Program

HTAV Annual Conference: Ignite History
Thursday 6 – Friday 7 August 2026
NEW VENUE! Novotel Hotel, Preston, 215 Bell Street, Preston

Earlybird rate ends midnight Tuesday 21 July.
All registrations close Tuesday 28 July.

Final confirmation emails with session allocations and full event details will be issued the week of the conference.

You're invited to the HTAV Annual Conference! Themed Ignite History, the conference will feature an impressive range of workshops, lectures and practical seminars that will provide ideas for engaging classroom strategies, activities and pedagogy to help build on the learning outcomes of students.

Learn from experts from schools and organisations across Victoria in an environment filled with like-minded educators. This is an experience rich with insights that you can take back to your classrooms and share with your school community.

Teachers consistently tell us how valuable it is to step beyond their own school gates to advance their subject-specific knowledge and practice. Gather new strategies, share experiences and leave re-energised.

We hope you can join us for this collegial and enriching experience.

	Program booklet – coming soon
	Before registering for a workshop, please read the full description to ensure it meets your professional learning needs: Thursday 6 August Friday 7 August
	Download the Subject Streams: Thursday 6 August Friday 7 August

Bring your own device

DAY ONE – Thursday 6 August

9.00 am	Registration
9.50 am	Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners/Welcome and Housekeeping
10.25 am	Session 1: Please choose one workshop from this session.
T1A	The Parisian Sans-Culottes in the French Revolution Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee AM, The University of Melbourne VCE REVOLUTIONS
T1B	Enhancing Student Experience: Immerse, Explore and Engage Rebecca Noone, Monbulk College GENERAL | BYOD
T1C	Teaching Historical Interpretations in Revolutions Ian Lyell, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School VCE REVOLUTIONS | BYOD
T1D	Moral Choices in the Past: A Historical Inquiry Andrew Pearce and Sara Pearce, Sovereign Hill Museums Association LEVELS 7 TO 10
T1E	Beyond the Red Pen: Providing Feedback That Sticks Emily Wilkinson, Box Hill High School GENERAL
T1F	Middle Kingdom Moguls and Monuments Alanna Clark and Astrid Morgan, Victory Lutheran College VCE ANCIENT HISTORY
T1G	A Palestinian Family’s Journey to Australia, 1914 to 2026 Medon Loupis, Chairo Christian School VCE MODERN HISTORY
11.20 am	Morning Tea
12.00 pm	VCAA Update: Victorian Curriculum V2.0 F–10 Ashley Keith Pratt, Curriculum Manager, Humanities, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
12.15 pm	Keynote Session: Once Were Idealists: The Radical Progressives Who Founded the Commonwealth of Australia Professor Marilyn Lake AO, The University of Melbourne The Commonwealth of Australia was founded in a burst of idealism as men and women (mostly Victorians) including Charles Pearson, Alfred Deakin, H.B. Higgins, Catherine Spence, Alice Henry and Vida Goldstein imagined a new society founded on the principles of equality, the common interest and social justice. Visitors to Australia remarked on the ‘spirit of socialism’ that permeated government ideals and institutions – for example, the first compulsory minimum wage in the world (legislated in Victoria in 1896), the invention of the ideas of the ‘living wage’, and equal political rights for women on the same basis as men. Deakin suggested that the new Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission represented a new ‘phase of civilisation’, but the ideal of an advanced civilisation rested on the juxtaposition of the ideas of ‘advancement’ and ‘backwardness’, ‘progressivism’ and ‘primitivism’. And the ideal of the ‘living wage’ rested on an understanding of Asians as ‘coolies’, exploited and degraded labour. When the radicals who founded the Commonwealth of Australia advocated the ideals of equality, the common interest and social justice, they did so to repudiate the values of imperial Britain, a ‘mother country’ that institutionalised aristocratic hierarchy, the power of privilege, class inequality and relations of social deference. In the New World of Australia, they imagined building a society ‘along the lines of equality’ in which the common interest would trump bourgeois greed, as Higgins put it in the commemorative essay he called ‘Australian Ideals’. Marilyn Lake FAHA, FASSA, FBA, AO is Honorary Professorial Fellow in History at the University of Melbourne. In 2001 and 2002, she held the Harvard Chair in Australian Studies. Between 2010 and 2014, she served as President of the Australian Historical Association. Her most recent book is Progressive New World: How Settler Colonialism and Transpacific Exchange Shaped American Reform (Harvard University Press, 2019). In 2025, Professor Lake was elected to the International Fellowship (Modern History) of the British Academy.
1.15 pm	Networking Lunch
1.45 pm	Exhibitor Passport Prize Draws
2.05 pm	Session 2: Please choose one workshop from this session.
T2A	AI in Your Hands is a Multi-Edged Sword Matt Esterman, The Next Word GENERAL | BYOD
T2B	Lafayette: Empty-Headed Political Dwarf? Allan Kerr, Strathcona Girls Grammar VCE REVOLUTIONS
T2C	Voices, Memory and Legacy: Uncovering the Story of Vietnam Tracey Collie and Peter Luby, Shrine of Remembrance LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE MODERN HISTORY | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | BYOD
T2D	Teaching History Out-of-Field with Confidence, Rigour and Curiosity Sara Bellamy, Shepparton Christian College GENERAL
T2E	Transition in Culture in the Australian Defence Force, 1940 to 2000 Jo Leech, Carey Baptist Grammar School LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE MODERN HISTORY | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
T2F	Fold-Unders: A New Approach to Group Work David Perry, Traralgon College LEVELS 7 TO 10
T2G	Teaching Historical Sensitivity Joshua Armstrong, Bacchus Marsh Grammar LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE | BYOD
3.05 pm	Session 3: Please choose one workshop from this session.
T3A	The Australian ‘Deep Time Detectives’ Education Program Dr Georgia Stannard, La Trobe University LEVELS 7 AND 8 | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
T3B	Practical Ideas for the History Teachers’ Toolbox 2.0 Ash Wood, St Leonard’s College GENERAL
T3C	Last Shilling to Melancholy Duty: Australia’s War Entries Dr Zachary Gorman, Robert Menzies Institute LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
T3D	Playing with History Kara Taylor, Irymple Secondary College GENERAL
T3E	Building Historical Thinking through Common Assessments Jillian McRoberts and Melissa Webb, Haileybury LEVELS 5 TO 9
T3F	Teaching Literacy through the Contribution of Popular Movements David Thomas, Elisabeth Murdoch College VCE REVOLUTIONS
T3G	How Percy Jackson Can Increase VCE Ancient History Numbers Dr Jo Clyne and Tom Harris, Hellenic Museum LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE ANCIENT HISTORY
3.55 pm	Social Hour: Networking drinks for conference participants Join colleagues, catch up with old friends, meet new people, harvest good ideas, and enjoy a complimentary drink and a selection of canapés at the HTAV Social Hour. Social Hour will take place in Stampton Bar located in the Novotel Hotel conference venue. Sponsored by Libertas Travel.

