Social Program
Student-Led Walking Tour
Stretch your legs, get some fresh air and see the Melbourne CBD through our students eyes. Led by local ELICOS students, in conjunction with members of the Conference program committee, this free tour of famous sites in Melbourne will leave from Fitzroy Gardens – near Pullman East Melbourne, and will end back at the Pullman in time for the Conference Welcome Reception. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the city, network with conference attendees, and understand more about our students’ experiences in Melbourne.
Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Starting Point: Fitzroy Gardens, near Pullman East Melbourne
Cost: Included in your registration fee
Welcome Reception
Join us on Wednesday for a night of networking and drinks in the Exhibition foyer.
Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Venue: Pullman East Melbourne
Cost: Included in your registration fee
5KM Run
For people who want their fitness fix during the Conference, this run will be led by Cameron Winton from Discover English. The run will cover 5km in around 30 minutes and will take in some of the major sites of Melbourne.
Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Time: 6:15am
Starting Point: Pullman East Melbourne
Cost: Included in your registration fee
Gala Dinner
The Gala Dinner will be a great opportunity to network with professionals within the industry and reconnect with colleagues and friends. At the Gala Dinner, English Australia will announce the winners of its annual ELICOS Awards.
Date: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Time: 7:00pm – 11:00pm
Venue: Pullman East Melbourne
Cost: $195 per person
Theme: Four Seasons in One Day
Inspired by Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather, Four Seasons in One Day celebrates the beauty and contrast of all seasons unfolding across a single evening.
Guests are invited to dress to reflect a season of their choice, or an activity that represents that season. Capture the energy of summer with vibrant, sunlit tones or a surf lifesaver-inspired look. Channel autumn through rich textures and warm, earthy hues. Step into winter with sleek, cool elegance; think whites, silvers, deep blues, or even chic ski attire! Or embrace the freshness of spring with flowing florals, soft pastels, or a playful nod to the AFL Grand Final.
Feeling creative? You’re encouraged to blend elements from multiple seasons, capturing the ever-changing spirit that makes Melbourne’s climate so iconic.
Academic Managers’ Breakfast – Riding the Waves of Change: Responding Strategically to Pressures That Impact on Our Sector
Join the English Australia Academic Managers' SIG (AMSIG) for its annual Academic Managers' Breakfast, an opportunity for current and aspiring academic leaders to connect, share perspectives and explore the possibilities and pressures shaping our sector.
This year's breakfast, Riding the waves of change: Responding strategically to pressures that impact our sector, will explore stories of transformation across ELICOS and how academic leaders can support change in their own contexts.
Over a delicious hot breakfast, we'll reflect on the phases of change since Covid, discuss responses to new visa and regulatory pressures, share initiatives, and consider emerging directions. We'll also consider the leadership capabilities needed to navigate change, support teams, and prepare for what ELICOS might look like over the next five years.
The session will be interactive, with opportunities to exchange stories and explore practical ways to lead with clarity, flexibility, and purpose.
You can register for this breakfast when you complete your main conference registration. If you have already registered for the conference and would like to add this to your registration, please contact our conference organisers at: eac@thinkbusinessevents.com.au for further information.
Date: Friday 18 September 2026
Time: 7:30am – 8:50am
Venue: Pullman East Melbourne
Catering: A hot breakfast and beverages will be served
Cost: $85 for English Australia members
