CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

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.

The conference is calling for submissions to discuss this year’s theme: 

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

Important Dates

Call for Abstracts Open	28th November 2025
Last date for submissions of abstracts	9th January 2026
Notification of abstracts accepted	6th February 2026

* Formal acceptance of presentations is subject to registration.
Presentations will be withdrawn from the program if registration is not completed prior to the conference.
All presenters must register and pay the conference registration fees.

Conference Overview

The Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) invites abstract submissions for its 2026 Annual Conference, to be held in Brisbane, Queensland on 23-24 April 2026. This international conference provides a premier forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry partners to engage with critical questions facing vocational education and training (VET) in an era of unprecedented transformation.

The conference theme, "Schisms and Continuums: Understanding Sustainability, Change and Identity in Vocational Education," invites examination of the tensions, contradictions, and connections that characterise contemporary VET systems globally. As vocational education navigates between tradition and innovation, local needs and global pressures, economic imperatives and social justice commitments, this conference seeks to illuminate both the fractures and mendings that define our field.

The conference is organised around three interconnected dimensions that collectively frame the contemporary VET landscape:

Sustainability examines how vocational education and training contributes to—and is shaped by—the imperative for sustainable futures. This encompasses not only environmental sustainability and green skills development, but also the sustainability of VET systems themselves, pedagogical practices, funding models, and career pathways. We seek contributions that interrogate how VET can foster resilient systems and communities while responding to climate change, resource constraints, and the transition to sustainable economies.

Change explores the multifaceted drivers and consequences of transformation within vocational education. From artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to demographic shifts and evolving labour markets, VET systems worldwide are experiencing profound disruption. This dimension invites analysis of how change is conceptualised, managed, resisted, and leveraged within VET contexts, including examination of policy reforms, institutional restructuring, curriculum innovation, and pedagogical transformation.

Identity investigates the evolving constructions of self, role, and purpose within vocational education ecosystems. As traditional boundaries between academic and vocational education blur, and as the nature of work itself transforms, questions of identity become increasingly salient. Who are VET learners, teachers, and institutions becoming? How do marginalised voices claim space within VET discourse? What values and purposes animate contemporary vocational education?

Presentation Options

Focus of Presentations

All presentations at AVETRA must be centred on VET research—that is, work that originates from a research question and draws on evidence from the field and/or literature to generate insights that inform the theory and/or practice of VET.

We welcome both applied and theoretical research, including empirical studies, conceptual analyses, policy evaluations, and methodological innovations that advance understanding of VET practice, systems, or learners.

AVETRA is not a forum for personal opinions, advocacy, or grievances about the VET system. Every presentation should be grounded in a clear research question and a systematic research process.

While many experienced researchers will present large-scale or longitudinal studies, new and emerging researchers are warmly encouraged to share smaller-scale or exploratory projects. AVETRA can also help connect new researchers with experienced mentors to support their development.

Presentation Options

At the AVETRA 2026 Conference, delegates may choose from the following presentation formats:

Research Presentations
Research presentations provide an opportunity to share completed or ongoing research.

Two presentation formats are available:

• 30-minute session: 20-minute presentation, 5-minute Q&A, 5-minute changeover
• 45-minute session:35-minute presentation, 5-minute Q&A, 5-minute changeover

Workshops

Workshops are interactive sessions designed to engage participants in shared learning, problem-solving, or practical exploration of ideas relevant to the conference theme. Workshops may include short presentations, demonstrations, or collaborative activities, but the emphasis should be on participant engagement and dialogue.

Two workshop formats are available:

• 45-minute workshop
• 90-minute workshop

Link to FAQ's