PD Update December
As the year draws to a close, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to you for the commitment, ideas and insights so many of you have shared with English Australia throughout 2025. Your ongoing engagement plays a vital role in strengthening our sector and supporting quality English language teaching across Australia.
The English Australia professional development program is very much a collective endeavour. It is shaped and sustained by our members, and I would like to warmly acknowledge everyone who has helped bring this year’s rich program to life. Thank you to our Board members; our Special Interest Group convenors; our English Australia Journal editors and contributors; presenters at our PD Fests, conference, workshops and webinars; our event hosts; and the many members who contributed their time and expertise through our program committees.
I also extend a warm thank you to all attendees of our PD events this year. Every session, shared reflection and conversation helps us better understand how we can continue to support your professional practice and, in turn, your students.
We look forward to returning in 2026 with our full program of PD Fests, workshops, webinars, online courses, SIG meetings and the English Australia Conference, alongside a new special focus on professional learning and network building for student services staff.
Wishing you a well-earned and relaxing holiday season, and every success for the year ahead.
Sophie O’Keefe
General Manager-Operations, English Australia
Upcoming Events
Live Event: A Taste of the English Australia Conference – Melbourne
Thursday 29 January 2026, 5.30pm-7.30pm (AEDT)
Greenwich College Level 8, 120 Spencer St Melbourne
The Victorian Branch of English Australia invites ELICOS teachers to see Victorian presenters at the 2025 English Australia Conference re-present their conference sessions, giving local Melbourne teachers a chance to get ‘a taste of the English Australia Conference.’
Webinar: Teaching mixed-level classes
Wednesday 11 February 2026, 3.00-4.00pm (AEDT)
This webinar looks at how to adapt content, process, and product to effectively differentiate learning in an ELICOS classroom. We’ll explore practical strategies to meet each student where they are, support them in achieving lesson aims, and do all of this with limited planning time in mind.
Webinar: Making intensive reading work: Practical strategies for the English language classroom
Wednesday 11 March 2026, 3.00-4.00pm (AEDT)
This practical webinar explores how teachers can strengthen reading skills and deepen comprehension by getting more value from the lessons they already teach.
Dates for your 2026 Calendar!
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QLD PD Fest – 21 March, UQ College
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SA PD Fest – 2 May, Greenwich College
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PD West – 9 May, venue to be confirmed
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NSW PD Fest – 23 May, Macquarie University College
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VIC PD Fest – 20 June, Hawthorn Melbourne
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English Australia Conference – 16-18 September, Pullman on the Park Melbourne
Expressions of interest to join 2026 Action Research Program now open
This is a reminder that expressions of interest are now open for the 2026 English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program! This exciting Program empowers teachers to explore their teaching practices and unlock new insights into student learning through undertaking classroom-based research.
Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 22 January 2026
All ELICOS teachers working in English Australia member colleges are eligible to apply. Over 10 months, you’ll:
✔ Implement an Action Research project in your own classroom
✔ Collaborate with teachers across Australia through three interactive workshops and online discussions
✔ Receive expert training and guidance from Professor Anne Burns and the English Australia team
English Australia will accept expressions of interest from pairs of researchers working at the same institution or from individual researchers.
Before applying, please review all information regarding Program eligibility, funding, selection criteria, and researcher commitments.
Read program information and apply
Most-watched English Australia webinars of 2025
Where do we start in designing assessment in an age of generative AI?
Presented by Professor David Boud and hosted by the Assessment SIG
Academic Vocabulary: Building Knowledge and Use
Presented by Professor Averil Coxhead
Upgrading your students’ language by giving feedback that makes a difference
Presented by Kathy Watson
“But I’m not qualified to diagnose!” Impacting and inspiring neurodiverse learners
Presented by Gaby Lawson and Jane Murdoch and hosted by the Wellbeing SIG
Looking to revisit some of the standout professional learning from this year—or catch up on what you may have missed? These were the four most-watched English Australia webinars of 2025, reflecting the topics and conversations that resonated most strongly with our teaching community.
English Australia members can access all four sessions on demand via our Webinar Library. If you’d like to formalise your learning, these webinars are also available as short courses on our Online Learning platform, where you can earn a certificate of professional development and 4 CPD points.
Click here to learn more and enrol in Online Learning!
