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Friday, 23 January 2026
Dear Principals and School Leaders,
Community Languages Victoria recently held a Strategic Planning Day, bringing together the CLV Committee and Executive Team to reflect on the needs of the sector and to identify key priorities for 2026. See photos below of our productive Strategic Planning Day.
The day focused on strengthening CLV’s role as a trusted peak body for community language schools, while continuing to support teachers, leaders, and volunteers through clear direction, strong governance, and meaningful engagement.
Key initiatives identified for 2026
As part of this planning, three major initiatives were identified to support teachers, school leaders, and the broader community language sector in 2026:
Initiative 1: Half-Day Community Language Teachers’ Summit (April 2026)
A practical, hands-on professional learning event designed to support community language teachers across all year levels, with a focus on immediately usable classroom strategies. Further details will be shared in due course.
Initiative 2: Multicultural Community Language Schools Festival (September 2026) - official festival name to be confirmed
This proposed festival would be a first for CLV and is intended to celebrate the diversity of languages, cultures, and communities represented across CLV member schools. Participating schools would be invited to showcase student performances.
At this stage, CLV is seeking an expression of interest only from schools that may wish to participate in the festival as a performing school.
Performances may include (but are not limited to):
This expression of interest will assist CLV in understanding the level of participation and in planning the scale, structure, and support required for the festival.
To express interest, schools are invited to reply to this email indicating that they would like their school to be considered as a participating performing school.
Please note:
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Submitting an expression of interest does not confirm participation at this stage.
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Further details, guidelines, and planning information will be shared with interested schools as the festival planning progresses.
Initiative 3: Half-Day Principals and Leaders Conference (October 2026)
A dedicated forum for principals, school leaders, and committee members to engage in discussion around leadership, governance, sustainability, and the evolving responsibilities of community language schools. Further information will be shared closer to the event.
These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to strengthening teaching practice, celebrating multiculturalism, and supporting leadership across the community language sector.
Aside from the expression of interest outlined above for the proposed festival, no further action is required from schools at this stage. Additional details will be shared as planning for each initiative progresses.
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These initiatives, endorsed by the CLV Committee, are in addition to CLV’s ongoing delivery of programs such as professional learning sessions and methodology courses, as well as child safety and first aid training, all of which will continue to be communicated at the appropriate time.
CLV thanks all schools for their continued contribution to multilingual education across Victoria and looks forward to working together in the year ahead.
Photos from CLV Strategic Planning Day (see below)
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Associate Professor Maria Gindidis, CLV President, opening the Strategic Planning Day
Setting the context and purpose for the day’s discussions.
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Completed SWOT Analysis
Capturing key strengths, challenges, opportunities, and risks identified through group discussion.
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CLV Communications Officer presenting on Brand Clarity
Overview of insights drawn from the Brand Clarity consultation and how these inform CLV’s strategic direction.
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“The Parking Lot”
A space used to capture ideas and topics identified for future consideration beyond the scope of the day.
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Category of One positioning framework
Used to explore CLV’s unique role, mission, and long-term positioning within the community language sector.
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