High Potential and Gifted Education
Celebrating Gifted Awareness Week | 24 May – 1 June 2025
Founded by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT), Gifted Awareness Week shines a light on the needs of gifted children and the incredible educators who support them.
This year’s theme, ‘Policy to Practice’, highlights the importance of moving beyond policy documents to implement real, impactful strategies in classrooms.
Research consistently tells us that gifted learners require qualitatively different learning opportunities. Yet many still experience under-stimulation, disconnection, and challenges with wellbeing. It’s our shared responsibility to change that narrative.
Special Podcast Episode Now Live
We’re excited to share a powerful podcast conversation between Jacqui Wilkinson, Director of Catholic Schools, and Maree Karaka, Leader of HPGE.
They explore how our HPGE Strategy is being implemented across the Diocese—highlighting the Virtual Academy as a model of personalised, creative, and challenging learning.
The Podcast is accessible via this link – Celebrating Gifted Awareness Week
Virtual Academy Events – Term 2 Events
Time 2 Discover – Week 9: Tuesday 24th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Time and Discovery Units.
The Virtual Academy is excited to present Time 2 Discover—an intellectually enriching event designed for students in the Time and Discovery programs to share their inquiries with like-minded peers across various stages of their learning journey. Set to take place at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan Campus in the cutting-edge, 360-degree ‘Sim Cave’, this immersive event will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their technological literacy, collaborate with others, and present their projects in a dynamic and innovative environment. Students will refine their presentation skills and showcase their strategic problem-solving abilities as they engage in deep thinking and authentic learning. We look forward to celebrating their creativity, curiosity, and high potential.
G20 Summit - Week 9: Thursday 26th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Perspective Unit.
We are thrilled to announce the culminating event for students in the Perspective Unit—the G20 Summit 2025. This intellectually rich diplomatic simulation will see students from across the Diocese step into the shoes of world leaders to tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Held in the Boardroom at the Catholic Schools Office, the summit will involve high-level discussions and negotiations on critical issues such as climate change, global health, and food and water security. This immersive experience is designed to sharpen students’ diplomatic thinking, cross-cultural awareness, and collaborative problem-solving as they engage in meaningful dialogue and propose innovative solutions to real-world problems. The G20 Summit promises to be a powerful demonstration of student voice, leadership, and global citizenship.
Empower – Week 10: Monday 30th June. For students in the Virtual Academy Agency Unit.
The Virtual Academy is excited to present the upcoming Empower Exhibition 2025, the culminating event for students engaged in the Agency Unit. Held at the University of Newcastle’s NUspace, Empower is a celebration of student voice, individuality, and the power of agency. Students will showcase original compositions inspired by their passions and evolving sense of self. Through digital creations, artwork, games, and more, students will express what matters most to them in thoughtful and creative ways. Families and guests are warmly invited to attend the exhibition and engage with students and their displays. Empower promises to be an inspiring celebration of student-driven inquiry and authentic expression.
Elevate – Week 10: Tuesday 1st July. For students in the Virtual Academy Enterprise Unit.
The Virtual Academy’s Enterprise Unit is proud to present Elevate—a dynamic event designed to showcase the innovative business proposals developed by students throughout the semester. Students participating in the Enterprise unit will pitch their carefully crafted ideas to the Virtual Academy Investor Panel, demonstrating their understanding of core entrepreneurial skills such as financial planning, social responsibility, digital literacy, and problem-solving. Taking place in small group sessions via Microsoft Teams, each student will have a 10-minute time slot to present their business pitch. Families will receive their child’s scheduled presentation time and a secure link to view the live pitch as the event approaches. Elevate celebrates the creativity, confidence, and collaborative thinking of our young entrepreneurs, offering a platform for student-led presentations, peer feedback, and authentic learning experiences that address real-world challenges. It’s a powerful opportunity to witness high potential in action.
Competitions to Challenge and Inspire
WRITEON 2025
Open to NSW students in Years 1–6, this creative writing competition challenges students to craft an imaginative text based on a stimulus image.
Entries close: Friday 20 June 2025
Submit via WriteOn competition | NSW Government
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
One of Australia’s longest-running poetry competitions with the 2025 theme: “All the Beautiful Things.”
Submissions close: Monday 30 June 2025
Winners announced: Friday 5 September 2025
More info here Entry information - Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Design Challenge: “Energy of the Future”
Hunter iF invites Primary students to design the official T-shirt for the 2025 Hunter Innovation Festival!
Think: solar, hydrogen, wind, sustainability, and the future of energy.
Loads of cash prizes and art supplies to be won!
Entries close: 30 June 2025
Register at: art@hunterIF.com.au
CogAT Administration – Years 2, 4 & 7
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is currently being administered across the diocese to all students in years 2, 4, and 7.
Thank you to all schools who have completed the CogAT assessments. Please confirm completion with Maree Karaka via email once all students in the targeted cohorts have been captured. We will then schedule a Leadership Meeting with your school to analyse results and discuss next steps.
HPGE Student Personal Plans – School Portal
To support consistent tracking and planning for High Potential and Gifted students, a HPGE Student Personal Plans folder is available under your school’s Gifted Education Tile.
Who needs a Personal Plan?
- All Virtual Academy students
- Students with psychometric testing identifying “giftedness”
- Students scoring Stanine 9 in any CogAT battery
We encourage GEMs to begin with a manageable cohort and one that has the most recent data, and to work collaboratively with staff when developing plans. Upload finalised plans to the year-based subfolders.
Thank you for your continued commitment to identifying and nurturing high potential in all learners. Please reach out for any further support or clarification.
For questions, contact:
Email: maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au
Mobile: 0428 120 620
Let’s keep lifting the lid on potential!