The National Education Summit returned to Melbourne delivering a successful 2023 show that strengthened the bonds between some of the biggest players working in the education sector and amplified the voices of educators, Education Matters reports.
Held over two days this year at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, the National Education Summit in Melbourne gave space to a diverse variety of programs, products, services, and suppliers that cater to the education sector.
The event was thoughtfully curated and organised as an opportunity for educators to connect and collaborate in-person and network with prospective partners. Collectively, the summit brought together experts and thought leaders working in the education space right now, all united by a shared love of learning and one common goal: making a difference in education.
A huge thanks from the education community goes out to the organisers from the IEC Group Pty Ltd, all of the participating partners, sponsors, exhibitors and keynote speakers who made the event such an engaging and rich experience for those who attended.
“We aimed to put together an intensive professional development program for the conferences this year, combined with a wide variety of engaging and interactive experiences on the show floor from exhibitors that would leave attendees feeling enriched by their experience,” says Margo Metcalf – Creative Director at International Exhibition & Conference Group.
The exhibition floor complimented well the six core conferences that included the Diverse Learner’s Symposium, Wellbeing for Future-Focused Schools, Capacity Building School Libraries, STEM Across the Curriculum, the Literacy Masterclass, and the Classroom of the Future. The exhibitors ranged from organisations for social change to curriculum and classroom solutions to literacy, the arts, STEM, health, and wellness.
As official media partners to the event, the Education Matters team was happy to meet-and-greet with delegates and contributors, managing to capture some snapshots of exhibitors and conference highlights. Great conversations were had with Grok Academy, Awards Victoria, HELI, Micromelon Robotics, Modern Teaching Aids, AFL Schools, WorldStrides, Softlink Education, Seven Steps to Writing Success, the Old Treasury Building, ThinkPlus Australia, and the Crisis Prevention Institute, the Big Sister Experience and Beyond the Classroom – to highlight just a few.
Overall, the event was a great opportunity to connect with people face-to-face again and learn about the latest solutions ad ideas being offered in the education space right now.
AN ENRICHING PROGRAM
A hearty and vigorous event program offered delegates a fulfilling two days of professional development and a plateful of knowledge. This was surely helped along by an exceptionally generous, full-service catered lunch delivered fresh to the event that boasted a menu to rival some of Melbourne’s finest restaurants. And of course, no event in Melbourne would be complete without good coffee being served.
As part of the conference, attending delegates enjoyed an abundance of program speaker sessions beginning on Friday morning with Mr Steve Brophy – Director of Digital Transformation at Ivanhoe Grammar School presenting on ‘Unlocking the potential of AI in education’ on the Classroom of the Future stage.
Mr Brophy holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Deakin University and is a renowned educator, writer and speaker exploring digital futures and the impact of emerging technologies on teaching and learning. His work asks deep questions on how technology is shaping the future of humanity and challenges educators to explore ‘brave new worlds’ with a curious and playful approach and seek improved connections with people from all walks of life.
On the Spotlight stage, Ms Maria Ruberto – Lead Psychologist at Salutegenics Psychology delivered an inspired presentation titled ‘What does anxiety look like?’ that delved into the different ways that anxiety can present in humans and within the context of a learning environment.
Ms Ruberto is the Founder and Director of Salutegenics Psychology: “a strengths-based practice that moves people in personal and professional coaching toward mental fitness and life- health.” Her work is based on the theory of Salutogenesis where wellbeing is built from the development of positive human assets using emotional intelligence and resilience skills to increase in capacity and performance of individuals and teams and encourage professional, and organisational growth. She is an RFA-certified Master Trainer in the neuroscience of resilience. The training she offers to clients proactively teaches the building blocks of mental fitness through resilience and strengths-based language.
Audiences were further captivated by the ideas and concepts presented by nearly 100 other speaker sessions at the conference, spanning across the fully booked two-day program. Speakers addressed some of the industry’s most pressing challenges and presentations covered the full spectrum of education from pedagogy to policy, advocacy to psychology.
The range of keynote speaker topics included creating a more equitable and accessible education system; improving student and teacher wellbeing; teaching STEM concepts; and how teachers, principals, and schools can adopt technological advancements such as AI and hybrid learning environments in the face of a changing education landscape.
A community mural was organised by Dya Australia. The mural was a collaborative effort between delegates and exhibitors by Dya Australia CEO and Co-Founder Ms Revi Chai. The final art piece was presented at the end of the day on Friday, and Dya Australia was awarded by IEC with ‘The Best Booth in Show Award’ for their booth design, proactivity engaging the community, and overall outstanding contributions to the event.
Education Matters caught up with Ms Chai for a chat about the history of her company, which originated in Israel before she introduced the program to the Australian market and established as part of Melbourne’s thriving arts and culture scene. “Through curated workshops and community engagement programs, we encourage schools to explore the power of creative thinking and artistic expression and aim to empower young people to discover new passions and talents through a diverse range of mediums and techniques,” said Ms Chai.
Ms Chai believes that art is a universal language of expression that should be a mainstay in every school’s curriculum, in the same vein as literacy, STEM, and physical education.
“By promoting a strong presence at events like the National Education Summit, we aim to spark the interest of educators and help them understand the tremendous value that arts and creative thinking education has for school communities,” said Dya Australia CEO and Co-Founder Ms Revi Chai.. “Our workshops not only empower students and strengthen social bonds through creative expression, but they elevate student wellbeing by encouraging self-expression and giving them confidence in their abilities.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT EVENT IN BRISBANE THIS YEAR
With ongoing teacher shortages and increasing workload pressures on school leadership, Margo believes events like the National Education Summit are critically important for providing educators with a reminder of the intrinsic value of the education professional.
“We are very grateful for our partners, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and our dedicated events team, without whom this event would not be possible. As evidenced by the uptick in registrations and attendance we saw this year, I believe that the passion that people have for their work shone through as the event unfolded,” said Margo.
“Education is an area that is experiencing tremendous growth at the moment,” she furthers. “The companies and speakers we work with on this event are truly remarkable people and have worked with us for several years. During this time, it’s been incredible to see them grow and develop in their respective field in the education space and make a positive impact on the community. Every year it gets better!”
For those who missed out on the Melbourne event, interested parties can still register for the Brisbane event taking place on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 August 2023 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Registrations are now open.
For more information, or to register visit: nationaleducationsummit.com.au