Federal Conference is the supreme governing authority of the Australian Education Union. Delegates to Federal Conference include the Federal President, Deputy Federal President and delegates representing the General Division, TAFE Division and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members in each state and territory of Australia. Delegates hold office for two years, after which time they may be re-elected. Federal Conference meets annually to discuss the priorities and policies of the union. It also determines changes to the AEU Federal Rules and appoints professional officers to work in the AEU Federal Office.

The AEU's 2008 Conference "Public Education - Australia's Future" will be held in Sydney from 16 - 18 January, commencing at 10am. AEU Acting Federal President and President elect will address the Conference at approximately 10.15am.

Approximately 150 delegates and observers from across Australia will attend the conference to discuss a range of issues and establish priorities for the Union.

Members of the Union, including teachers, education workers and principals from the schools, TAFE and early childhood sectors will consider and debate issues which relate to public education and industrial relations. Topics which will be debated include:

• Funding
• Curriculum and Professional Issues
• Industrial Relations and
• Indigenous Education

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Deborah Youdell, Senior Lecturer in Sociology of Education, University of London, who will address the conference on her recent research on 'Hidden Privatisation in Public Education.' Additional speakers at the Conference include: the Hon Paul Munro, Dr Chris Sarra, Professor Peter Dawkins, Jane Caro and speakers from Getup, ACOSS and Oxfam.

Dr Youdell and Angelo Gavrielatos, AEU Acting Federal President and President elect will be available to talk to the media following their addresses.

Keynote addresses and speeches will be posted on this web site as they become available.