DAY TWO – Friday 7 August

9.00 am	Registration
9.50 am	Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners/Welcome and Housekeeping
10.25 am	Session 1: Please choose one workshop from this session.
F1A	Lenin Was Right All Along! Samuel Cavnoudias, Haileybury VCE REVOLUTIONS
F1B	Clever Measures: Lessons from the History of Assessment Ben Lawless, The University of Melbourne and Lawless Learning GENERAL | BYOD
F1C	Year 7 to VCE: Building Pathways through Mesopotamia Sara Bellamy, Shepparton Christian College LEVELS 7 AND 8 | BYOD
F1D	Developing Historical Thinking through Active Learning Liesl McPeake, University Senior College, Adelaide LEVELS 10 TO 12 | BYOD
F1E	The Power of the Press: Using Newspapers to Bring Australian History to Life Professor Sally Young, The University of Melbourne VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
F1F	What Would ‘Knowledge-Rich’ Teaching in History Look Like? Dr Deb Hull, HTAV GENERAL
F1G	Write Like a Historian (But Not a Boring One) Leah Kemp and Sam Krine, Strathmore Secondary College LEVELS 9 TO 12 | GENERAL | BYOD
11.20 am	Morning Tea
12.00 pm	VCAA Update: VCE History Ashley Keith Pratt, Curriculum Manager, Humanities, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
12.15 pm	Keynote Session: Cyborgs in History: What’s Here and What’s Coming for AI Matt Esterman, The Next Word AI is already in our schools and in our students’ hands, affecting how we think and learn and ‘do history’. In this keynote, Matt will explore some of the amazing and confronting ways in which AI is playing a role in society right now. We may feel like we are riding a constant wave of change, but as historians, we should feel energised to be part of a revolution that may – with intent and guidance from educators – shape a truly better world for everyone. Following this presentation, Matt will be available for book signing. Matt’s books will also be available for purchase throughout the conference at the HTAV Publishing exhibition table. Matt Esterman has over 20 years of experience working in schools and beyond as a leading voice in the thoughtful adoption of technology. He is a trained History teacher with two master’s degrees who has made a significant contribution to educational thinking in Australia and overseas. Matt founded The Next Word, a consultancy that seeks to leverage AI and other technologies to help shape a better future. He works with schools, universities and other organisations to increase awareness and capability in using AI. He has co-authored two books with Dr Nick Jackson, The Next Word: AI and Teachers (2024) and The Next Word: AI and Learners (2025), which was also co-written with award-winning high school student Amy Wallace.
1.15 pm	Networking Lunch
1.45 pm	Exhibitor Passport Prize Draws
2.05 pm	Session 2: Please choose one workshop from this session.
F2A	The Anatomy of a (French) Crash: Seven Hidden Gears That Broke the French Monarchy, 1774 to 1795 Adrian Puckering, Marymede Catholic College VCE REVOLUTIONS
F2B	No Bus, No Budget, No Bother! Emily Wilkinson, Box Hill High School LEVELS 7 TO 10 | BYOD
F2C	Using the Yoorrook Justice Commission in the Classroom Alana Ryan, Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | BYOD
F2D	The Humble Timeline: Backbone of History Lyndon Pratt, Bacchus Marsh Grammar GENERAL
F2E	Reimagining History through Live Place-Based Learning Saurabh Mishra, Vyatra, and Teacher Presenter TBC LEVELS 9 AND 10 | VCE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | EXHIBITOR SESSION
F2F	Modelling to Mastering: Scaffolding Extended Responses Michelle Walker, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School LEVELS 9 TO 12 | BYOD
F2G	Leading the History Enthusiasts and Out-of-Fielders Katrina Davey, Education Services Australia LEVELS 8 AND 9 | LEADERSHIP
3.05 pm	Session 3: Please choose one workshop from this session.
F3A	Incorporating Indigenous Language into the Historical Classroom: A Focus on Māori History Emily Klahm, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School LEVELS 8 TO 10 | BYOD
F3B	Move, Feel, Remember: Embodied Learning in History Alice Backhouse, MacKillop Catholic Regional College GENERAL
F3C	The Russian Revolution and the Soviet Empire Dr Natasha Wilson, The University of Melbourne VCE REVOLUTIONS
F3D	Australians at War: Innovative Classroom Practices and Resources Helen Searson, Department of Veterans’ Affairs LEVELS 9 AND 10 | BYOD
F3E	Literate Practices in Secondary History Classrooms Dr Benita Champion, Coburg High School GENERAL
F3F	Predicting the Past: Unravelling History with Game Theory Timothy Ringwood, Carey Baptist Grammar School VCE MODERN HISTORY | REVOLUTIONS
F3G	Cold Cases and Conspiracies: Innovative Electives for History Andree Buchanan, Luther College, and Astrid Morgan, Victory Lutheran College LEVELS 9 AND 10 | GENERAL
3.55 pm	Social Hour: Networking drinks for conference participants Join colleagues, catch up with old friends, meet new people, harvest good ideas, and enjoy a complimentary drink and a selection of canapés at the HTAV Social Hour. Social Hour will take place in Stampton Bar located in the Novotel Hotel conference venue.

Download the Session Decriptions and Presenter Biographies to help choose your workshops:

• Thursday 6 August
• Friday 7 August

Please note: 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.