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I am sure many of you have now recovered from the Queensland state conference. I wanted to do a small piece with some highlights of mine from the conference. This particular piece is definitely my perspective as a student and just outlining the different opportunities you may find there – especially if you have not gone before … If you were thinking of attending next year, this is your sign (especially for students or preservice teachers)!

Formalities

This is where you assume it is the boring part … But! I can assure you that it is far from it. The introduction and conclusion of the conference were definitely a highlight of mine. These parts of the conference came with keynote speakers (will get back to this), awards for professionals in the field, well-deserved credit for home economists working behind the scenes and scholarship presentations. I would love to welcome and give Isabelle Logan a special shout out for receiving her King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholarship on this weekend, welcome to the family!

Keynote speakers

Ben Rennie. Dr Emma Beckett. They did not disappoint. We first had Ben Rennie who is the founder of Rennie Creative Lab, academic at UNSW, author and the list goes on. He spoke to us about his journey in design, drive for a better world and being true to yourself. Really what I found from his talk is that it is okay to start again. If it does not feel right and it’s not what you believe in, try again. Dr Emma Beckett, with a whopping 5+ degrees and PhD in Food and Nutrition, she breaks down the complexities of food science and food and nutrition. I love her approach to imperfect eating and really exploring the 'grey spaces' in what is right and wrong in nutrition. I lost track of time and barely blinked during their speeches as I did not want to look away.

Concurrent sessions

There was a plethora of sessions to choose from, which is the beauty of these conferences. I chose the following:

• Sew what? Rethinking sustainable fashion education: Ellen Chandler and Michele Chandler (Clothes Minded) – Which really modelled sustainable fashion education for high school students by hands on learning about the practicality of the industry
• Taste of Country: Ngaire Mayo (Woodcrest State College) – Where we got to create our own indigenous spice blends with salt or sugar to put on some buttered damper. It allowed us to first hand experiment with native ingredients and explore different classroom activities.
• From environment to ensemble: Exploring the language of design through colour, texture and silhouette: Mandi Meise and Georgia Meise (Fairholme College) – We explored design through practical activities and really scaffolding for students such as design folios with textures, utilising the senses to design or sketching fashion with current runway styles. I especially loved this session as someone who has not had much of an opportunity to teach design.

Everything in between

You cannot forget the everything in between! The trade stalls that have an absolute plethora of things to look at and buy. One of my favourites was Riley Callie (as you may have read about in my previous articles) where there were many indigenous class resources. Oz Harvest FEAST where they have the freebies such as fridge tape with dates to prevent food waste and more.

To really wrap this up, my favourite part (except for the food) would be the networking. As a student I can sit down at any place or any table and be greeted and welcomed to a new family. I get to hear peoples experience in the industry, ask advice or even share stories from my findings. These networks are priceless and really is what these events are all about.

A massive thank you to HEIA(Q) and all the sponsors for yet another lovely conference for 2026.

Olivia Bennett

HEIA(Q) and O'Malley Trust scholar

HEIA (NT) was thrilled to welcome Zach Green, The Storyteller Chef, who shared his knowledge and passion for Australian native foods with our community. Zach’s presentation provided a fascinating insight into the diversity of native Australian ingredients and the important stories, traditions and connections to Country that sit behind them. He explored the unique flavours and uses of native foods, encouraging participants to think beyond simply using native ingredients as a culinary trend and instead consider their cultural significance and connection to place.

Through his engaging storytelling and practical knowledge, Zach demonstrated how native ingredients can be incorporated into contemporary cooking while respecting and celebrating the knowledge and traditions associated with them. Participants gained an appreciation for the incredible range of native foods available across Australia and the opportunities they provide for innovation within food and hospitality education.

For Home Economics educators, presentations such as Zach’s are a wonderful opportunity to broaden our understanding of Australian food culture and bring authentic, contemporary experiences back into the classroom.

Chrissy Collins (HEIA[V]) shone on radio recently speaking about the importance and continued relevance of home economics, highlighting its role in supporting individuals, families, and communities to make informed everyday choices.

Her discussion aligned strongly with the work of the Home Economics Institute of Australia (HEIA) and our mission to educate, inform and act as an advocate to government, industry and the community for families and households so that individuals can make informed choices in order to enhance their everyday living.

