Gifted students are those whose potential is distinctly above average in one or more of the following domains : intellectual, creative, social and physical. Talented students are those whose skills are distinctly above average in one or more areas of human performance.^[1] These are linked to Gagne’s earlier work as in this document and demonstrated in his Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent in diagrammatic form. Other models also exist.

Within the Australian system, gifted education can be found with individual students on special programs, within individual classrooms, in specialist classrooms such as OC Classes in NSW, in selective high schools, in specialist high schools, curriuculm differentiation, through early entry to schooling and through accelerated progression once within the system.

No individual method is best for all students. Gifted children are individuals and learn best in different ways and situations. They should be matched with the best system possible for them. If this can be done, then there should be maximum achievement and pleasure with their learning.

This page looks at Gifted programs, system support, associations, support groups and other information for all Australian states & Territories. Information also includes conferences, documents, media, related programs and other, general information.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given due consideration.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• Enrolment in Government Primary and High Schools
  Section on Early Entry and on movement between school levels for gifted and talented students.
  Policy presently being changed and is in transition between old and new.
• Policy
  Policy document for ACT schools.

New South Wales

• Gifted & Talented Education [NSW]
• Guidelines for The Use Of Strategies to Support Gifted and Talented Students
• New South Wales Opportunity C Classes
  Classes for Gifted and Talented students in Years 5 and 6 in some government schools in NSW. A full listing of schools is provided.
• Policy & Implementation Strategies [2004]
• Selective High Schools
  ‘Provide an educationally enriched environment for highly achieving, academically gifted students.’
• Gifted & Talented Education Home
  Curriculum Support. Multiple sections from Policy to FAQs. Documents include identification, Acceleration, Curriculum differentiation and Parent Information plus an Options Discussion Paper. All in PDF.
• NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children
  Also check their Gifted Links Library page, to access information and resources.

Northern Territory

• Gifted Education [NT]
  Information about School Psychologists as well as Gifted Education. Contact details - use Student Services link.
• Gifted Education Guidelines
• Gifted Education Policy
• NT Association for the Gifted and Talented

Queensland

• Framework for Gifted Education
  Education Queensland.
• Gifted & Talented Education [Qld]
  Done through The Learning Place.
• Queensland Academies
  ‘Will accelerate learning opportunities for Queensland’s best and brightest students and provide a pathway for their future careers. Enrolment in the Academies is based on academic merit and will be conducted via a selective entry process, with a maximum enrolment of up to 450 students at each academy.’ Senior Secondary.
• Variation to School Age Entry Enrolment
  ‘This procedure outlines practices associated with approval of variations to school age entry when a child or a student's ability, aptitude and developmental capabilities suggest that an alternative placement to regular age--based enrolment is required to maximise their learning’.
• Qld Association for Gifted and Talented Children
  Check Links to Other Sites of Interest for articles, parenting, associations, references, resources, projects, competitions.

South Australia

• Gifted Education Policy
• Negotiated Education Plan
  A framework that can be used for all learners. Select Disabilities & Learning Difficulties then the title above.
• SHIP
  Contact page. Select from menu on the left.
• What is Giftedness ?
  Information, links to related areas.
• Gifted & Talented Children’s Association of SA

Tasmania

• Centre for Extended Learning Opportunities
  You now have to log-in to access this site.
• Early Entry into Kindergarten
  Available in PDF Format.
• Gifted Education Policy & Guidelines
  Includes parent information.
• Guidelines for Accelerated Progression for Gifted Students
• Assessment & Counselling Services
  You now have to log-in to access this site.
• Tasmanian Association for the Gifted Inc.
  Contact details, information.

Victoria

• Gifted Education [Vic]
  Students, learning & teaching, identification, acceleration, resources, contacts.
• Selective Entry High Schools
  About the Schools, How to Apply, Practice Tests, Sitting the Examination, Outcome of the Application.
• Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program
  ‘Aims to address the learning needs of gifted and high potential students who are capable of working at a significantly faster pace and in greater depth than their age peers. There are currently thirty-four Victorian secondary schools delivering the program.’
• Vic. Association for Gifted & Talented Children

Western Australia

• Competitions, Awards & Scholarships
  Annotated links for these.
• Gifted and Talented
  Portal entry which covers all aspects of this area.
• Gifted and Talented Education Programs
• Gifted Education Resources
• Parents & Students
  Information on the roles of both.
• Programs & Schools
  Selective Schools, academic programs, Arts programs, Languages programs.
• Supplementary Provision
  For students entering Year 8.
• WA Gifted & Talented Children’s Association
  ‘Serves gifted and talented children, their parents and their teachers.’

