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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: 

"VET Without Borders: Skills, Strategy, and Global Realities"

Important Dates

Call for Abstracts Open 19 October 2026

Last date for submissions of abstracts

 16 December 2026

Notification of abstracts accepted

Late January 2027

* 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Presentations will be withdrawn from the program if registration is not completed prior to the conference.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 global landscape within which vocational education and training (VET) operates is shifting in fundamental ways. Many countries and regions now influence economic, political and education priorities across international borders. This shift affects how VET is planned, funded and delivered. Workforce development is no longer just a local issue. Today’s skills systems sit at the heart of global supply chains, green energy transitions, and national security.

VET researchers are reframing the conversation and positioning VET as a driving force in a shifting global economy. Reframing means both challenging old assumptions and examining the ideas, systems and values that shape how we understand VET.

This theme invites the VET research community to look at home as well as beyond established vocational education frameworks and engage with a diverse mix of international models, policy logics, and knowledge traditions that are now shaping the global skills landscape.

Subthemes

From local to global: partnerships, collaboration and shared impact

This subtheme invites big-picture thinking by asking: How can partnerships across countries, jurisdictions and communities build capability and create lasting impact? What do successful international, national and regional training partnerships look like in practice? How can VET systems and qualification frameworks adapt to better support workforce mobility - within Australia and globally? What can VET systems learn from each other? As high tech nations build advanced economies, the gap between rich and poor grows - so how is VET preparing to mitigate economic divide?

Strategic skills for vocations and industries

The role of VET in critical sectors is driving national policy and economic resilience. This subtheme considers: How is VET supporting clean energy futures, advanced manufacturing, new technologies and new ways of thinking and working? How is VET curriculum innovating or adapting to accommodate industry and/or community needs? What barriers are faced by those adapting to accommodate industry and/or community needs? How are Centres of Excellence employing and innovating VET practice to benefit industries? How is VET taking into consideration the needs of society's most vulnerable or disadvantaged?

Innovation, applied research and scholarly practice

This subtheme invites VET teachers and practitioners, Fellows and applied researchers to share innovative research and practice that builds VET teacher capability and/or contributes to VET curriculum development and delivery. Contributions arising from applied research, scholarly practice, classroom and teaching innovation, or industry collaboration that inform or improve VET education or outcomes for apprentices and VET students, are encouraged.

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

      Abstract Submission Format and Information

      Link to FAQ's

      All research presentations and workshops must submit an abstract.

      All abstract submissions must:

        • Include a title of up to 20 words, including expanded acronyms
        • Clearly articulate the relevance to the conference theme and identify the primary strand addressed
        • Specify the submission category (Research Presentation or Workshop)
        • Be submitted in English
        • Not exceed 300 words (excluding references)
        • Provide author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact details
        • Use APA7 referencing style

      Abstracts for research presentations must:

        • Include a review of relevant literature or prior work in the field
        • Clearly define the research question or problem
        • Briefly summarise the theoretical, conceptual, or methodological framing underpinning the research
        • Describe the approach used (e.g., empirical, conceptual, systematic review, etc.), including data collection and/or analytical method as appropriate
        • Summarise the key findings, arguments, or insights, and their implications for theory, policy, and/or practice

      Abstracts for workshops must:

        • Clearly align with the conference theme and relevant strand
        • Provide a clear structure for the session (e.g., outline of activities or stages)
        • Explain how participants will be engaged and what they will gain from attending
        • Identify the intended outcomes or takeaways for workshop participants
        • Highlight any innovation, practice relevance, or applicability to VET contexts

      Evaluation Criteria

      All abstracts will undergo double-blind peer review using criteria appropriate to the submission type.

      Research Presentation abstracts will be evaluated on:

        • Clarity of the research question or problem
        • Theoretical, conceptual, or methodological rigour appropriate to the type of research (empirical, conceptual, applied, or literature-based)
        • Coherence and originality of argument, findings, or insights
        • Engagement with relevant literature or prior work in the field
        • Clarity of structure, language, and presentation
        • Relevance to the conference theme and strand
        • Significance or implications for theory, policy, and/or practice

      Workshop abstracts will be evaluated on:

        • Alignment with the conference theme and strand
        • Whether the workshop outline is clear and suits the topic
        • Originality and practical relevance to VET educators, practitioners, or researchers
        • Opportunities for participant engagement and interaction
        • Whether the workshop clearly states its goals and what participants will gain
        • Clarity and readability of the abstract

      The conference committee may request revisions or additional details prior to acceptance.

      Submission Process

      All abstracts must be submitted through the conference management system HERE. Authors will receive confirmation once the abstract has been submitted.  Please direct any queries regarding the submission process to the Conference Secretariat: avetra@avetra.org.au

      Important Dates

      Call for Abstracts Open19 October 2026

      Last date for submissions of abstracts

      		16 December 2026

      Notification of abstracts accepted

      		Late January 2027

      * 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.

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