The Gifted Journey: Reflecting Forward

Following the success of the 8th national conference of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) in Brisbane in 2000, NSWAGTC began planning to host the recent 9th conference held at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. The venue alone was worth the visit. In addition a large number of quality presenters were in attendance to make each day an exciting event filled with challenges and new information. Around 450 registrations represented every Australian state and territory, as well as New Zealand UK and United Arab Emirates.

The Governor of NSW Professor Marie Bashir AC opened the conference on Sunday 20 October 2002 with a stunning presentation demonstrating her previous experience with giftedness as a clinical psychiatrist.

On Monday Lannie Kanevsky from Canada was impressive, as indeed were the Australian keynotes Miraca Gross, John Geake, Paul Hutchins and Toni Noble. The content and pace was mind boggling to say the least. I struggled to keep up and indeed failed to do so with Toni Noble. It's very humbling but inspiring to be in such company.

The NSW committee had to deal with the usual issues that arise such as 'no show' presenters but they coped admirably with great wit and enthusiasm. NSW is to be congratulated on securing five keynote speakers of such a high level of expertise whose backgrounds and topics were so varied that all participants' needs would surely have been met.

With the exception of a few presentations that did not meet my expectations there was much to admire and much to learn.

As state AAEGT director for Queensland, as well as state President of QAGTC I was also busy attending the additional meetings of those groups. QAGTC members are automatically members of AAEGT and we need to monitor what happens at the national level, particularly with representations to the federal government whose lack of action on the Senate Enquiry recommendations is to be deplored.

At meetings of state Presidents we exchanged information on how states and territories AGTCs operate. Membership varies from 50 in Northern Territory to 1600 in New South Wales - more than the rest of the nation put together. NSW also has the widest range of services. This is reflected in their systemic provisions for gifted children in schools - the only Australian state that has managed to institutionalise gifted education so that it does not disappear at political whim.

All states and territories have policies on gifted education and all report that implementation is spasmodic and inconsistent. All report inadequate teacher training in gifted education and lack of government funds and expert personnel in education systems - state, catholic and private.

State Presidents and AAEGT directors communicate through email groups. They plan to meet again in Adelaide in August at the World Conference. Follow the link, 15th Conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children to find out about the World Conference in August 2003.

Judith Hewton