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Australian Information

• Envisioning the 2020 School
  ‘Austega explores the impact of technology on school education over the next two decades. By direct work and by reflective and collaborative research in this area, Austega seeks to encourage strategic management of this technological change process.’
• Fun and Challenging Activities
  For Gifted Children. As stated, this is a work in progress. There are activities, an archive, links to other gifted sites and the option to purchase a book.
• Gifted and Talented Links
  Created by a secondary school in Victoria. Links under headings, Australia and International.
• Gifted & Talented Education Links
  Education Queensland, The Learning Place.
• Gifted-Children.com.au
  ‘Providing support to parents of gifted children and their families, gathering and disseminating information about raising and educating gifted children, and promoting the needs of these families within the community.’
• Gifted Education
  Links. Check the Thinking Skills section.
• Gifted Education - Austega
  Australian site providing resources for parents and those interested in gifted children and their education.
• Gifted Education : GERRIC
  Gifted and talented education from a group at the University of New South Wales. News, resources, information for parents, teachers and students.
• Gifted Education In Australia
  ‘This page is intended to serve as a guide for parents of intellectually gifted children living in Australia, who are seeking an appropriate education for their child. To access information for your state or territory simply click on the [state] link. Providing a list of some schools who have stated they make provision for gifted students’.
• Gifted Resource Centre
  Multiple directories. Especially good for listings on gifted/talented ability in students and adults, links and Free articles by Lesley Sword. Consultations and attend workshops.
• Gifted Resources Website Lists
• Gifted Services
  Annotated links to other sites, particularly in Australia.
• Gifted Students, Thinking Skills and ICT !
• Home Schooling Gifted Children
  Internet resources for home schooling [or NOT] gifted children.
• How To Spot A Gifted Child
  Article listing characteristics.
• Links to Enrichment and Extension for Talented Students
  Lessons/Resources, Local Links, For Parents and more.
• REACH Education Consultancy
  Yes we do know it is based in New Zealand !. ‘REACH Education Consultancy is an agency created specifically to support schools in working successfully with gifted learners.’ Of most interest might be their Online Course, Certificate in Effective Practice in Gifted Education, already used by some Australian teachers as a professional development course.
• Schools for Gifted Children in Australia
  One person’s compilation on provision of gifted education in both government and non-government schools.
• The Gifted Education Specialist
  Consultancy in Perth that works with schools and families. Links listing of resources and information.
• Virtual School for the Gifted
  Interesting concept by an Australian group. Courses are Fee-based and vary depending on group activity. Start from about Year 4 level.
• Websites for Parents [& Students]

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Documents

• Acceleration or Flexible Progression
  ‘Overview of the research on acceleration/flexible progression’. Links to Pragmatic Guidelines for Acceleration, which involve a common sense approach.
• A Comparison of Teacher and Teacher Educator Attitudes
  Toward Provision for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children in Schools. Abstract and full text.
• Choosing A School [Rosemary Cathcart]
  ‘A guide to finding the right school for your gifted child. First published in Tall Poppies, March 1996, and re-published in another format in 2004.’ Replace New Zealand references with Australian as needed.
  Well presented !
• Davidson Institute
  US-based. Online Library and Resource Database with articles, links to journals, other resources.
  Previously known as GT-Cybersource.
• ERIC : Gifted Articles
  Enter Gifted in the Search box to access articles on all aspects of Gifted Education, teachers and students.
• Is it a Cheetah ?
  Stephanie Tolan. The plight of gifted children when people believe they don’t exist.
• Nurturing Social-Emotional Development Of Gifted Children
  ERIC article from the early 1990s. References to other sources. PDF format.
• Questioning Techniques for Gifted Students
  Carol Fertig. This is just one section of Prufrock’s Gifted Child Information Blog which covers multiple topics with information, articles, resources, links to further quality information.
• Talented & Gifted Bibliography
• The Gifted Child and The Inclusive Classroom
  Rosemary Cathcart, at the National Gifted & Talented Conference, Wellington, NZ, August 2006. Reviews the belief that gifted children’s needs can be met effectively in the regular classroom. Transferable conclusions.
• The Many Sides of Being Gifted
• Understanding Genius
  ‘Articles and Interviews on Genius, Originality, Intelligence, Motivation, Ability and Creativity.’ Lengthy listing, plus links to areassuch as the Genius Hall of Vindication. Fascinating !
• Understanding The Emotional, Intellectual …
  and Social Uniqueness Of Growing Up Gifted.
• Using Film in Teacher Training
  Viewing The Gifted Through Different Lenses. ‘When educating teachers about the gifted, whether they be preservice or in-service teachers, teachers at the undergraduate or graduate level, the use of thoughtfully chosen popular film provides concrete examples of various characteristics of the gifted, their parents, and their teachers.’ Article, with tabulated information on suitable films and further recommendations.

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Other Information

Associations

State associations are listed with state & territory links above.

• Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented Ltd
• World Council for Gifted & Talented Children

Conferences : Events

• Gifted 2010
  Sydney, 29 July - 1 August 2010.
• Gifted Online Conferences/Webinars
  Very small cost. Archived conferences as examples.

