Practicum conferences have been a part of teacher education in Australia with the first conference being held in Perth in 1975. Since that time further conferences have been held at Deakin, Victoria, Armidale, New South Wales and Rockhampton, Queensland with the sole focus on practice teaching. In 1993, the first cross-faculty practicum conference was held at Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales.
At the conclusion of that conference, Dr Allan Yarrow (QUT) surveyed members to determine interest in forming an Association. With a good level of support, S.P.A.N (Supervisors of Practicum Australia Network) was established. It continued for eighteen months and then merged to become a part of PEPE Inc. (Practical Experience in Professional Education). The office bearers of this group were responsible for the 1995 Gold Coast cross-faculty conference.
Adelaide, South Australia hosted the 1997 Conference and the international aspect was further developed at Christchurch, New Zealand in 1999. Melbourne, Victoria was the venue of the 2001 Conference and the Sixth International Conference was held in Brisbane, Queensland in 2004.
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