VAGTC

To all

See below VAGTC Parent Seminar offerings in Term 3:

Ask a Psychologist Mental Health in Gifted Students
Thursday 23 July
7:30pm - 9:00pm | Online

Parenting a gifted child comes with unique joys and challenges, particularly when it comes to their mental health and overall well-being. In this session, along with Dr Alison Brown, a psychologist who specialises in gifted education, we will explore key issues that affect a student’s mental health.

Gifted children display thought processes, social interactions and emotional responses well beyond their years, and often in far greater proportion than would be expected. Regular social situations and interactions with other children often result in misunderstandings, frustrations or angry outbursts. Managing daily routines and workload often results in extreme feelings of frustration and exhaustion due to perfectionism and unrealistic expectations.

Learn practical strategies to support your child’s emotional resilience, encourage healthy routines, and navigate challenges that may arise. This session is designed to equip parents with tools and insights to help their gifted child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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Alternative Schooling Pathways for Gifted Learners
Tuesday 15 September
7:30pm - 9:00pm | Online

What happens when the traditional school environment doesn’t meet the needs of your gifted child? This seminar will explore alternative educational options for families seeking a better fit. Join us as we discuss the practicalities, benefits, and challenges of home schooling, online learning, and other flexible pathways designed to support gifted students’ academic and emotional wellbeing. Parents will gain insights from lived experiences, along with guidance on how to make informed decisions that prioritise both learning and balance.

Whether you’re just starting to explore alternatives or already considering a change, this session will provide guidance, reassurance, and connection with others on a similar journey.

Cost for Non-Members for these seminars are $20
Zoom link will be sent once you have registered.

To register for these seminars please go via our website and click book now

Seminars & Events - Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children In 2026 we aim to provide 2 Parent Seminars and 1 Educator Seminar per term.

TAG Tasmanian Association for the Gifted are running what promises to be a very interesting event with Tyler Clark and Julia Link Roberts on Acceleration for Gifted Students on June 20th (it's only $10!)

Click the link for further information and to register.

Acceleration of Gifted Students: Lessons Learned and Best Practice from an International Perspective Register NOW: https://www.trybooking.com/DMEEZ Register NOW: https://www.trybooking.com/DMEEZ

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seek to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their pursuit of literary excellence. The optional theme for 2026 is “The Traveller”. Entries close on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Entry information - Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards Entry information Entries for the 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are NOW OPEN! Enter Now! The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards seek to capture the imaginations of school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry in their purs...

The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) provides funded extension activities for high-ability students in Victorian government schools from Prep to Year 12. Activities are offered face-to-face and virtually, and can include masterclasses, workshops, and tutorials. The Department is currently partnering with 28 expert education and not-for-profit organisations, universities, Tech Schools, teacher associations, and science and mathematics specialist centres to deliver activities within the series.

Arc

To all

This is your reminder to book now for the Seminar below if you are a not a VAGTC Member.

For Gifted Awareness Week Australia if you book between 18-24 May Registration will be FREE.

BOOK NOW details below.

ILP/ IEP/ PLPs- Individual learning plan/ Individual educational plan/ Personal learning plan
Thursday 28 May 2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Online

What is an ILP/IEP/PLP?
Which gifted students require one?
What does a gifted ILP/PLP look like?
What does an ILP seek to achieve?
How does the psychologist’s report (if you have one) inform the ILP?

What does success look like?

These are a few of the questions that will be explored as we look at models for developing ILPs and some sample ILPs that identify interventions for an individual learner’s needs. There will be time for Q&A during the session.

For Non Members that sign up during Gifted Awareness Week (GAW) - Monday 18th - Friday 24th May the event is free.
VAGTC Members free

To register for these seminars please go via our website and click book now

ILP/ IEP/ PLPs- Individual learning plan/ Individual educational plan/ Personal learning plan - Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children These are a few of the questions that will be explored as we look at models for developing ILPs and some sample ILPs that identify interventions for an individual learner’s needs. There will be time for Q&A during the session.

GERRIC’s Mini-COGE courses provide practical professional development for educators working with high-potential and gifted students.

The Mini-COGE will help teachers to identify gifted, high-potential, and talented students, differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of high-potential learners, implement effective ability grouping or acceleration practices, understand current research and best practice in gifted education; and design or refine a unit of work tailored to the needs of a differentiated classroom.

