Nominations are open for the AVETRA Journal Article of the Year Award 2026, for journal articles authored by an AVETRA member and published in the previous year. Please find a link to the nominations form, below.

The aim of this award is to recognise excellent scholarship on the part of an AVETRA member, and to help to raise the profile of the scholarly work being done by AVETRA members.

This ongoing award is presented annually at the AVETRA conference. The awardee will receive a certificate from AVETRA.

Nominations close 20 March 2026.

Nomination and award details, including a nomination form, are available below:

Nomination Form

UDL Symposium 2026 – Call for Abstracts & Registrations Now Open

The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET), in partnership with the University of Tasmania, invites you to join us for the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium 2026: From Ideas to Impact: Sharing, Engaging, and Co-Designing Practice.

Taking place from Wednesday 24 June to Friday 26 June 2026 at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, the symposium brings together academics, educators, practitioners and people with disability from across the Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training sectors. Both in-person and online attendance options are available.

This year's symposium aims to share and showcase knowledge and expertise in UDL, explore co-design approaches that empower learners, and examine how UDL can be applied across our evolving tertiary education landscape.

Call for Abstracts – submissions close 5 pm Monday 2 March 2026 (AEDT)

Abstract submissions welcomed from educators, learning designers, disability and accessibility advisors, assistive technology officers, and inclusive education students and staff. Submission themes include innovative UDL practices, Gen AI and assistive technology as enablers of inclusion, students as co-designers, accessibility, and more.

Registrations now open and early bird pricing available until 4 May 2026.

https://www.adcet.edu.au/inclusive-teaching/universal-design-for-learning/udl-symposium-2026

AVETRA Conference April 2026
23rd and 24th April

"Schisms and Continuums: Understanding Sustainability, Change and Identity in Vocational Education"

The Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) aims to promote quality VET research, build capacity to undertake VET research and evaluation, and provide opportunities to exchange information and ideas. VET research may be on a small or large scale, for policy development, to improve teaching and assessment practices or to discover which partnerships, programs and services best meet the needs of the individuals, communities, and enterprises. AVETRA members include TAFE and university-based researchers, training managers, industry-based trainers and managers, and VET decision makers. The annual conference aims to be informative, challenging, and practical and assist people to build networks.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Berwyn Clayton Award for Practitioner Research.

AVETRA members are invited to nominate an early career or practitioner researcher whose research is making a positive impact when applied to VET practice.

Berwyn Clayton is a legend in the Australian VET research scene and has a long and distinguished association with AVETRA. From 1989 to 2014 Berwyn actively encouraged and supported VET teachers to undertake research.

AVETRA has presented the Berwyn Clayton Award on a bi-annual basis at the AVETRA Conference since 2012. Over the years, the criteria for this award have changed, reflecting the broad impact that Berwyn has had on our sector.

In 2026, the Berwyn Clayton Award will again be awarded to a Practitioner Researcher.

All nominees and those nominating them must be current AVETRA members.

Nominations close COB Friday 20 March 2026.

More information about the Berwyn Clayton Award for Practitioner Research, including contact details and a nomination form, are here: https://avetra.org.au/Berwyn-Clayton-Award

This is a call for nominations to participate on the AVETRA Executive Committee.  

All AVETRA members are invited to nominate for the next two year term of the AVETRA executive. Serving on the executive team is an opportunity to help shape the association's future direction, to inform the activities and events the association enables for members and to contribute to the sustainability of our VET research community. We encourage members from across the community to nominate, including practitioner and early career researchers, and VET researchers based in industry, VET providers and universities.

We strongly encourage nominations from individuals who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our VET research community, in particular First Nations researchers, researchers with lived experience of disability, researchers living and/or working in rural and remote areas and researchers from language backgrounds other than English.    

To nominate, nominees need to be financial members of AVETRA and be supported by two (2) financial members and completed via the nomination form below, and received by the AVETRA Secretary (avetra@avetra.org.au) no later than 26th February 2026.

EXECUTIVE NOMINATION FORM
Executive Role Descriptions

Please download the nomination form to utilise the digital signature.

CONTACT
General enquiries: + 61 3 8658 6641
Email inquiries:  avetra@avetra.org.au
AVETRA Website: www.avetra.org.au

AVETRA AGM 2026

CALL FOR AGENDA ITEMS

This is a call for Agenda Items for the AVETRA AGM which will be taking place  in Brisbane on the 23rd April 2026.

Items for the agenda should be submitted no later than the 12th February and emailed to the AVETRA Secretary (avetra@avetra.org.au)

As announced at the AVETRA 2025 Conference, the AVETRA Member Directory is now live.  Login with your membership credentials to search the directory to find fellow researchers and mentors.

Add your name to the list, by updating your profile and nominating what information you would like listed.

Need help? Contact AVETRA Support via email for some assistance.

23rd/24th April 2026 - TAFEQLD - South Bank, QLD

Add the date to your diary, as we get set to launch the call for abstracts and registrations for the 2026 AVETRA Conference being held in Brisbane.

Apply now!
Applied Research grants focused on the Care Economy, early-career researchers, and vital SME-led projects. Deadline: 17 December. 

Applications are officially open for the Applied Research and Innovation Grants in Round 2! 

We are calling for high-impact project proposals that directly address challenges and foster innovation within the Care Economy, in mandatory partnership with an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise). This round specifically targets new and early-career researchers. 

Key Details: 

• Grant Value: $50,000 to $100,000 per grant. 
• Project Duration: Projects must be completed within 6 to 12 months. The final project duration is contingent on the scope, complexity, and funding requested, with the official start date set upon the execution of the funding agreement. 
• Core Eligibility: Must be a Victorian TAFE professional/staff and an early-career researcher 

Mandatory Requirement: Evidence of SME collaboration and commitment.

Key Dates Reminder 

Launch Date
17 November 2025
Submissions Close
17 December 2025 at 5pm AEDT

How to Apply 
Please email your application to AppliedResearch@holmesglen.edu.au by 5pm AEDT on 17 December 2025. 

Click here for more information

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 | Hybrid: In-Person & Online.
Presented by the VET Development Centre. $180 (inclusive of GST) 

Join the conversation shaping the future of tertiary education in Australia.

The Vocational Degrees Symposium is your opportunity to connect with leading educators, policymakers, and industry experts as we explore the transformative potential of vocationally delivered undergraduate degrees (AQF Level 7). Discover how these qualifications - developed in close partnership with industry - are expanding access, driving innovation, and building a future-ready workforce.

Register here to attend either in-person (Melbourne) or Online.