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Program

9.00am - 9.20am
Nina Bekker
ACEVic

ACEVic Welcome

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

9.20am - 9.25am
Pro. John Evans
Swinburne University of Technology 

Acknowledgement  of Country

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

9.25am - 9.30am
Madelyn Bolch
Swinburne University of Technology 

Welcome to Swinburne

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

9.30am - 9.40am
John Berger MP
Member Southern Metropolitan Melbourne

Welcome on behalf of The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

9.40am - 9.50am
Dr Teresa De Fazio OAM
ACFE Board Chairperson

ACFE Board Welcome

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

9.50am - 10.00am
eSkilled
eSkilled

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

10.00am - 10.45am
Paul Guerra
Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

10.45am - 11.15am

Morning Tea

Foyer

11.15am - 12.00pm
Nina Laitala
Institute of Community Directors Australia

Governance Foundations for Leaders Working With Community Boards

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

11.15am - 12.00pm
AMES
AMES

Gain insights directly from a practitioner who has demonstrated success using the hard to reach learner toolkit

AGSE 107/108

12.00pm - 12.45pm
Dr Natalie Flatt
Connect Psych

Join Dr Natalie Flatt to address Managing Burnout: Strategies for Overcoming Stress, Trauma and Decision Fatigue

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

12.00pm - 12.45pm
Shae McGregor
TAFE Gippsland

Progressive Strategies for Inclusive Course Design

AGSE 107/108

12.45pm - 1.30pm

Lunch

Foyer

1.30pm - 2.15pm
Garth Lategan
Swinburne University of Technology

Enhancing Productivity with Microsoft Tools, Copilot, and Generative AI

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

1.30pm - 2.15pm
Shehan Peiris
Howden Group 

Understanding Psychosocial Hazards and its Impacts

AGSE 107/108

2.15pm - 3.00pm
Panel
Industry Practice Network

Join a panel of employers, trainers, students and coordinators in showcasing the great work of Industry Practice Networks 

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

2.15pm - 3.00pm
Derek Linsell
Founder Apricot Acumen

Leadership That Builds

AGSE 107/108

3.00pm - 3.30pm

Afternoon Tea

Foyer

3.30pm - 4.15pm
Louisa Ellum
Swinburne University of Technology 

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

4.15pm - 4.30pm
Nina Bekker 
ACEVic

ACEVic Closing and evaluation -
Thank you!

Lecture Theatre AGSE 202

Session Briefs

Diamond Sponsor

eSkilled

eSkilled is Australia's only complete RTO management and training delivery solution! Easily deliver the best training with a robust student and learning management system, complete with a wide range of learning and assessment resources.

 

Equipped with compliance features, incredible tools and practical integrations, eSkilled’s Student Management System (SMS) streamlines processes for better organisation and productivity. This all-in-one SMS comes with powerful reporting tools, integrated LMS, and automated RTO processes so you can save time, money, and labour.

 

eSkilled’s Learning Management System supports your training delivery with a cutting-edge cloud-based learning platform. It helps you track student progress, host virtual classes, and create e-Assessments for effortless training delivery and better learning outcomes. Both eSkilled SMS and LMS integrate seamlessly to give your complete control over your RTO management and training delivery.

 

Plus, eSkilled hosts one of Australia’s largest ranges of training resources. Find everything you need, from detailed assessment tools to interactive e-Learning materials, all your training essentials are here!

 

If you’d rather develop your own training materials, turn to eSkilled AI Course Creator. This powerful AI course creation tool uses ChatGPT-4 Turbo to create up-to-date and industry-relevant learning materials in a matter of minutes. It comes with global contextualisation settings to help you reach a wider audience and a powerful AI assistant to tailor content for improved understanding and retention. Course creation has never been faster and easier.

 

Let eSkilled do the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on the growth of your RTO. See these incredible management systems in action by scheduling a tour. Enquire now to learn more about its high-quality training resources and get free samples!

Keynote - The Importance of ACE in the Victorian Skills Plan 

Paul Guerra

Join Paul for a thought provoking, insightful and informative session that explores the critical role of Adult and Community Education (ACE) in the Victorian Skills Plan. 

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Examine current challenges, emerging opportunities, and the sectors contribution to a more inclusive and responsive skills system.

Break out 1 - Governance foundations for leaders working with community boards

Nina Laitala

Strong governance is essential for effective leadership and decision-making in community organisations.

 

This session provides leaders with a foundational understanding of governance principles and best practices when working with or supporting community boards.

 

Participants will gain insights into the roles and responsibilities of board members, legal and ethical considerations, and strategies for enhancing board leadership.

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• The role of governance in community organisations

• Board roles and responsibilities

• Legal and ethical obligations

• Effective board leadership and dynamics

• Building strong relationships between the leadership team and the board

Break out 2 - Understanding and Engaging Hard-to-Reach Learners

Practioner

Presented by a panel with proven strategies, this interactive session will share insights from a Victorian government-funded project that identified challenges and solutions for effectively engaging learners facing additional education and workforce barriers.

Developed in collaboration with adult education providers, the project used a research and co-design approach to create practical, inclusive strategies for reaching, engaging  and supporting diverse learners. The session will explore:

  • Understanding local learner cohorts – Using public data tools to identify learner needs and community dynamics.

  • Engagement and enrolment – Strategies for effective outreach, marketing, and accessible enrolment pathways.