Educator’s Reference Desk Material

• Dual Exceptionalities [Eduref]
• How Can I Meet The Needs …
  Of the Gifted Children in My Heterogeneous Middle School Classroom ?
• Links for Gifted Education
  Archived material, sites, online communities, organisations.
• What are Common Characteristics …
  Of Academically Gifted Children and What Are Some Methods Of Identifying Such Children ?
• What Can You Tell Me About Curriculum Compacting ?

General Sites

• Academic Acceleration
  To think deeply about the value/validity of acceleration, this is the place to go. Extensive list of annotated links.
• Centre for Gifted Education & Talent Development
  University of Connecticut [Renzulli]. Looks at areas relating to gifted and talented. Resources, etc., many being US-centric. Links to The National Research Centre on the Gifted & Talented.
• Centre for Talented Youth
  Johns Hopkins, US. Sections covering More CTY for Gifted Students [covering resources] and Research [including publications] are useful.
• Cogito
  ‘An online community for academically talented youth’. Also based at John Hopkins, US.
• Dual Exceptionalities [ERIC]
  Gifted children who have a disability - called twice exceptional. PDF format.
• Educators for the Gifted Organization
  Toronto, Canada. ‘Our organisation assists individuals and groups that work directly or indirectly with gifted and other high achieving learners.’ Multiple sections provide information, links, resources for different ages, ideas, books, lesson plans, homeschooling.
• Educators of Gifted, Talented and Creative Children
  British Columbia, Canada. Links to brochures, newsletters, journals, other resources.
• Gifted Children Monthly
  News, information, links, downloadables. Renewed each month.
• Gifted Development Centre
  ‘A resource centre for developmentally advanced children and their parents and for gifted individuals of all ages.’
• Gifted Education Readings
  Part of Hoagie’s Site. Access to readings about gifted children and their education.
• Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page
  Tutorials, parents, students, teachers, identification, proficiency, schools, programs, special needs, special topics, FAQs, resources, success stories.
• Nassau Library Parent’s Page
  Gifted and Talented Information. Annotated links to gifted and talented resources and information.
• National Strategies - Gifted and Talented
  Extensive information on what is happening in this area in the UK education system.
• Open Directory - Gifted Education
• Savant Syndrome
  ‘Explores this fascinating condition, and some particular savants, in some depth.’ FAQs, articles, profiles, movies, other resources.
  Well presented.
• Thinking Classroom
  Training for thinking, learning, creativity and success. English site. Information and resources for developing a thinking classroom. Information multiple intelligences, thinking skills and more.
  Previously Aspiroweb.

Media

Includes films and other media formats relating to the gifted.

• A Beautiful Mind
  ‘The life of John Forbes Nash, Nobel Laureate [Economics] mathematician.’
• Forgotten Genius
  ‘African-American chemist Percy Julian became one of the great scientists of the 20th century.’ PBS Nova.
• Little Man Tate
  ‘The story of Fred Tate, a 7 year old child prodigy who struggles to self-actualize in a social and psychological construct that largely fails to accommodate his intelligence’. From Wikipedia
• Shine
  About David Helfgott, a brilliant pianist who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions.

Programs

• Future Problem Solving Program [Australia]
  Find Program Options here.
• Future Problem Solving Program
  [International site]
• Tournament of Minds
  Australian problem solving ‘tournament’ at primary and secondary levels.
• Thinkquest
  ‘The Oracle Education Foundation will not offer its international ThinkQuest Website and Narrative Competitions in 2010.’ Check here about possible local competitions.
• The Webquest Page
  ‘A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.’
• WiseOnes
  ‘Support service for children who are of significantly higher potential than others their own age. This is provided in your school and in school time.’ Fee-based.

Resources

• ERIC : Gifted Articles
  Enter Gifted in the Search box to access articles on all aspects of Gifted education, teachers and students.
• Gifted and Talented Education
  ‘A Professional Development Course which will help you identify the gifted and talented students in your class or your school, and differentiate the curriculum to respond to their individual learning needs.’
• Gifted and Talented Online Resources
  Compiled by Essington School in the Northern Territory.
• Gifted Education, Resource Links
  Links to lists and articles.
• SENG - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
  ‘Formed to bring attention to the unique emotional needs of gifted children. It provided adults with guidance, information, resources, and a forum to communicate about raising and educating these children. Today, SENG has expanded its goals to focus on not only gifted children, but also on gifted adults.’
• Superkids Educational Software Review
• Teaching Treasures
  Material and activities that can be used for regular as well as gifted and talented students. In subject areas and other sections.
• The Brain Rummager
  ‘Welcome to Brian Barratt’s Homepage for gifted and talent students & people with enquiring minds ! Have fun with a huge range of activities in English language, creativity & thinking.’ Australian.
• The Lifeline to the Net’s Gifted Resource’s Index
  Developed by one person.
• Venture Hotlist
  Resource page for teachers and students.
• Victorian Schools - Gifted Resources & Information

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References

• 1. What do we mean by the terms giftedness and talent ? NSW Department of Education and Training, 03 July 2006. Web. 20 Jan. 2010.
  http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/gats/programs/organisation/definitions.htm.

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