Summer Institute is a three-day event where educators are empowered through collective efficacy to nurture and grow students’ post-secondary, career and life readiness skills. At its core, AVID ensures that every student, regardless of postcode or background, is taught by teachers who are confident, capable, and committed to their success.
Registering for Summer Institute
Registrations for Summer Institute 2026 are open. We welcome educators from AVID schools and those not currently in an AVID school. Contact AVID Australia if you have any questions regarding registration.
Community of Practice (CoP)
Educators will learn and apply evidence-informed, explicit instructional practices, led by expert Australian and USA expert educators.
Each Community of Practice provides 12 hours of content-specific time over three days that provides scaffolded immersive professional learning. You will experience strategies as learners and explore how to adapt them for your classroom.in collaboration with other committed and passionate educators.
Site Team Time
Engage in dedicated time to foster clarity, alignment, and coherence, so every individual and team can return ready to elevate learning impact. New sites build shared foundations and set meaningful goals; experienced teams refine their plans for the year ahead; and individual participants reflect and connect with peers.
Attendance at site team planning is expected, not optional, as your school pays for you to attend all of the professional learning activities each day. Site team planning will follow your Community of Practice.
What to know before Summer Institute
Preparing for Summer Institute - Canvas (eLearning Platform)
During Summer Institute, Canvas will be your eLearning platform to access materials and resources. Communities of Practice will be facilitated as interactive, in-person sessions, with participants accessing and contributing to resources on the eLearning platform as required.
Please follow the steps below and familiarise yourself with the platform prior to coming to Summer Institute. Click here to access the AVID Australia Canvas login page.
Logging into Canvas
- Using Chrome or Firefox, go to the AVID Australia Canvas login page.
- Click on Forgot Password?
- Enter the email address that you used to register for Summer Institute.
- Click Request Password.
- Check your email for the Forgot Password: Canvas email from AVID Australia Summer Institute.
- In the email you receive, click on Click here to set a new password.
- Enter and confirm a new password for your Canvas account on the page that opens.
- Use your email and new password combination to log in on the page that follows.
- You should now have access to your Canvas dashboard.
OR if you have an existing AVID Australia Canvas login, you can use it to access your materials for Summer Institute.
Contact AVID Australia if you are unable to log in or if your Canvas dashboard does not display your Summer Institute Community of Practice.
Preparing for Summer Institute - MyAVID
MyAVID is an online repository of evidence-informed, high engagement teaching and learning resources, that are regularly updated with new AVID materials. MyAVID will be used throughout Summer Institute, so please test your existing MyAVID login or create a MyAVID account if you do not have one.
If needed, consult the MyAVID Guide on how to create a MyAVID account.
What to Bring
For Summer Institute, please bring:
Your own device and charger,
headphones,
own water bottle (no water bottles will be provided)
and your own bag.
You may also bring your own coffee cup if you choose.
Getting to Summer Institute
Summer Institute will be located at Victoria University City Tower, 370 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
There are many ways of getting around Melbourne and to Summer Institute. There are nearby tram stops and two nearby train stations: Melbourne Central and Flagstaff. The free tram zone within the CBD allows you to travel without a myki (ticket); travelling by train or bus requires a valid myki. Click here to learn more about Melbourne’s public transport.
Day One – Registration
The first day of Summer Institute begins with registration which will be held in the foyer of Victoria University Tower.
Summer Institute Schedule
Registration | 7:30-8:15 am
Event registration will be held in the foyer of the Victoria University City Tower.
General Session and Welcome | 8:15-9:30am
General Session is an inspiring session featuring students and educators who will share how AVID strengthens student voice, elevates educator practice, and advances leadership.
Morning Break and Transition to CoPs | 9:30-10:00am
A catered morning break before moving into your Community of Practice rooms.
Community of Practice | 10:05am-12:05pm
Summer Institute Community of Practice rooms are located on floors 4, 8 and 9 of VU City Tower.
Lunch | 12:05-12:50pm
Catering will be provided on the floor of your Community of Practice.
REMINDER: Please bring your own water bottle as no water bottles will be provided.
Community of Practice | 12:50-2:35pm
Engage with your CoP.
Transition to Site Teams | 2:35-2:40pm
Transition into Site Teams in preparation for Site Team Planning.
Site Team Planning and Implementation | 2:40-4:15pm
Summer Institute Site Team rooms are located on floors 4, 8 and 9 of VU City Tower. Information is on the back of your name tag.
Community of Practice | 8:30-10:30am
Summer Institute Community of Practice rooms are located on floors 4, 8 and 9 of VU City Tower.
Morning Break| 10:30-11:00am
Catering will be provided on the floor of your Community of Practice.
REMINDER: Please bring your own water bottle as no water bottles will be provided.
Community of Practice | 11am-1pm
Engage with your CoP.
Lunch | 1-1:45pm
Catering will be provided on the floor of your Community of Practice.
REMINDER: Please bring your own water bottle as no water bottles will be provided.
