President's Welcome

AASE 2026 National Conference – Beyond Boundaries
President’s Address

Hello to everyone, my name is Tracey Chamlin, and I am the National President of AASE, the Australian Association of Special Education, and it is my absolute pleasure to be speaking with you today. I’m sorry I’m not there in person but would be if I had been able to.

I am so appreciative of the distance that many of you have travelled and the time that each of you have taken out of busy schedules and full lives to spend these two days with your colleagues to both share and focus on your own professional learning. It’s impressive to know that we have conference attendees from every state and territory in Australia as well as from our neighbours in New Zealand, welcome and thank you for being here.

AASE is a national, broad-based, non-categorical organisation with members who represent a range of backgrounds and interests, but with the common commitment to the quality education for students with the disability or additional learning needs. Being broad based and non-categorical means that our members, conference attendees, and supporters, represent all levels of education provision. You come from government education departments, Catholic Education systems, independent and specialist schools, universities, and private practice. Some of you are teachers – general, special or inclusive – education, working directly with and alongside students every day; and some of you work in support, advisory, or coordination with these teachers. Others are education leaders who lead schools, direct systems, shape policy, work in teacher education and/or research how we can do this better. Whatever role you have, you are all here for the same reason: because you believe all learners, but more specifically learners with a disability, deserve the highest quality education possible.

AASE is, and remains, fully supportive of inclusive education. However, we acknowledge that at times, and for some learners, a general education classroom — particularly one without appropriate resourcing and support — is not always the ideal place. For AASE, special, specialist, or support education is not about a place but about ensuring that each student receives high-quality teaching in a learning environment that is appropriate for their individual needs.

With that in mind, I want to recognise the work that those of you with the role of special or specialist teacher, do. At the risk of being controversial, I acknowledge that the word ‘special’ has at times been considered derogatory. However, there are many of you in this room and beyond, who have the title of Special Education teacher and I want you to know that AASE recognises you, and supports you, and appreciates the high-level of knowledge and skills that you bring with you into the classroom.

Special education is not about a location but is the work that each of you do, ensuring sensitive, skilled educators work collaboratively with parents/carers and families to meet individual needs in appropriate learning environments. AASE is committed to fostering an inclusive society that values and supports all children equally, promoting social justice, inclusion, equity, and accountability to ensure quality education is accessible to all.

The annual AASE National conference is an opportunity to learn from each other, to challenge our thinking, to build the partnerships that turn good intentions into better practice, and to leave with something we can genuinely take back to our schools, our systems, and our students.

On behalf of AASE, thank you for the work you do, often quietly and without much recognition, in classrooms, offices, and systems across this country and beyond. Thank you for making the time to be here, and for all that each of you do to contribute to quality education for children and young people with disability. And, thank you for continuing to believe that ‘Quality Education for All’ isn't just a tagline— it's something worth working toward, together.

All the best for the remainder of the conference, thank you.