4/05/2026
📅 Thursday 12 November 2026
📍 The Promenade Docklands, Melbourne
As planning continues for the IEP Summit Australia 2026, taking place this November in Melbourne, the themes for this year are beginning to take shape – reflecting the conversations many across the sector are already having.
Across employability and employment services, the context continues to shift. Expectations of work are changing, recruitment is evolving, and the people we support are navigating increasingly complex pathways into employment.
This year’s Summit will bring people together to explore these changes in a practical and grounded way, with a focus on what they mean for day-to-day practice and future workforce development.
One of the key themes shaping the agenda is youth employment and the changing nature of youth. The impact of wellbeing and shifting expectations of work continues to influence how young people engage with employment and training. The Summit will look at how services are responding – and what more needs to evolve to meet these changing needs.
Another area we will be looking at is the changing nature of recruitment. As employers respond to skills shortages, advances in technology, and new workforce expectations, recruitment practices are shifting. This brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly when considering the role of AI, the balance between skills and qualifications, and how we support people who are further from the labour market.
Alongside this, the Summit will explore skills, competencies, and professionalisation within the employability workforce. There is growing recognition of the gap between what roles often ask for and what effective practice actually requires. Through discussion and interactive sessions, we will begin to unpack what good practice looks like in today’s context, and how we continue to define and develop the profession.
What brings these themes together is a shared focus on strengthening practice – understanding what works, where the challenges lie, and how we continue to improve outcomes for the people we support.
The IEP Summit Australia provides an opportunity to step into these conversations with others from across the sector – sharing perspectives, learning from experience, and contributing to how the sector continues to evolve.
The Summit will conclude with the Elevation Evening, offering further opportunity to connect and continue conversations.
Tickets are now available for those who would like to be part of the discussion.
If you wish to pay by invoice or in up to three instalments, please contact amy.lucas@iemployability.org or select the pay by invoice ticket type at checkout.