1 AND 2 | EMPIRES | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 2E | 1776 vs 1856: The American Revolution in Australia Dr Zachary Gorman, Robert Menzies Institute VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 2F | Beyond the Terror: Teaching the Consequences of the French Revolution Athena Kavaleris, Westbourne Grammar School VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: France | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 12.55pm – 1.45pm | Session 3: Please choose one workshop from this session. |
| 3A | Teaching the Cold War Professor Michael Birkner, Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania VCE UNITS 1 AND 2 | MODERN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 3B | Drama, AI and Social Media: Breathing Life Into History Adele Zolott, Ruyton Girls’ School BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: Russia and China | GENERAL | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 3C | Teaching Empires: A Practical Guide and a Goldmine of Resources Sophia Marsden-Smith, Geelong Grammar School BYOD | VCE UNITS 1 AND 2 | EMPIRES | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 3D | Teaching Writing Skills in VCE Revolutions Jake Bloom, Ivanhoe Grammar BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 and 4 | REVOLUTIONS | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 3E | Making the Switch to Australian History Tania Ragusa, Mercy College BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 3F | Teaching Middle Kingdom Egypt Geoff Trevaskis, Carey Baptist Grammar School BYOD | VCE UNITS 1 AND 2 | ANCIENT HISTORY: Egypt | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 1.50pm – 2.50pm | Networking Lunch and Exhibitor Passport Prize Draws |
| 2.55pm– 3.45pm | Session 4: Please choose one workshop from this session. |
| 4A | The Chinese Revolution in Art, Music and Film Ian Lyell, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: China | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 4B | The Catholic Church and the French Revolution Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee AM, The University of Melbourne VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: France | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE |
| 4C | Using Sources in VCE Australian History Bill Lewis, Haileybury VCE UNIT 3 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 4D | Making the Cold War Hot Again Siobhan Dwyer, Blackburn High School VCE UNIT 2 | MODERN HISTORY | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 4E | ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’: Tried and Tested Strategies for the Revolutions Classroom Sally Elliott, Cranbourne East Secondary College, and Natalie Shephard, Hume Anglican Grammar BYOD | VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS | TEACHING IDEAS |
| 4F | Designing SACs with Wellbeing in Mind Stephanie Ruth, Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School VCE UNITS 3 AND 4 | REVOLUTIONS: Russia and China | TEACHING IDEAS |
| From 4.00pm | Social Hour: Networking drinks for conference participants |
The views and advice presented at HTAV events are not necessarily the views of HTAV. Teachers should use their professional judgement to decide whether to implement or apply what they learn.
Some presenters may use modified extracts from the Victorian Curriculum F–10. These may include the work of other authors. The VCAA does not endorse nor verify the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no responsibility for incomplete or inaccurate information. You can find the most up to date version of the Victorian Curriculum at VCAA Victorian Curriculum V2.0 - History.
REGISTER | CONFERENCE LOGISTICS | SESSION DESCRIPTIONS | FAQ
Events Calendar
- 20 Nov 25
- 27 Feb 26
- 31 Mar 26
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