Difficult Histories: Why Holocaust Education Matters Now
Description
Difficult Histories: Why Holocaust Education Matters Now
Over the last few years, many people - both inside and outside the community - have questioned the degree to which education is the panacea we had hoped it would be. When the fabric of social cohesion is frayed, is education sufficient to repair it? More recently, as witnesses have taken the stand and shared their own experiences of antisemitism with the Royal Commission, some have asked about the role of Holocaust education in particular. The Melbourne Holocaust Museum was established with the intention that by teaching responsibly about the Holocaust, we might contribute to the creation of a society with greater empathy and celebration for difference. In this panel, join us as we explore the role of Holocaust education in the current climate: its goals, its challenges and its ultimate purpose.
We look forward to welcoming our panelists:
Dr Breann Fallon, CEO Melbourne Holocaust Museum
Stephen Fraser, Assistant Secretary Department of Education
Stephen Gniel, CEO Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Sofija Plavsic, McKinnon Secondary College
This event is in-person only.
Lineup
Dr Breann Fallon
Dr Breann Fallon is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. Working across the museums, education and human rights sectors Dr Fallon is also the president of the National Education Network for the Australian Museums and Galleries Association and served as an expert on the 2023 federal senate inquiry into the national ban on Nazi symbols, which was ultimately successful. Dr Fallon worked previously at the Sydney Jewish Museum and as an advisory board member for the Bulletin for the Study of Religions. She taught in the Studies in Religion department at the University of Sydney for over three years; her research interests include religion and violence, genocide, human rights, cinema, material religion, and gender, having published on all of these topics. A regular in the media, Breann is the host of the documentary ‘Trafficked to Australia’, was co-editor of the podcast ‘The Religious Studies Project,’ and has hosted ABC Radio National program ‘God Forbid.’ She has also appeared on ABC Radio National programs ‘Religion and Ethics Report,’ and ‘Earshot’ among others.
Stephen Fraser
As Deputy Secretary, SEPS, Stephen leads policy and program development to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students, regardless of their background. Stephen has extensive experience in education policy making and implementation. He has held a range of senior roles in Victoria, including Regional Director for the South Western Victoria Region and Executive Director for Implementation. He has also served as a seconded senior advisor to the Victorian Minister for Education and Deputy Premier. Following a long history in the Victorian Public Service, Stephen spent time in the UK, as Deputy Chief Executive for the Education Endowment Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family background and educational attainment through the generation and use of high-quality evidence about what works to improve outcomes for students experiencing disadvantage.
Stephen Gniel
Mr Gniel joined ACARA in November 2023, bringing to ACARA a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience in education having held senior leadership roles in both Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory in early childhood, schools and post school portfolios with both policy and operational priorities. Stephen is a committed educational leader, having started his career as a primary school teacher and principal before moving into senior education system leadership roles. He is also the immediate past national president and chair of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, a position he held for six years between 2016 and 2022.
Sofija Plavsic
Sofija Plavsic is a senior educator and the Year 10 Team and Curriculum Leader at McKinnon Secondary College. Now in her seventh year of teaching, Sofija specialises in VCE English (Units 1-4) and History (Units 1–2), with five years of dedicated experience in Holocaust education. She brings extensive expertise in senior curriculum design and guiding students through complex, sensitive historical narratives with critical thinking and empathy.
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