AI in Education Symposium
Overview and outcomes
Recent rapid changes in technology can make it challenging to know how to use and respond to artificial intelligence in a school environment. This full-day event brings together school and system leaders and teachers from government, Catholic and independent sectors to explore how generative AI can be used safely, ethically and effectively to strengthen teaching practice, improve student learning outcomes and support workload sustainability in schools.
What you will learn
- AI and inclusion: Gain practical strategies for using AI tools to promote inclusion and support neurodiversity in the classroom.
- AI and assessments: Learn strategies that preserve academic rigour in an AI-rich environment.
- AI and leadership: Explore how leaders in education are thinking about trust, governance, risk and creating conditions for confident AI experimentation.
- AI and ethics: Further your understanding of how to prepare yourself and students for ethical and long-term implications of AI.
Structure
- Format: Full day, in-person and simulcast to regional centres across Victoria
- When: Friday 24 April 2026, 8.45am to 3.30pm
- Where: 603 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051
Audience
This symposium is recommended for all Victorian educators and school leaders:
- Principals and assistant principals
- Teacher leaders and teachers
- System leaders and education support staff.
This program is designed for a range of school sectors:
- Victorian government
- Catholic
- Independent.
Agenda
| Time | Item |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30am | Arrival, registration, coffee |
| 9:30 – 9:45am | Welcome Academy welcome by Teaching Excellence Division Director Emily Benson Scene-setting speech by CEO Marcia Devlin |
| 9:45 – 10:45am | AI and Inclusion First keynote with A/Prof Matthew Harrison and Jess Rowlings followed by Q&A |
| 10:45 – 11:15am | Morning tea |
| 11:15 – 12:15pm | Rethinking assessment in an AI-rich classroom Second keynote with Dr Jo Blannin followed by Q&A |
| 12:15 – 1:00pm | Lunch and networking |
| 1:00 – 2:15pm | System leadership in practice – leading AI well in schools Panel discussion facilitated by CEO Marcia Devlin |
| 2:15 – 2:30pm | Afternoon break |
| 2.30 – 3.15pm | Practical applications of AI use in schools Third keynote with Dr Scott Cameron followed by Q&A |
| 3.15 – 3.30pm | Closing words by COO Peter Saffin |
Facilitators
Jess Rowlings
Jess Rowlings (she/her) is a qualified speech pathologist, researcher and Honorary Enterprise Fellow at the University of Melbourne who specialises in video game-based intervention to build social capacity in neurodivergent children. Jess is also the co-founder and CEO of Next Level Collaboration, a social enterprise that runs strength-based programs supporting collaborative skill development and social connection for neurodivergent children using cooperative video games. Jess’ work is informed by her lived experiences of autism and ADHD, along with her personal lifelong love of gaming. She is also completing her PhD investigating the experiences of neurodivergent women in gaming communities.
Matthew Harrison
Associate Professor Matthew Harrison (he/him) is an experienced teacher, researcher and digital creator who is an advocate for utilising technology to support social capacity building, belonging and inclusion in education. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Matthew is currently a member of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Education Learning Intervention team, a project lead at their Neurodiversity Project and co-founder of Next Level Collaboration, the first neurodivergent-led social enterprise to spin out of the University of Melbourne.
Dr Jo Blannin
Dr Jo Blannin (she/her) offers more than 20 years’ experience in educational innovation and change leadership. She is currently Senior Lecturer, Digital Transformations at Monash University, and her previous roles include leadership positions in schools, education systems, banking, business, outdoor education and private consultancy. An award-winning higher education teacher, Jo has been recognised for her research and providing models of best practice in innovative teaching. Having taught across 3 countries and in 2 languages, she champions evidence-based practices to benefit her students, research partners and colleagues alike.
Dr Scott Cameron
Dr Scott Cameron (he/him) is a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne where he teaches subjects in the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program. Scott is also the Academic Lead (Clinical Practice - Professional Experience), overseeing the professional development of pre-service teachers during their placement experiences. Scott's current research investigates the quality of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools, the implications for mathematics teachers when working with GenAI and practices for supporting mathematics teachers to work with GenAI.
Fees and financial support
| Government school | Non-government school/Department of Education corporate staff | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee per participant | $100 (excl. GST) | $150 (excl. GST) |
Resources and links
This program is grounded in the Australian National Framework for use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Schools, and the Victorian Government Policy and Advisory Library, Generative Artificial Intelligence. This ensures all strategies meet national safety and ethical standards.
Find out more:
