National Education Summit Returns to Melbourne in 2018

From 31 August to 1 September 2018, Australia’s education sector will come together for the National Education Summit, produced by the International Exhibition and Conference Group, at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The Summit is a must-attend for principals, school leaders, business managers and educators from K-12. All events at the National Education Summit are also attributable to Professional Development hours for teachers.

Across two jam-packed days, attendees can dive into four conferences addressing critical subjects from special needs education to digital classroom innovations, plus a masterclass for principals shedding light on how to design and align improvement reforms.

The Summit will also include The Education Show, a free trade expo featuring more than 100 leading businesses and organisations exhibiting the latest resources, services, products and technology, including Enhance TV, The Learning Staircase and Green Hat Workshops.

Marie Kinsella, CEO of International Exhibition and Conference Group, is thrilled to bring the sector’s latest discussions and innovations under the spotlight.
“Audiences will discover the cutting edge of the education world, from riveting talks from thought-leaders such as renowned ADHD advocate and journalist Ruth Devine, to showcases of incredible Australian educational development tools including Seven Steps and THRASS”

According to Marie Kinsella, the show will also address the crucial issue of special needs education.

“With recent studies revealing that almost 80 per cent of all school principals felt they were inadequately resourced for special needs education, these talks on special needs education will generate thought-provoking discussion on ways to move forward,” she said.

Conferences
Featuring 38 captivating sessions across the four conferences, the two-day conference program will explore crucial issues across a variety of educational contexts, featuring a line-up of influential thought leaders including iconic ADHD advocate Ruth Devine, and President of the Australian Literacy Educators Association Professor Beryl Exley.

“The conference program is essential for those looking to stay ahead of the curve, discover new ways of thinking, strengthen their existing skills, and meet other like-minded educators passionate about the future of education,” Ms Kinsella said.

Leading the pack is the Special Needs Symposium, which will dispel myths about special needs and explore inclusive strategies across four streams: ADHD, dyslexia, autism and anxiety. Renowned advocate Ruth Devine will open the ADHD Stream with a candid discussion on being a mother to three sons with the disorder.

The Anxiety Stream will feature the symposium’s keynote presentation, “Square Pegs in Round Holes”. Exploring the significant challenges children with special needs face in mainstream classrooms, paediatrician Dr Jo Martin and neuropsychologist Dr Renee Testa will discuss practical solutions to support these vulnerable children.

The Special Needs Symposium features: special needs teaching specialists Cressida Crossley and Jamie Coombs of NEST discussing the importance of inclusivity in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Stream, and Learning and Curriculum Support Leader at Bentleigh West Primary School Sarah Asome will explore the importance of early identification and intervention in the Dyslexia Stream.

In the Legal & Risk Management Frameworks Conference, leading Australian law firm Piper Alderman will examine pertinent legal issues in an educational setting. “Sexting in Schools – How to Manage the Legal Implications” will shed light on the legal issues around sexting in an Australian context, and how to undertake investigations.

The Literacy Conference will investigate the unique challenges of literacy in modern classrooms. Victoria University’s Academic Director, Professor Chris Walsh will examine the meaning of coding literacy, including robots and apps, with Professor Beryl Exley exploring playful uses of grammar in reading and writing.

K-12 Digital Classroom Practice Conference will shed light on innovative ways to integrate digital technologies in teaching numeracy and literacy. Highlights include: “Blogging in the classroom”, “Examining the rise of Edublogs in fostering digital skills”, and “How does technology empower the modern learner?”, exploring how teachers can effectively leverage technology in developing literacy, numeracy, and beyond.

Masterclass 
In 2018, highly experienced education consultants G9 will again host a masterclass for principals and school leaders, a four-session program with a school-wide focus outlining proven practices on how to design, align and implement key school improvement reforms.

“We’re very proud to have G9 host our masterclass sessions again,” Ms Kinsella said. “Attendees can expect to be challenged by the latest research and stats, highlighting the importance of creating change in the current schooling system.”

Highlights from the masterclass include: Reach (and Teach) for the Stars: An Optimistic Approach to School Improvement, building a positive view of students, teachers and schools by focusing on curiosity and empowerment; Never Ending Capacity Building, discussing downfalls of the conventional learning model; and Getting Your Staff Performance Right, exploring teacher performance, processes for reviewing, and providing effective feedback.

The Education Show 
The Education Show is a free trade expo showcasing businesses and organisations from a variety of product sectors, including School Resources, Learning Programs for the classroom, School Camps, Incursions, Excursions, Technology, Online Learning, Post Graduate Courses, Stationery, and Recruitment.

“Whether you’re a company with an innovative new product or service, a passionate educator looking for the latest updates in the field, or just have a keen interest in the future of education in Australia, the Education Show is not to be missed,” Ms Kinsella said.

Confirmed exhibitors include: innovative phonetics teaching tool THRASS; the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, the University of Melbourne’s dedicated education school; educational video platform Enhance TV and Faber-Castell, the world’s longest family-run manufacturer of colouring, drawing and writing instruments.

The show will also include a Free Education Program, featuring: Dr David Zyngier, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University; Pina Sernio, creator and CEO of innovative writing program Seven Steps; and Denyse Ritchie, Co-Developer of THRASS.

Professional Development hours are available on all events attended at the Summit.

To register for tickets to the National Education Summit 2018, visit www.nationaleducationsummit.com.au, group bookings are available.