2025 ACMI x VATE A Matter of Fact: Middle Years Conference (live stream)

The 2025 ACMI x VATE A Matter of Fact: Middle Years Conference is a call for educators to inspire action over apathy; to arm middle years students with the skills for navigating their world.

Can’t make it in-person but don’t want to miss out? A selection of workshops and the opening keynote will be live streamed to make it easier to attend this event.

Middle years students are learning how to be part of society and curriculum in the middle years has the power to influence, for better or for worse, the students and society at large. Mis- and disinformation, social media algorithms, the manosphere, political figures and legacy media have played a role in polarising our nation and impacting the rights of individuals both here and overseas. Middle years teachers and students must become factivists, evoking reason, logic, and evidence to question information regardless of personal preference, values and bias.

The democratic process is underscored by the essential work of critical media literacy education and the ability to analyse, evaluate, create and consume media and digital content. Evidence based activism (or factivism) demands that we become active users rather than passive consumers, defying liars, truth-twisters and opinion launderers with credible, just and principled information. This is a matter of fact.

The A Matter of Fact: Middle Years Conference celebrates the ways in which middle years educators create learning experiences that connect to the world beyond the classroom, innovate with programs that address students’ attitudes, beliefs, understandings and values, to tackle cooperative, experiential and interactive learning opportunities and demonstrate their understanding beyond a summative assessment task.

We must inspire action over apathy. There are dangerous consequences when we act without facts. The truth matters. Democracy matters. Critical thinking matters. Equality matters. Facts matter.

If financial barriers prevent you or your school from attending the Middle Years Conference, please email Kate Gillespie to discuss options.

Reciprocal registration rates are available for interstate English teaching association members. If you would like to register for this event, please email events@vate.org.au.

ACMI

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be emailed to events@vate.org.au. Cancellations received by 12pm five working days prior to the event date will be charged a 15% cancellation fee. Cancellations received after this will receive NO REFUND. Registrations can, however, be transferred to another staff member. Please email events@vate.org.au the details. If you do not attend and have not notified VATE according to the above policy, you will receive no refund.  Please note: If this event is cancelled due to COVID government or venue restrictions, you will receive a full refund.