History Teachers' Association of Victoria (HTAV)

Are you new to teaching History Levels 7–10? Are you a pre-service teacher preparing for your first class? Or are you teaching History ‘out-of-field? Need more support implementing the new Victorian Curriculum V2.0: Levels 7–10 History? This event is for you!

If you are an experienced teacher needing more guidance with the curriculum, assessment ideas and resources, you may also find this event valuable.

Registrations close Friday 13 March so get in quick: https://bit.ly/4a8uTgf

A week ago we welcomed our VCE History teacher members, pre-service teacher volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors, partners, directors, academics, the VCAA and invaluable presenters to HTAV's first big event of the 2026 PL year - the VCE History Conference!

What a fabulous day filled with high quality professional learning, goodwill, resource sharing, new connections, reunions and smiles. We would like to thank everyone who makes these days so rewarding and mostly thank you to the teachers who come along and strive to support History education and students in their schools. We can't do what we do without YOU! Be proud of the amazing people you are!

HTAV's VCE History Conference – Bigger in 2026!
We are proud to present a bigger VCE History Conference program in 2026 designed to inspire, inform, and support new and experienced VCE History teachers.

What's in store for you:
• Targeted professional learning to help you unpack examination reports and refine your exam preparation strategies

• 22 workshops to choose from to help expand your content knowledge, pick up classroom-ready tips and resources, think deeply about VCE assessment

• 4 workshop sessions across the day, to pack in extra learning and value

• Networking opportunities to catch up with peers and mentors from all over Victoria (over 300 History teachers attend this conference)

Earlybird registrations close midnight: Friday 6 February 2026.
Register here: https://bit.ly/4ifSE8t

Don’t miss your chance to join in the networking and collegiality whilst gaining valued ideas for the VCE classroom and expanding your own historical knowledge.

As the 2026 school year is nearing it's start, a timely article on AI from Vince Wall's Disrupted History website.....

'“We’re kind of just building the plane while we fly it.”

The metaphor lands hard: we simply definitely don’t know yet what best practice for using AI looks like. But we do know one thing – AI is already in our schools… and, as a profession, we’re working things out as we go along.'

Heading back to school in the AI Age? Here’s some “perspectives for the perplexed” Reflections on MIT’s Guidebook to AI in Schools (Part 1) If you were to ask me about Australian K-12 teachers’ response to the arrival of AI in schools, based upon my experience I’d sug…

From all of us at HTAV, we wish you a joyful festive season!

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing community—our social media followers and our valued HTAV members. Your support makes a real difference.

HTAV members play a vital role in helping us champion History education through a range of initiatives, and we couldn’t do it without YOU. We’re excited to continue supporting you and advancing History education in 2026.

Want to find out more about us? Take a look through our website https://www.htav.asn.au/

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year from all of us at HTAV!

What are the origins of Santa Claus? Over millennia St. Nicholas became the modern-day Santa Claus - transcending time, culture, and religion.

Celebrating History in Victoria!
We were thrilled to host a successful Victorian Awards Ceremony for the National History Challenge and the Australian History Competition in early November at Carey Baptist Grammar School.

It was inspiring to see so many students passionate about history and their incredible achievements.

A huge congratulations to all our winners, and a special shout-out to our Platinum Winners:
🏆 Aseni Gnanandsa – St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
🏆 Elika Baygan – Balwyn High School

and to our Victorian Young Historian of the Year:
🌟 Anabel Liu-Mu – Ruyton Girls’ School

These outstanding students represented Victoria at the National Awards in Canberra – what an amazing accomplishment!

Interested in joining the 2026 competitions?
👉 https://historychallenge.org.au/
👉 https://australianhistorycompetition.org.au/ #

📸 Pictured: Victorian Young Historian of the Year, Anabel Liu-Mu, with guest speaker historian Dr Nick Ferns.

HTAV's professional reading journal is included with HTAV Membership and offers practical advice and engaging activities to support your teaching. Non-members can purchase a copy here: https://bit.ly/45RCP3I

The new issue of Agora is on the theme ‘Teaching First Peoples Histories’.

It is written by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, including yarns between them. Some of the themes considered are the need to consult Indigenous communities when developing a deep time unit, considering one’s own ‘positionality’, prioritising resources developed by First Nations people, considering the ways First Nations perspectives have been silenced, and balancing ‘deficit’ narratives of injustice with examples that highlight the resilience and agency of Australia’s First Peoples.

Teaching History Levels 7–10? We’ve got you covered!
Are you new to teaching History in Levels 7–10? A pre-service teacher preparing for your first class? Or teaching History out-of-field?

If you’re looking for support with implementing the Victorian Curriculum V2.0: Levels 7–10 History, this event is for you!

Experienced teachers will also find value in exploring curriculum guidance, assessment ideas, and practical resources.

👉 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4a8uTgf

Exciting news for VCE History teachers!
HTAV is expanding its VCE History Conference in 2026 with a program designed to inspire, inform, and support your teaching practice.

Here’s what’s in store:
✅ Targeted professional learning to unpack the examination reports and refine your exam preparation strategies
✅ 22 workshops packed with content knowledge, classroom-ready tips, and assessment insights
✅ 4 workshop sessions in one day for maximum value
✅ Networking opportunities with peers and mentors from across Victoria
…and so much more!

Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow as a VCE History educator.
👉 Register now: https://bit.ly/4ifSE8t

2026 HELLENIC MUSEUM SUMMER SCHOOL!

How did the ancient Greeks make sense of their history? How did their settlements change as they moved from the Bronze Age to the age of Pericles to the Romans and beyond? These and other questions will be explored during the next Hellenic Museum Summer School.

Taking place across a week in January, four short courses will explore different aspects of ancient history and society. Participants can attend in person at Melbourne's heritage-listed Hellenic Museum or participate online.

The courses will be presented by Dr Christopher Gribbin, an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and public historian. Christopher has worked on various educational products with HTAV, the ABC and others. His annual Summer School can be a valuable experience for teachers or anyone looking to engage with ancient history and society.

The Summer School will run from 5-9 January 2026.

To kick things off, Christopher will also be presenting a free talk on 30 November 2025 (in person or online). The talk will explore myth and religion in the fascinating island of Cyprus.

For more details, go to hellenic.org.au/summer-school or contact [email protected]

An exciting evening last night as the HTAV staff, members, and wider community came together at the Hellenic Museum to celebrate the launch of a fabulous new video series exploring Ancient Greece!

Created by ABC Education in partnership with the Hellenic Museum, this curriculum aligned resource is a must-see for teachers and students. It’s also available with Greek translation!

A huge congratulations to Dr Jo Clyne, Education and Learning Programs Manager at the Hellenic Museum, and Annabel Astbury, ABC Head of Education, along with their amazing teams for bringing this project to life through such a fantastic partnership.

Special thanks to the Hellenic Museum for giving us the rare opportunity to hold ancient artefacts—centuries old coins, a sword, and even an Olympic torch!

👉 Check out the video series here: https://www.abc.net.au/education/digibooks/the-ancient-world-greece/105459234