This international conference, held every 3 years, provides a forum for Indigenous people around the world to come together to share and learn from their experiences and promote best practice in Indigenous education policies, programs and practice but also to honour and celebrate their cultures and traditions.

The WIPEC: 2008 will be held at the Melbourne and Olympic Parks from 7th to 11th December. 

Cultural events will be held at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl and sites of cultural significance to Indigenous people across Melbourne.

Ms Geraldine Atkinson, Chairperson of VAEAI said:

"this is an important event for all Indigenous Australians and educators as it will provide us with a unique opportunity to showcase initiatives and programs from across the breadth of this continent now called Australia which have a positive impact on the educational outcomes and lives of Indigenous people.  We will also be able to learn about strategies and practices that have been successful for Indigenous people in a vast array of other countries.  And of course, a forum like this will enable us, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across all of Australia, to celebrate our culture and identity with each other and our friends and colleagues from overseas".

Preparations for the conference have commenced and VAEAI will be working with many other people and organizations around Australia including Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups, Indigenous organizations, Educational Institutions and State and Federal Governments to ensure this event is a huge success.

Further information can be obtained from:

Veronica Weisz, Research Officer, VAEAI.
Phone: 03) 9416 3833
Email: veronica@vaeai.org.au