It was a great opportunity to hear home economics being represented in the public space as a vital field that connects education, wellbeing, and practical life skills.

Listen to the discussion on ABC NSW Drive Illawarra with Jess McGuire (starts at approximately 11.25 min).

On Saturday 20 June, HEIA Council met online for a productive and wide-ranging meeting, bringing together Council delegates and observers from Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. We warmly welcomed Josephine Wain as the incoming HEIA(V) delegate and Alison Coleman as the new HEIA(SA) chair and delegate.

A key focus of the discussion was the upcoming national conference being held in July 2026. Council members reviewed and confirmed aspects of the conference branding, with plenty of enthusiasm about the direction things are heading. Another highlight of the meeting was progress on the keynote speakers for the conference. While nothing is being revealed just yet, stay tuned, as there is thoughtful work underway that will help shape the conference.

There is a real sense of momentum building, and discussions also touched on conference program planning, shaping sessions that will reflect current priorities in home economics and provide meaningful opportunities for sharing practice, research, and innovation.

Council also received updates from the Education Standing Committee, which continues to play an important role in supporting curriculum, professional learning, and advocacy. The updates sparked valuable discussion and reinforced the strong strategic work of Council.

Overall, it was a positive and forward-looking meeting, with plenty happening behind the scenes as HEIA continues to support and strengthen home economics education across Australia.

More updates to come soon ... watch this space!

Earlier this month, HEIA(NSW) members rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on pattern drafting intensive on a Saturday at the beautiful Australian Catholic University (ACU) campus in Strathfield. Participants developed practical skills in garment pattern drafting, explored advanced techniques to innovate to create symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes. These were great skills for senior textiles classrooms.

The workshop also provided a valuable opportunity for teachers to connect with textile teachers from the state.

Thank you Ally and everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success. We look forward to offering more practical professional learning opportunities in the future.

Susannah Upham, HEIA(NSW) delegate

You may remember a few months ago I spoke about my placement and my newfound love for experimenting with Indigenous ingredients and recipes. Last month we had the absolute pleasure at the World Home Economics Day (WHED) of getting to see some Indigenous resources in the classroom and use them to facilitate thinking. I wanted to discuss a few of the things that we got to experiment with and see their purpose in the classroom.

Everything I am going to discuss comes from Riley Callie. They have a plethora of books, games, professional development resources, classroom décor and so much more. The resources available are for students of all ages, which even go down to early childhood. With no further ado, here are some of my favourites:

Coo-ee Cuisine Cookbook ($32.95)

• a collection of a variety of recipes, utilising native ingredients and methods; some of my favourites include wattle seed cheesecake, lemon myrtle melting moments and bunya nut soup
• simple recipes to follow
• over 75 recipes by Aunty Dale Chapman (celebrated Aboriginal chef)

Bush tucker research cards ($32.95) 

• 20 cards that prompt students to research native ingredients
• questions such as where am I found?, how am I collected?, how am I prepared for eating? What season am I found in?
• ingredients such as Witchetty grubs, Pipi, Saltbush, Eel, Bush Yam etc.
• designed by Wingaru Education, Artwork by Aunty Cynthia Younie.

Yarning Cards ($32.95) 

• 60 questions and topics of discussion as a get to know you topics
• it helps to sparks conversations in the classrooms or at home
• suitable for anyone 4+
• could be used really well as opening activity or exit ticket
• printed by Indigiprint, Designed by Mirii Designs.

Riley Callie has lots and lots of resources, so I definitely recommend having a look. I would love to thank Rosie Sciacca and Aileen Lockhart from HEIA(Q) for the amazing professional development last month and opportunity to engage with these resources.

Olivia Bennett (HEIA[Q])

A vibrant morning unfolded as participants joined Associate Professor Emma Stirling and Jessica Malcolm from Australian Catholic University (ACU) for an engaging deep dive into the world of culinary nutrition.

Emma and Jessica brought their wealth of experience across food, hospitality, media, and community and public health sectors to life in an interactive and inspiring session. They showcased how this fast-growing field is opening exciting new pathways across many areas, including educators, medical practitioners, and home economists, highlighting its strong interdisciplinary opportunities. They also shared information about short courses and skill-building pathways to support professional growth in culinary nutrition.

