Invitation to Participate

The NSW Special Education Principals' and Leaders' Association (SEPLA) is excited to invite you to attend SEPLA-CON 2026 to be held at the ICC Sydney on Monday, 20 and Tuesday, 21 July 2026.  

The theme for SEPLA-CON 2026 is Together for Tomorrow:  Embracing Diversity, Enabling Success.

As we look ahead to SEPLA-CON 2026, we acknowledge that special education in New South Wales and across Australia continues to evolve in response to an ever-changing educational landscape. Schools are navigating new policies, advancing pedagogical practices, and responding to growing community expectations—all while remaining committed to the fundamental mission: ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

This year’s theme — Together for Tomorrow: Embracing Diversity, Enabling Success — reflects our shared dedication to building an inclusive future by celebrating the strengths of every learner and fostering environments where all students can reach their full potential. It is a call to action to unite as educators, families, and communities in embracing diversity, removing barriers, and enabling success for all.

Together for Tomorrow

At the heart of this journey is NSW SEPLA—the Statewide Special Education Principals and Leaders Association—a vital community dedicated to supporting those working in special education settings across NSW. SEPLA stands as a collective voice, a catalyst for professional growth, collaboration, and innovative practice, empowering educators, leaders, and support staff to lead change with confidence and purpose.

The strength of special education lies in unity—bringing students, families, educators, leaders, and communities together to shape the future. This theme celebrates collaboration and shared purpose as the foundation for meaningful progress. Through inspiring keynote presentations, practical workshops, and enriching conversations, SEPLA-CON 2026 will provide opportunities to build lasting connections, share innovative ideas, and renew our collective commitment to enabling success for all learners.

Embracing Diversity

Embracing diversity in special education means recognising and valuing the unique abilities, backgrounds, and experiences each student brings to the learning community. Across NSW, schools are championing inclusive practices that honour differences and promote equity. From culturally responsive teaching to differentiated learning pathways and diverse communication methods, this focus highlights how embracing diversity enriches learning for every student and strengthens our education system as a whole.

This commitment aligns closely with NSW DoE Our Plan for Public Education, which emphasises inclusion, student wellbeing, and equity to ensure every young person is supported to flourish. Together, we will explore how to deepen our understanding and implementation of truly inclusive education guided by these foundational priorities.

Enabling Success

Enabling success means creating the conditions where all students can thrive academically, socially, physically and emotionally. This includes leveraging evidence-based strategies, collaborative partnerships, and flexible learning environments designed to meet individual needs. In 2026, we will highlight how educators and communities can work hand-in-hand to remove barriers, build resilience, and open pathways to meaningful achievement and lifelong learning. Our collective efforts are reinforced by the NSW DoE School Excellence Framework (SEF), which provides a clear roadmap for continuous improvement focusing on quality teaching, learning, and leadership. By embedding SEF principles, our work ensures that success is accessible, relevant, and empowering for every learner.

SEPLA-CON 2026 invites us to stand Together for Tomorrow: Embracing Diversity, Enabling Success and co-creating a future where every student’s potential is realised.

This vision is deeply aligned with NSW DoE Our Plan for Public Education and the NSW DoE School Excellence Framework, guiding us to foster inclusion, innovation, and continuous growth in all our schools. As a statewide association, NSW SEPLA proudly supports this mission by championing those who work tirelessly in special education, ensuring their vital role is recognised, resourced, and empowered.

We look forward to coming together to inspire change and champion inclusive education across NSW and beyond.

The Program Committee is also calling for additional abstracts to develop a concurrent stream of workshops or oral presentations designed for schools working specifically with students with behavioural and emotional difficulties and trauma-informed practice.