A two-day residential with the Victorian Department of Education 

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In partnership with the Victorian Department of Education, the 2026 Music in Schools Residential brought mentors and their participating teachers together at the beautiful Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership for two intensive days of learning, planning and music-making. 

Our role here is distinct and tailored. In Victoria, Music in Me supports the Department’s own Music in Schools program by designing and delivering specialist mentor professional learning – a partnership in which our expertise in mentoring complements the Department’s program leadership. 

Day 1

Louise Stewart, Director of Literacy, Languages and Arts at the Department, opened the residential and warmly welcomed the cohort, setting a tone of shared purpose. Behind the scenes, the Department’s Daphne Cohen, Ngaire Leighton and Felicity O’Halloran worked tirelessly to coordinate every detail. 

Day 1 began with mentors and teachers gathered together for Dr Robyn Staveley’s joyful all-in opening – a perfect ice-breaker that had the whole room moving and singing as one. Teachers then worked with Daphne Cohen to unpack the Victorian Curriculum, before joining acclaimed choral director Sally Gawley to sing together, gifting their mentors a moving end-of-day performance. 

In parallel, Bronwyn Ryrie Jones led mentors through the philosophy and practice of coaching. Bron put the deeper purpose plainly: “Our job is to give feedback that leads to its own redundancy. All great teaching should lead to its own redundancy.” It is a generous, teacher-centred approach that runs through the whole program. 

The day closed with dinner and a keynote from Tim Wilson, Executive Director, Curriculum and Teaching Practice, as the cohort built relationships and trust. 

Day 2

Day 2 was where the residential model came into its own. Mentors and their teachers worked intensively side-by-side, setting schedules and shaping goals for the year, immediately applying the coaching skills explored the day before. The residential closed on a high with a joyful ukulele workshop led by Dr Sue Arney from the University of Melbourne. 

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. As one mentor wrote: “Such a well organised two days, a warm and vibrant atmosphere.” Another captured the heart of the new model: “the most helpful session I have ever experienced in relation to coaching conversations and supportive structures… incredibly practical and helpful. Loved it!”   

Our sincere thanks to the Victorian Department of Education and to all involved – here’s to a wonderful 2026 ahead.