Led by a practitioner who has successfully implemented these strategies, this session will be interactive, combining discussion and presentation to ensure participants gain practical, adaptable takeaways.

 

Participants will leave with practical, adaptable approaches to strengthen learner pathways, support success in education and employment, and enhance community participation. They are tailored to the adult education sector and flexible across different organisational contexts, valuable for providers of all sizes—from large institutions to regional and community-based organisations—effective in engaging diverse learner cohorts, and designed to be sustainable and evolve over time.

Break out 3 - Managing Burnout: Strategies for Overcoming Stress, Trauma, and Decision Fatigue

Dr Natalie Flatt

This session, hosted by Dr. Natalie Flatt Ph.D, Connect Psych Services,  will equip participants with insights into burnout, particularly in high-pressure environments involving occupational violence, secondary trauma, and decision fatigue. Natalie will explore how burnout manifests in individuals and teams, identifies early warning signs, and offers a holistic, evidence-based approach to stress management and resilience.

 

Key themes include  -

  • Understanding the stress cycle,

  • The impact of occupational trauma,

  • Decision fatigue, early burnout indicators, and

  • Strategies for prevention and recovery.

 

Participants will also explore the effects of emotional labour, build self-efficacy, and walk away with strategies on how to build psychological safety within their teams.

Break out 4 -Progressive Strategies for Inclusive Course Design in VET

Shae McGregor

Based on International research discover how progressive approaches in qualification delivery and design can break down barriers and create real opportunities for learners experiencing intersectional disadvantage. This engaging session will explore practical strategies, outcomes from pilot programs and policy recommendations that support underrepresented students in vocational education and training (VET).

 

Why Attend?

  • Gain insights from fellowship research and recent pilot programs

  • Learn actionable strategies to support students experiencing disadvantage leveraging off external support, pre-accredited and accredited training

  • Hear success stories from TAFE Gippsland initiatives

  • Engage in meaningful discussions on implementing inclusive education practices

 

Key Topics:

  1. Understanding the Landscape – Barriers faced by diverse learners and the role of VET in fostering equity.

  2. Progressive Support Strategies – Holistic models, pathways, partnerships and mentorship.

  3. Real-World Impact – Evidence-based outcomes.

  4. Next Steps – Policy integration, scaling strategies and leadership in inclusion

Break out 5 - Enhancing Productivity with Microsoft Tools, Copilot, and Generative AI

Garth Lategan

Join Garth present this engaging and practical workshop focused on how generative AI, Microsoft tools, and Copilot can be integrated to streamline workflows and enhance productivity.

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The session will demonstrate how innovative technologies can automate administrative tasks, improve efficiency, and spark greater creativity in your work.

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Key Highlights:

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  • Discover how generative AI can enhance administrative efficiency

  • Learn practical applications for automating workflows

  • Gain insights into tools and techniques designed for both professional staff and teachers

  • Explore real-world examples and success stories of successful integration

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Participants will leave with practical knowledge on how to optimise their workflows using Microsoft tools and Copilot, leading to more effective and creative outcomes.

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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert and transform the way you work!

Break out 6 - Understanding Psychosocial Hazards and its Impacts

Shehan Peiris

Recently, Workplace Health and Safety codes of practice in most States of Australia have been developed to include psychosocial risks, which are generally defined as 'risks to the health or safety of a worker or other person from psychosocial hazards'.

 

Under the new codes of practice, organisational leaders are responsible for managing psychosocial risks in their workplaces. To do this effectively, they require knowledge of several important factors, including how to identify the key psychosocial hazards in a work environment, how psychosocial hazards can impact people’s behaviour. In the community sector, we are exposed to a number of psychosocial hazards as such as managing violence and aggression, exposure to our clients traumatic experiences or even conflict and poor workplace relationships with our colleagues. 

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​This session provides an opportunity to explore compliance requirements and practical strategies for fostering a psychologically safe and thriving workplace.

Break out 7 - Collaborating for Success: Industry Practice Network Panel 

Panel

Join us for an engaging session focused on creating strong connections between Learn Local providers and employers in the Care and Support sector to enhance adult learners LLNED skills for work outcomes.

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The workshop will feature a panel. Industry experts, Learn Local champions and learners will tell success stories and provide takeaway tips on

 

·        How to identify and engage with key employers

·        Best practices for building and maintaining successful partnerships

·        Practical tools and resources for collaboratively addressing LLNED skill gaps

·        Real-world examples of successful employer partnerships and learner journeys

Break out 8 - Leadership That Builds

Derek Linsell

In an era of rapid change and complex challenges, leadership demands more than strategy — it requires wisdom. In this session, Derek Linsell explores how wise leadership empowers others, cultivates succession, and ensures continuity without losing authenticity. Drawing on decades of experience in executive advisory and organisational development, Derek will examine what it means to prepare teams not just for the next role, but for meaningful growth. He will unpack modern succession planning practices — from mentoring to shadowing to intentional investment in people — and challenge leaders to think deeply about their legacy. At the heart of the session is a core conviction: strong, effective leadership today is defined not by control, but by the courage to nurture wisdom in others.

The Future of Adult and Community Education 

Louisa Ellum

Join ACEVic and Louisa for a collaborative and interactive session that will explore and help shape the future of Adult and Community Education in Victoria.

 

Through open discussion and shared insights, this session invites participants to contribute ideas, reflect on sector priorities and consider how ACE can continue to evolve to meet the needs of learners and communities across the state. 

Keynote
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Strengthen impact

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