Site Team Planning and Implementation | 1:45-3:45pm
Summer Institute Site Team rooms are located on floors 4, 8and 9 of Victoria University City Tower. Information is on the back of your name tag.
Community of Practice | 8:30-10:45am
Summer Institute Community of Practice rooms are located on floors 4, 8 and 9 of Victoria University City Tower.
Morning Break | 10:45-11:10am
Catering will be provided on the floor of your Community of Practice.
REMINDER: Please bring your own water bottle as no water bottles will be provided.
Community of Practice | 11:10am-1:10pm
Engage with your CoP.
Connecting to WiFi
Participants will receive an email prior to Summer Institute with instructions on how to connect to WiFi. These details are unique to each participant. Please ensure you have these details available to access on Day 1. The details will be sent from the email address ‘[email protected]’ with the subject ‘VictoriaUniversity Guest VU Wi-Fi’.
IT assistance will be available on each level duringSummer Institute but participants can contact AVIDAustralia if they haven’t received their Wi-fi log in the week prior to SI.
2026 Summer Institute Shirt
The 2026 AVID Australia Shirt is launching at Summer Institute. Can you guess the colour? Pre-orders can be made by contacting AVID Australia and collected at Summer Institute.
15th Anniversary Summer Institute Shirt
Limited sizes of the two styles of the 2025 Summer Institute anniversary shirt designed by Hayley Thompson, Noongar/Yuggera artist are available. Pre-orders for collection at Summer Institute can be made by contacting AVID Australia
2025 Summer Institute Burnt Orange Collar style pictured
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
General Information
What is Summer Institute?
Summer Institute is AVID Australia’s biggest networking and professional learning event of the year. Summer Institute brings educators from across Australia together to enhance their teaching practice and strengthen the AVID community. Over three days, participants will learn and practise evidence-informed, high engagement teaching strategies and best instructional practices, led by experienced Australian and US Staff Developers.
What is a Community of Practice?
Participants attend one Community of Practice (CoP) where they will engage in face-to-face professional learning for three days.
A CoP focuses upon applying AVID approaches to diverse school environments, year levels and learning areas. This provides an immersive learning experience and an opportunity to meet with colleagues from around Australia to plan and enhance their AVID implementation.
At Summer Institute participants can attend one of the eleven Communities of Practice on offer.
Will I receive a Certificate of Participation?
If you would like a Certificate of Participation for Summer Institute, please email [email protected].
How can I obtain a handbook at Summer Institute?
All participants can download an AVID Australia – A Year-Round Resource Handbook from their Community of Practice.
I am not receiving emails about Summer Institute. How can I confirm that I entered the correct email address when I registered?
We recommend that you check your SPAM/Junk folder to check whether AVID Summer Institute emails are there.
If there are no AVID Summer Institute emails in your SPAM/Junk folder, please email [email protected] and we will assist you.
During Summer Institute
Will there be catering during Summer Institute?
Morning tea will be provided on all days and lunch will be provided on Days One and Two.
Please advise any dietary requirements during your event registration. If you are unsure if your dietary requirements were submitted during registration, please email [email protected].
How do I get to VU City Tower?
There are two train stations within walking distance of the venue:
Flagstaff Station
Melbourne Central Station
There are also several tram and bus stops located near the tower, which you can find using the Transport Victoria Journey Planner.
Is parking available at VU City Tower?
There is no parking available at VU City Tower. Listed below are a few parking options located close to the venue:
Flagstaff Parking
460 Lonsdale Street
Bourke Square Car Park
You can also search Secure Parking for further options.
We require accommodation during the conference. Where should we stay?
VU City Tower is located within the Melbourne CBD, with a range of hotels nearby.
Registration and Payment
Can I register on behalf of other staff at my school?
Yes, you can register one or several people. To register multiple people, follow the steps below:
- Follow the link to the Summer Institute registration page.
- Select the number of registrations you require for each Community of Practice.
- Enter the name, email address, and dietary requirements for each participant within the Community of Practice that they will be attending.
Each registration must have a unique email address.
What payment options are available?
There are two payment options available: either select Invoice my school or Credit Card as your payment method.
AVID member schools and AVID non-member school participants will be invoiced from the week following the registration closing date.
If your school requires payment to be made by a certain date, please notify us by email at [email protected].
I would like to change my choice of Community of Practice. How do I do this?
Requests to change the choice of Community of Practice must be submitted via email to [email protected] prior to… However, AVID Australia does not guarantee availability of places within another Community of Practice if the maximum number of participants has been reached.
I am unable to attend Summer Institute, how do I cancel my registration?
Requests to cancel registration must be submitted via email to [email protected].
Cancellations submitted:
prior to… will not incur a fee.
after… will incur 50% of the registration fee.
on the week of Summer Institute will be charged 100% of the registration fee.
Should you have an unforeseen emergency or special circumstances, please contact [email protected] or call +61 414 642 063.
Participants unable to attend Summer Institute due to illness are eligible for a full refund upon submission of a medical certificate to [email protected].
My school needs the invoice by a certain date. Can that be arranged?
If your school requires an invoice prior to…, please email [email protected], and we will arrange this.
