Events
Upcoming Events
An Exceptional Exchange: Voices of gifted and high ability young people
Voices of gifted and high ability young people
Come and hear from a diverse group of gifted and high ability young people as they share insights that will enlighten and inspire those who work with them.
06:00 pm -08:00 pm, Wednesday 24th May, 2023
CHES (Centre for Higher Education Studies), 669 Chapel St,
South Yarra VIC 3141
Light Refreshments provided
Registrations essential by Wednesday 17th May
Visit TryBooking link https://www.trybooking.com/CHLAO
The Department of Education and Training (DET) are calling for Nominations for the following State Education Awards.
It is wonderful to see that this year two new Awards have been created: Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students – Primary Award and Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students – Secondary Award.
It would be wonderful to see deserving State Teachers nominated for these award categories. Nominations close on Monday, June 8. Please see attached Flyer below for details.
2022 AGM Documents November 9
Notice of AGM 2022 Letter
2022 VAGTC Letter to Members – Notice of AGM 22
AGM Guest Speakers:
AGM Guest Speakers: Featuring student voice through “Stories of the Gifted” – videos presented at the National Education Summit Gifted Symposium including live Q&A with the students. (6.50PM – 7.20PM)
2022 AGM Agenda
2022 Annual Report
2021 AGM Documents October 27
2021 Annual Report
2021 Annual General Meeting Minutes
VAGTC AGM Minutes 27.10.212020 AGM Documents October 28
2020 Annual Report
2020 Annual General Meeting Minutes
VAGTC produces
Shop
The VAGTC produces several resources that both members of the VAGTC and members of the public can access.
Parent Seminars & Educator Seminars 2023
The Department of Education and Training has agreed to fund VAGTC for a further three years to provide free parent seminars and support.
Please keep checking back on this page and our socials for added seminars throughout Term 2 and beyond
We are pleased to offer the following seminars for 2023.
Semester Two
Term 3
Visual Puzzles / All Age Games for the Gifted
Tuesday, 14th November 2023
07:30PM – 09:00PM (Online)
“Come and join us as we share our love for games, puzzles and offer some ideas that are wonderful for gifted children especially heading into holiday time! Puzzles and games provide a platform for cognitive growth by stimulating critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Children (and families) can strategize, plan, and adapt within the context of games and puzzles, while also fostering social interaction, encouraging communication, cooperation, and healthy competition when played with peers, family, or friends.”
To register please click on the Try Booking Link below
https://www.trybooking.com/CLIBP
Youth Forum
Monday 16th, October 2023
07:00 PM – 08:30 PM (Online)
Come and listen in to the conversation as gifted and high ability young people share their insights and experiences, and discuss issues and questions of significance and relevance to them. Students, parents and educators from all education sectors are invited to join our online forum, which has been organized and will be led by a group of gifted youth who are committed to positive and effective advocacy. Parents and educators are invited to bring their questions to the forum during the Q&A at the end of the session.
To register please click on the Try Booking Link below
https://www.trybooking.com/CLIBR
Parent Seminar
Online: Parent Discussion Night Regarding Twice Exceptionality
Thursday 12th October, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM (ONLINE)
Parents of a twice-exceptional child, who possesses both high intellectual abilities and a learning difference or disability, often have specific concerns and questions about how to best support their child’s unique needs. If you are a parent or educator wanting to learn more about how to support your child/student, please join us for an informative discussion session. The session will include how to advocate for your child, how to balance strengths and challenges, supporting their social-emotional well-being and more.
To register please click on the Try Booking Link below
https://www.trybooking.com/CLIBJ
PREVIOUS SEMINARS
Parent Seminar
Identifying Gifted Students – Assessment Tools other than WISC
Thursday 7th September, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM (ONLINE)
The WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition for children 6 – 16 years, 11 months) and the WIPPSI-IV (Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition for children 2.5 – 7 years, 7 months) are generally well regarded as providing an accurate measure of academic potential of students, and frequently used to diagnose giftedness.
However, the cost involved and the availability of practitioners (they can only be administered by a registered educational psychologist) puts them out of reach for some families. Or perhaps you have been advised that there is a “2 year wait” for testing!
This seminar will cover the alternative measures available to identify giftedness: Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT tests), Gifted Rating Scales, behavioural observations, and common characteristics of gifted children to diagnose giftedness.
However, the cost involved and the availability of practitioners (they can only be administered by a registered educational psychologist) puts them out of reach for some families. Or perhaps you have been advised that there is a “2 year wait” for testing!
This seminar will cover the alternative measures available to identify giftedness: Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT tests), Gifted Rating Scales, behavioural observations, and common characteristics of gifted children.
To register please click on the Try Booking Link below
https://www.trybooking.com/CLCGK
Previous Seminars
Educator/Parent Seminar
ILPs ADVANCED SEMINAR (A follow up to the Introductory Session)
Thursday 24th August, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM (ONLINE)
Kathy Harrison will discuss ILP/IEps, what they are and how you can be involved in developing one for your child, summarising information in the previous seminar (for those who have attended before).
New information on how to evaluate an ILP and adjust it using a Response to Intervention approach will be presented along with some sample templates.
There will be plenty of time for discussion too.
