about

Drama Victoria (formerly the Victorian Association for Drama in Education) was established in 1968 and is the oldest Drama association for teachers in Australia.
The late Ron Danielson was the first president and his vision enabled a few isolated teachers throughout Melbourne to establish drama programs in post primary schools and weather hostile administrations and poor working conditions within their schools.

Over the next few years with a great deal of work and support, drama became established in schools. The Drama Resource Centre was set up with a team of consultants and training was provided by State College Drama Departments. From these humble beginnings Drama Victoria was born. We now have a healthy membership of over 400 individuals and institutions Australia wide and through the assistance of the Strategic Partnerships Program administered by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) we conduct a year round program of professional development activities. Membership of Drama Victoria opens up a world of support for teachers of primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Through workshops and publications teachers are given practical advice on all aspects of drama education.

Drama Victoria is managed by a committee, drawn from the membership. Our office is based at the beautiful Abbotsford Convent, right in the heart of Melbourne's Arts precinct and next to the Collingwood Children's Farm.

Here are some of the benefits Drama Victoria offers its members:

• Drama Victoria runs in-services for teachers (and some workshops for students) throughout the year culminating in a state conference in November. Many of our Professional Learning activities have a cross-arts focus. Members receive discounted registration fees to all PL events.
• Members receive a publication from us each school term (four Half Mask newsletters a year and two editions of our academic magazine Mask - now its 42nd year).
• By being a member of Drama Victoria you are automatically a member of Drama Australia, the national drama educator's association and IDEA, the international drama educator's organisation. Drama Australia and IDEA also run conferences and produce publications available to our members.
• We have a number of publications for sale at special rates for members. You are unlikely to find them cheaper anywhere! This mail order service operates throughout the year. We also have a library of resources able to be borrowed by members only.
• We can send you a number of course outlines, lesson plans and units of work for the year level(s) you are currently teaching (P-12).
• Via our extensive membership base we can put you in contact with other teachers who are teaching the same year level(s) and subject(s) you are teaching (Drama and/or Theatre Studies)
• Drama Victoria is the peak advocacy body for Drama in the state. As a member you will join a network of literally hundreds of other teachers from the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors. We represent members on a number of curriculum development and administrative committees regarding the teaching of Drama in Victoria, nationally and internationally. We are also linked to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), Council of Professional Teaching Associations in Victoria and NAAE, the National Affiliation of Arts Educators, that also promote arts education

Our current priority areas are VELS, VCE Drama and Theatre Studies and The National Curriculum. A Drama Victoria membership will ensure that you gain insight into the curriculum as it develops, as we are the voice for Drama Educators in Victoria. We always produce printed resource material and conduct professional development to support Victorian Drama teachers.

Drama Victoria offers a range of Professional Learning events throughout the year, catering for not only teachers, but anyone interested in all facets of Drama education. Professional Learning is offered in both metropolitan and regional venues in Victoria.