Program

REGISTER | CONFERENCE LOGISTICS | SESSION DESCRIPTIONS | FAQ

VCE History Conference and Examination Reports
Friday 21 February 2025, 9:00 am–3:10 pm
Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn

Earlybird registrations close Friday 7 February 2025
All registrations must close Thursday 13 February 2025

Final confirmation emails with session allocations and full event details will be issued once registrations close.

This HTAV professional learning conference is structured to support VCE History teachers to expand their own content knowledge, pick up classroom-ready tips and resources, think deeply about VCE assessment, and catch up with peers and mentors from all over Victoria.


Download the Session Descriptions and
Presenter Biographies

Program flyer – digital download

Download the program flyer to support your professional learning application

PROGRAM

TIME SESSION
9:00 am REGISTRATION
9:50 am ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS / WELCOME AND HOUSEKEEPING
10:20 am SESSION 1: Please choose one workshop from this session.
1A Discerning the American Revolution
Chris Hart, Yarra Valley Grammar, and Natalie Shephard, Hume Anglican Grammar

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: America | TEACHING IDEAS
1B

The Enlightenment and the French Revolution
Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee AM, The University of Melbourne

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: France | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
1C

A Toolkit for Teaching the Russian Revolution
Ian Lyell, Mentone Girls’ Grammar School

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: Russia | TEACHING IDEAS
1D

Using Sources for Area of Study 1 Australian History
Bill Lewis, Haileybury

UNITS 3 & 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | TEACHING IDEAS
1E

Let’s Learn about the Land Between the Rivers
Geoff Trevaskis, Carey Baptist Grammar School

UNITS 1 & 2 | ANCIENT HISTORY: Mesopotamia | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE | BYOD
1F

Unlocking the Past: Metacognition in the History Classroom
Siobhan Dwyer, Blackburn High School

UNITS 1–4 | GENERAL | TEACHING IDEAS
1G

Teaching Empires through Historical Images and Maps
Professor Darius von Güttner, Australian Catholic University

UNITS 1 & 2 | EMPIRES | TEACHING IDEAS | BYOD
1H Duck and Cover: McCarthyism, the ‘Red Scare’ and Its Cultural Impact
Paul Rossiter, The Knox School

UNITS 1 & 2 | MODERN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
11:15 am MORNING TEA
11:50 am

VCAA Advisory Session – 2025 VCAA Update
Adam Brodie-McKenzie, Curriculum Manager (History and Civics), VCAA

Adam will reflect on the first three years of implementation of the VCE History Study Design 2022–2026 and outline what the VCAA has in train for 2025.

Adam Brodie-McKenzie is the Curriculum Manager (History and Civics) at the VCAA. In this role he leads, manages and supports the production, review and development of curriculum and assessment for the Victorian curriculum and VCE. He is also currently studying a Doctor of Education at the University of Melbourne. Prior to this he was the inaugural Master Teacher of the Humanities at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, a lecturer, school leader and a high school teacher for over a decade.
12:20 pm SESSION 2: Please choose one workshop from this session.
2A

Ra-ra-Rasputin
Stephen White, Oxley Christian College

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: Russia | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
2B

Communism Before McCarthyism: Origins of Australia’s Red Scare
Matthew Allanby, Xavier College and Robert Menzies Institute, and Dr Zachary Gorman, Robert Menzies Institute

UNITS 1 & 2 | MODERN HISTORY | UNITS 3 & 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE | TEACHING IDEAS
2C

Liberty, Equality and Engaging Activities: A Teacher’s Revolutionary Toolkit!
Olivia Heaton, Carey Baptist Grammar School

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: France | TEACHING IDEAS
2D

Writing and Structuring Historical Essays
Joshua Cukierman, McKinnon Secondary College

UNITS 1 & 2 | GENERAL | TEACHING IDEAS
2E

Unravelling the Threads of Revolution: Thematic
Parallels Between the French and Russian Revolutions

Professor Darius von Güttner, Australian Catholic University

UNITS 3 & 4 | REVOLUTIONS: France and Russia | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE | BYOD
2F

Cold War Australia: From Allies to Upheaval
Dr Nicholas Ferns, Monash University

UNITS 3 & 4 | AUSTRALIAN HISTORY | CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
2G

Tips and Tricks for Small VCE Classes
Marcus Parker, St Joseph’s College, Mildura

UNITS 1–4 | GENERAL | TEACHING IDEAS | BYOD
2H

Adding Complexity with Ancient Literary Sources
Joel Cripps, Peninsula Grammar School

UNITS 1–4 | ANCIENT HISTORY | TEACHING IDEAS
1:15 pm NETWORKING LUNCH
2:20 pm SESSION 3: Please choose one option from this session.
3A VCE Australian History – Examination Reports
James Jacobs, VCAA Chief Assessor
3B VCE Ancient History – Examination Reports
Jeremy Daly, VCAA Chief Assessor
3C VCE Revolutions – Examination Reports
Sam Cavnoudias, VCAA Chief Assessor
3D

VCE Units 1 and 2 – History Workshop

For those not attending the Examination Reports, HTAV staff will facilitate a fast-paced professional learning workshop that will enable VCE Units 1–2 teachers to:

  • share teaching strategies
  • build assessment skills
  • discover high-quality resources
  • expand their professional network.
3:20 pm SOCIAL HOUR
NETWORKING DRINKS FOR CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Join colleagues, catch up with old friends, meet new people, harvest good ideas, and enjoy a complimentary drink and a selection of canapés at the HTAV Social Hour.

Social Hour will take place at the Hawthorn Arts Centre conference venue.

REGISTER | CONFERENCE LOGISTICS | SESSION DESCRIPTIONS | FAQ


Sponsors & partners

  • National History Challenge - Sponsor Logo
  • Education Victoria - Sponsor Logo
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Please note: Members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities should be aware that the HTAV website may include images or names of people now deceased.