State Conference 2026

The theme for State conference 2026 is Encounters - Encounters with literature, language and literacy and most importantly, with the young people in our classrooms.

The program will follow the usual pattern of 2 keynotes and 3 workshop sessions of 55 minutes each.  We are excited to confirm that the keynotes will be presented by Pauline Jones, Professor, Language in Education, University of Wollongong NSW and Hedley Thomas, journalist and podcaster who many of you will know from Teachers Pet and perhaps Sick to Death. 

The program is now available.  Read Workshops and descriptions online; a description for each workshop is here. 

Please read workshop offerings carefully before making your selections. Note in the third session, there is now an option NOT to choose a workshop if you have to leave early. - see 3X

Workshop selections

An extensive array of workshops is on offer. Which ones actually run and in which session will be determined by your selections; we do not expect all workshops listed for each session will actually run. Many workshops may run once only.

You are asked to choose two different workshops for each session. There are around 22-3 options for each workshop session. Workshops in session 3 are all a repeat of offerings in session 1 or 2. Therefore descriptions have not been repeated. 

A small number of workshops are offered once only:

• 1A. Using Concordance software for literary research - Prof Roly Sussex
• 1O. Beyond the formula - Mel Dixon
• 1S. Brainrot to bathos: Group poetry games to transform student attitudes towards writing - Andrew Duval
• 1G. Serious Play: Meaningful encounters in the English classroom - Rebekah Sharrott
• 2S. Masterpiece and Monster: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Rebekah Sharrott
• 1T Who is doing the thinking? Voice, ownership, and independence in Senior English - Alice Elwell

When you register you will be asked to tell us if you are unable to attend workshop session 3. For session 3, the workshop selection options will include an option of NOT attending this session - 3X

Please read the program carefully BEFORE completing your registration.

Cancellation policy and registration conditions

1. Cancellation Policy –If you register for face-to-face attendance and have to cancel your physical attendance, the following will apply:

a.      Cancel your registration by 13 July and receive a refund of your full registration fee OR transfer over to the online attendance group and receive a refund of the face-to-face component of your registration fee.

b.      From 14 July to 17 July, you will receive a refund of the face-to-face component of your registration fee and be transferred to online registration.

c.      From 18 July no refund is possible

2. Change of persons registered - sometimes schools may need to substitute one teacher for another on their registrations. This is fine but please notify the change to the Administration Officer so that we can prepare the appropriate Certificate of Participation and individual program.

3. Many schools prefer to receive an invoice for registration and pay on that rather than pay at the time of registration. We are happy to offer this convenience, but it must be recognised that registration commits you to payment. See also the Cancellation Policy

Registrations are now open on Wednesday 27 May.

When you have completed your registration, you will see an on-screen message confirming you have successfully registered. If you do not get this message, your registration may not be complete. If in doubt, contact Trish at adminofficer@etaq.org.au.  

Early bird registrations close Tuesday 14 July at 5pm.

Registrations as at 2pm on 14 July

in alpha order of surnames and listed by schools

LATE WORKSHOP CANCELLATION Juliette Holmes has regretfully had to withdraw her workshop (2D and 3O) on this occasion.

Roshan Hurley Clerke has withdrawn Writing Resistance: Anti-colonial approaches to short fiction (1F. 2V)

Rachel Walsh Springboard Short Stories has also had ot withdraw due to illness. (2H and 3S)