The 2026 VATE State Conference – Ode to Joy – is a celebration of the work of English teachers that is joyful, playful, experimental and human. At the heart of this State Conference is the belief that joy is serious work and the spirit of dreaming is alive and well in each of us.

The conference will be delivered in-person over two days – Thursday 19 November and Friday 20 November 2026 - at Deakin University's Burwood campus. For those who are unable to attend the conference in person, our program will also include a live-streamed component.

The 2026 VATE Leading English Conference on Friday 31 July, at ACMI, celebrates the collective work of leaders in English across our membership. It is an opportunity to Turn The Volume Up on leadership that is synonymous with both reality and results. A chance to highlight courageous and responsive ways to engage students. To celebrate your advocacy – for yourself, for your students, for each other and for our profession. Turn The Volume Up in solidarity and celebrate the positive, communal and human nature of our subject. Please note only a selection of workshops will be livestreamed.

VATE membership renewal for 2026 is now open.

We'd like to thank the strong and vibrant VATE community that continued to support our English teaching colleagues across the state in 2025. You can now renew your VATE Membership for 2026 through the 'My account' area of your account or if you aren't a current VATE member, you can join here!