Parent Seminar:
Interpreting Results & Responding to School Reports
Monday 31st July , 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
This seminar will be focusing on interpreting school reports so that they become more meaningful to understand and support your gifted child. Come along with your questions as we explain a few issues in reading reports for gifted students. Some of the areas we will cover are
- Recognising underachievement in reports
- What is the role of effort?
- Extra and co-curricular activities
- How progress is reported
Parent Seminar:
Executive Functions Workshop with Neuropsychologist, Dr. Ruth Tesselaar
Thursday 13th July, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
The term “Executive Functions” describes a set of cognitive abilities including planning, organisation, time management, self-regulation, working memory, and emotional control. They develop from birth into our mid 20’s and underlie many daily and academic tasks.
Many gifted, talented and twice exceptional children can have difficulty developing their executive functions. Difficulties with executive functions in children and teenagers can look like:
- Difficulties getting ready on time for school each morning
- Procrastinating, difficulties starting and staying focused homework, forgetting to hand in their completed homework
- Under/over estimating how long tasks take
- Over reacting to small things
Come along to this workshop to learn:
- What executive functions are and when they develop
- Signs your child may need support to develop their executive functions
- A strategy to develop executive functions at home that is suitable for children and teens of all ages and all abilities – this can be used to achieve outcomes such as calmer mornings, greater independence with homework, and less nagging!
Dr. Ruth Tesselaar is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and the Founder of Dandelion Hub (www.dandelionhub.com.au). Ruth has over 20 years’ experience working with neuro-diverse children, adults, and families in many roles (live in nanny, integration aide, Neuropsychologist…). Executive Function development is Ruth’s geek out area, particularly within the context of increasing people’s independence in life, study, and work through development of their executive functions.
The executive function framework Ruth teaches focuses on individual’s strengths and co-creation of meaningful strategies. Following discussions with parents of gifted children around executive function difficulties, Ruth realised this positive and collaborative approach aligns with recommendations for working with gifted and high ability children. This has led to Ruth expanding her knowledge and practice to the gifted and ability population.
Choosing a Good Fit School
Thursday 15th June, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
How do I decide which school will be best for my child?
What research do I need to do?
What information can schools provide?
What questions should I ask?
These and other frequently asked questions will be explored.
Feel free to bring your own unique questions too.
Gifted Awareness Week Seminar:
An Exceptional Exchange: Voices of gifted and high ability young people
Voices of gifted and high ability young people
Come and hear from a diverse group of gifted and high ability young people as they share insights that will enlighten and inspire those who work with them.
06:00 pm -08:00 pm, Wednesday 24th May, 2023
CHES (Centre for Higher Education Studies), 669 Chapel St,
South Yarra VIC 3141
Light Refreshments provided
Registrations essential by Wednesday 17th May
Download Flyer Here
EDUCATOR SEMINAR:
ONLINE: DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL LEARNING / EDUCATION PLANS (ILPs) for GIFTED + HIGH ABILITY STUDENTS
Thursday 18 May, 4.00PM – 6.00PM (ONLINE)
With VAGTC President Kathy Harrison and Vice President Dr Susan Nikakis
An entry level presentation with the outline of several models followed by an interactive workshop
What is an ILP/PLP? Individual Learning Plan/ Personal Learning Plan
Which gifted students require one?
What does a gifted ILP/PLP look like?
What does an ILP seek to achieve?
What does success look like?
These are a few of the questions that will be explored as we look at models for developing ILPs and some sample ILPs that identify interventions for an individual learner’s needs. There will be time for Q&A during the session.
Cost:
$100 (Non-Members)
$40 (VAGTC Members)
Parent Seminar:
Supporting Social Emotional Needs of Gifted Learners
Wednesday 3rd May, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
This seminar will address common social and emotional challenges that parents often face in living with their gifted and high ability children and offers suggestions and strategies for supporting their healthy growth. High interest and commonly discussed topics include asynchronous development, intensity, overexcitability, anxiety and perfectionism.
Parent Discussion Night
Monday 27th March 2023, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
An opportunity to network and discuss.
Many seminar participants have expressed the desire to discuss questions and issues with people experienced in the area of gifted education along with other parents. Many have found it very helpful to share with others who have similar experiences.
In this seminar, we invite participants to send in questions prior to the evening or bring topics for discussion to the session.
Break out spaces will be made available to explore a range of topics with experienced facilitators.
Establishing Rapport with Your Child’s School
Tuesday,21st March 2023, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
This seminar will focus on:
An overview of themes and issues about the importance of rapport and the various needs of your Gifted child in relation to school.
How to advocate for your child with the teachers at school and building positive rapport between home and school.
And discuss where you can go for help.
What is Possible in School Provision? (What is reasonable to ask your school to provide?)
Thursday, 9th March 2023, 07:30 PM – 09:00 PM
This seminar will focus on the possible school-based interventions, opportunities and learning strategies that focus on providing appropriately for the needs of gifted and high ability learners, including ideas for classroom differentiation, grouping, Individual Learning/Education Plans, acceleration, and enrichment. At the start of the year, it can take a while for things to be put into place. How do you support your child in the interim? What immediate resources can you offer or encourage your school to access?
