EduFest WA 2026

Agenda

• 7:30 am - 9:00 am

  Morning Musings Panel Discussion| Screens vs School: What Education Can Learn From The Platforms Our Students Love

  Students willingly spend hours immersed in video games, social platforms and digital tools designed to hold attention, build habit and reward progress. With the average young person in Australia spending around 100 minutes a day on TikTok, equivalent to watching a feature-length film every day, this conversation invites educators to consider an important question: what would it take to design learning experiences that leave students just as eager to keep coming back? From gamified platforms like Duolingo to the fast-moving feedback loops of online communities, this panel will explore what educators can learn from the digital environments young people already choose to engage with and how ideas such as challenge, progression and reward might help shape learning experiences students genuinely want to return to.

• 9:00 am - 9:15 am

  Official Welcome

  The day begins with a welcome to EduFest WA Perth and an introduction to the purpose of the program ahead. Attendees will be invited to step outside the day-to-day demands of school life and into a space designed for reflection, practical thinking and fresh ideas. This opening will set the tone for the day and frame the opportunity to design something meaningful to take back into your own context.

• 9:15 am - 9:45 am

  Opening Keynote Presentation | Meet Your Future Student: Gen Z & Gen Alpha Unmasked

  This opening keynote explores the changing needs, expectations and mindsets of the next generation of learners and what this means for the way educators design learning experiences today. As students navigate a world shaped by rapid technological change, shifting career pathways and new ways of learning, this session will unpack the trends influencing how young people engage, what they value and where schools may need to adapt. Attendees will leave with fresh insight into the students they are designing learning for and the challenges and opportunities this presents for education.

• 9:45 am - 10:30 am

  What's Working & What's Missing

  Before building something new, educators will complete a stocktake of what is already happening in their school communities. Through a series of guided activities, attendees will reflect on the learning experiences, initiatives and programs currently shaping their school community, identifying what is working well, where there are opportunities to strengthen engagement and what they would most value developing across the day. This session creates a clear starting point for practical design work later in the program.

• 10:30 am - 11:00 am

  Morning Tea

  We'll be breaking for morning tea to give attendees the opportunity to get a bite to eat, network and discuss all the insights gained from our first session.

• 11:00 am - 11:30 am

  Panel Discussion | The Ideas That Made It Off The Whiteboard

  In this conversation, you’ll hear from educators who have built established, innovative and impactful initiatives within their school communities as they share a behind the scenes look at what it took to bring those ideas to life. From early concepts through to programs now embedded in school culture, this panel will explore the thinking, persistence and practical steps behind meaningful innovation in education. Our speakers will reflect on the lessons they learned along the way, the pivots they made when things did not go to plan and the advice they would offer to others looking to turn an idea into something lasting. Expect real stories, practical takeaways and valuable insights from educators who have led established future focused learning in schools.

• 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

  Hour Of Power Masterclasses

  A series of three back to back masterclasses to help attendees build their knowledge, skills and expertise. These masterclasses include: Move Fast & Automate Things: Digital Tools To Help You Work Smarter Explore practical digital tools that can help you design learning experiences, build initiatives and bring ideas to life more efficiently. This session will focus on how digital platforms can reduce workload, enhance delivery and help educators strengthen both classroom practice and broader school projects. An Educator's Guide To Leveraging Your Network Engaging opportunities for students often begin with a simple conversation. This session explores how educators can establish and activate their professional networks to connect their classroom with life beyond the school gates. Attendees will create strategies to building lasting relationships with community and industry leaders in their community, to unlock guest speakers, partnerships, mentorship and authentic learning opportunities for their students. Sliding Into Their Inbox: Building Partnerships With Industry Learn how to identify potential industry partners, start meaningful conversations and create collaborations that genuinely add value for students. This session will unpack where to begin, what to ask for, how to make partnership requests feel clear and achievable and how to showcase success so relationships continue to grow.

• 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm

  Lunch

  We'll be breaking for lunch to give attendees the opportunity to get a bite to eat, network and connect with each other.

• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

  Notes To Next Steps: Bringing Your Ideas To Life

  This dedicated working session gives attendees time to apply the day’s learning and begin shaping something practical they can take back into their own school community. Whether refreshing an existing learning experience, designing a new initiative, strengthening an assessment approach or developing a partnership concept, this session is designed to help move ideas from reflection into practical next steps.

• 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

  Industry Showcase | Show Us What You're Working On

  Attendees will have the opportunity to share their developing ideas with industry leaders, community partners and fellow educators for feedback, further connections and support. This session is designed to strengthen ideas, open new conversations and help identify the connections, opportunities and next steps that could bring them to life beyond the day.

• 2:45 am - 3:00 pm

  Wrap Up & Farewell

  The day closes with a short reflection designed to help attendees capture the ideas, insights and next steps they want to carry forward. It is an opportunity to pause, recognise what has emerged across the day and leave with clarity around what you want to test, strengthen or continue exploring in your own context.