This course can be completed online or in person. For further information:

Mini-COGE | Education - UNSW Sydney Learn about GERRIC’s Mini-COGE at UNSW School of Education. Our courses enhance your differentiation skills and ability to cater to gifted learners.

In honour of Gifted Awareness Week 2026, the committee will be hosting a Reading group discussion on Thursday the 21st of May, from 7:00-8:00pm.

This is free.

The article under consideration is ‘Giftedness: Is there a Case for Neurodivergence?!’ by M. Wellisch, which can be found in the latest issue of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education (vol.35 No.1, June 2026). Wellisch argues that giftedness is not a neurodivergence. She discusses the historical trends towards associating giftedness with mental illness, social and emotional problems, overexcitabilities and neurodivergence, identifying key theories that have contributed to this trend. Then she shares research (including statistics) revealing that gifted primary students are typically more popular than their peers, and the number of gifted students with ASD or ADHD or SLD is actually very low compared to their peers. She also discusses the political movement around neurodiversity that has arisen out of disadvantage and prejudice and explores brain differences. Her conclusion is that ‘a close look at Doyle’s (2020) neurodiversity model reveals why giftedness is a bad fit: it includes only those who have clinical or acquired illnesses, mental and behavioural conditions, or learning disabilities.’ (p.36).

It is bound to generate some really interesting discussion; we hope you can join us! Tickets are available on our website. You will receive a copy of the article a few days before this event.

The event is Free.

Click on the link below to view further information and register your spot

Gifted Awareness Week Reading Group Discussion - Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children The article under consideration is ‘Giftedness: Is there a Case for Neurodivergence?!’ by M. Wellisch, which can be found in the latest issue of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education (vol.35 No.1, June 2026). Wellisch argues that giftedness is not a neurodivergence.

Gifted Awareness Week 2026

Gifted Awareness Week was founded in 2015 by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) to raise awareness of the identification, support, learning and wellbeing needs of gifted children, and to celebrate the dedication of individuals and educational bodies who are making a positive difference in the lives of gifted children and their families.
Gifted Awareness Week theme for 2026 is Varied Voices, Shared Future

Gifted Awareness Week | AAEGT Gifted Awareness Week was founded in 2015 by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) to raise awareness of the identification, support and learning needs of gifted children and to celebrate the dedication of individuals and educational bodies who are making a....

To all

We have added a new seminar for Term 2 see details below.

ILP/ IEP/ PLPs- Individual learning plan/ Individual educational plan/ Personal learning plan
Thursday 28 May 2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Online

What is an ILP/IEP/PLP?
Which gifted students require one?
What does a gifted ILP/PLP look like?
What does an ILP seek to achieve?
How does the psychologist’s report (if you have one) inform the ILP?

What does success look like?

These are a few of the questions that will be explored as we look at models for developing ILPs and some sample ILPs that identify interventions for an individual learner’s needs. There will be time for Q&A during the session.

Non Members $20
However for Non Members that sign up during Gifted Awareness Week (GAW) - Monday 18th - Friday 24th May the event is free.
VAGTC Members free

To register for these seminars please go via our website and click book now

Seminars & Events - Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children In 2026 we aim to provide 2 Parent Seminars and 1 Educator Seminar per term.

To all

See below VAGTC Seminar offerings in Term 1:

Choosing a good fit school and what’s possible in schools?
Tuesday 17 February, 2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Online

How do I decide which school will be best for my child? What research do I need to do? What information can schools provide? What questions should I ask?
This seminar will give you some places to start in your quest to find a good fit school for your gifted child, and practical suggestions and ideas for WHAT to advocate for at your school - what types of provisions schools could and do make for gifted children, regardless of the sector of education your child’s school is enrolled in from the classroom to external activities. It will also provide you with advice on HOW to advocate.

Communicating effectively with your school
Thursday 12 March, 2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Online

It can be challenging navigating the complexities of making sure your gifted child has access to appropriate schooling and educational provisions. This seminar will give you practical tips and advice for proactively building positive relationships with the staff at your child’s school, as well as effective communication strategies for handling difficult situations. We will also discuss the importance of documenting dialogue with the school in the form of keeping records of important discussions and decisions.

To register for these seminars please go via our website and click book now

Seminars & Events - Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children Each year we provide 3 to 4 Free Parent Seminars and 1 Educator Seminar per Term.