VALBEC2026
Join colleagues from across the adult education sector for a lively day of ideas, practice-sharing and connection at the VALBEC 2026 Conference. Under the theme Reflecting on the Past, Shaping the Future, we’ll celebrate what has strengthened adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy over time—and take a clear-eyed look at what needs to change to meet today’s learners, workplaces and communities.
Through practical workshops and presentations, we will reimagine teaching for changing learners and contexts—responding to social and cultural shifts, evolving workplaces, and digital demands. Sessions will highlight purposeful innovation and research-informed practice that honours prior knowledge, strengthens participation and equity, and supports learners to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Further information about presentation formats and submission timelines will be shared shortly.
Keynote Speaker Announced!Jo Medlin is a literacy and numeracy teacher and advocate and current president of the Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL). She volunteers on the Reading Writing Hotline Steering Committee and the JSA Foundation Skills Study Steering Committee. Employed part-time as an Associate Lecturer in Adult Vocational Education at CSU, she coordinates and lectures on a range of teacher -training adult LLN subjects. Research, consultation and resource development fill in the rest of the working week. Between literacy advocacy Jo walks the dog, contemplates jobs in the garden, and dreams of being an archaeologist. As a prolific reader (mainly cosy detective stories) she firmly believes a book a day keeps reality away. |
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Keynote Address
Title: How do you spell potential?
In 1953 UNESCO asked countries around the world to report their adult literacy levels. Australia responded that literacy issues in Australia were ‘confined to an irreducible minimum, composed mainly of the mentally incapable’ (UNESCO 1953). Move to 2025 and a group of educators spent weeks debating the most appropriate way to describe adults with unmet literacy needs and eventually settled on the term potential learner, explaining the term 'situates these adults as potential future learners" ... to 'focus on policy interventions to address systemic issues and remove barriers, rather than situating overcoming barriers as an individual responsibility'.
The words we use have changed since that report in 1953 and they tell us something about our roles, our learners, and what we need and want as a field. In this presentation, inspired by the 50th anniversary of ACAL, Jo explores the current status of adult literacy and its future through the lens of language and key figures and events in Australian literacy. The presentation covers current activity under the national strategy, upcoming changes, and potential opportunities.
Call for Papers - Now Open!
We are also inviting expressions of interest from presenters. If you would like to share your practice, research or reflections aligned to the conference theme, we encourage you to consider presenting. Our conference will feature three focal areas for presentations: remembering the past - what lessons have we learnt, changing education landscapes; focus on inclusion and future forward - what's next?
Sponsored Conference Places
The VALBEC Committee is offering up to five scholarship places for the 2026 conference, to be held on 15 May 2026 in Melbourne. Conference registration and travel costs for regional recipients will be covered.
Anyone from the field is welcome to apply.
Professional considerations
Please consider the questions below when preparing your application.
1. Why would you like to attend this year’s conference?
2. How will you benefit from attending the conference?
3. How will you share information from the conference with others?
After the Conference
After the conference, successful applicants will be asked to provide a 200-word reflection for possible use in the Fine Print publication, outlining what you gained from attending the conference.
Submission Date
Please email your completed application to info@valbec.com.au by COB 10 April 2026.
Early Bird Pricing
Don't miss out on the early bird pricing which is available until the 17 April. Secure your spot at the conference, and register now!