Participants were guided through the kitchen gardens, gaining first-hand insight into how fresh produce connects to evidence-based nutrition practice and real-world learning.

A special highlight of this event was the celebration of the King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholars, recognising their achievements and contributions to the field. Estee Driscoll and Monique Boatwright were acknowledged as 2026 scholars, alongside past scholars including Alex Morton-Brown, Sonia Buxton, Hannah Smith, Daniel Baldwin, Dr Sandra Fordyce Voorham, and Dr Leanne Compton. It was great to have Michelle Parente from the Trust present, along with past Chair of the Advisory Committee, Professor Annette Gough, as well as current Advisory Committee members Dr Sandra Fordyce-Voorham and Dr Leanne Compton.

It was a morning that blended knowledge, connection, and celebration—leaving attendees inspired by the possibilities at the intersection of food, education, and nutrition practice.

HEIA(NT) kicked off 2026 with a successful first meet-up, bringing together educators from across the Darwin to reconnect and support the re-establishment of the association. The session focused on future directions, strengthening connections, and creating valuable professional development opportunities for members.

The 2026 committee was confirmed as:

• Chairperson: Sevi Redwood
• Treasurer: Sevi Redwood
• Secretary: Airlie Brett
• Council Delegate: Jenna Pike

Members shared ideas to grow engagement, support teachers, and showcase the work happening in Home Economics classrooms across the NT.

We look forward to an exciting year ahead and encourage all Home Economics educators to get involved with HEIA(NT).

NSW celebrated World Home Economics Day in style, bringing everyone together to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the amazing work in their home economics community, as evidenced in the photos.

(L–R): Olivia Bennett, Leila Kenzler, Prof Donna Pendergast (Advisory Committee member), and Kiara Too.

HEIA(Q) celebrated World Home Economics Day by recognising the 2026 King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholars at their World Home Economics Day event on Saturday 21 March.

This year I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to Moreton Bay College to accept my King and Amy O’Malley Trust scholarship as well as celebrate World Home Economics Day by getting involved in creating and tasting some native foods.

I congratulate all scholars on their achievements and would love to shout out to the Queensland recipients, many of whom I had the pleasure of meeting or catching up with again. This year's Queensland scholars were Leila Kenzler, Elodie Casey, Kiara Too, Katherine Dunn and Olivia Bennett.  It is very interesting to catch up with fellow scholars and see how their studies are doing and the different fields we are all going into.

As an O’Malley Trust scholar what I value the most is the connections that I have made and I am making. The home economics community is such a gorgeous and supportive network that as a student, I have received so much guidance through my studies. As I am studying a Bachelor of Education, I have received help and placements in schools where I know members of the faculty through the networking of alumnus scholars or HEIA members. Thoroughly, I enjoy and appreciate the resources that have been provided to help, networking with like minded people and the enthusiasm of the community to educate the next generation of home economics. Which ultimately is what King and Amy O’Malley’s mission and values would have been today.

For those who may not know, a real brief history lesson of King and Amy O’Malley. King O’Malley had an interest in Australian politics; he had much to do with developing key aspects of Australian politics and businesses. He was elected in as Minister of Home Affairs from 1910 to 1913 in the Fisher Government; during this time, he also helped establish the Commonwealth bank. Amy O’Malley had a core value and interest in woman’s rights, politics and effective management of the home. She often would support King and assist him through his different ideas and values. As a pair, they had strong beliefs that welfare came back to strong household management and good management of the home, alongside, cooking is a neglected art which is essential to every household for a healthy and happy life. Ultimately and unofficially, they are considered the founders of home economics. That was only a real brief explanation – their history is definitely more complex and interesting; but Michelle Parente has done an excellent job of finding their history and sharing it via the O’Malley Trust website ( https://www.omalleytrust.org.au/king-omalley ). Please give it a quick look if you’re interested because it is quite informative and important to understand a core part of Australian home economics history.

... and while you are here, feel free to leave a comment, and you could go into the draw to win a prize for the most interesting response. Winner announced at the start of June.

Olivia Bennett, HEIA(Q)