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# History Council of Victoria: The peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Get to know Professor Sean Scalmer ahead of our 2026 Annual Lecture: ‘Direct Action, Protest and Democracy’](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/get-to-know-professor-sean-scalmer/): The History Council of Victoria Annual Lecture 2026 takes place on September 24, just a couple of weeks away! The Annual Lecture is our most prestigious event, featuring a noted scholar offering insight and provocation from history and historiography. In anticipation of the HCV event of the year we asked our speaker for 2026, Professor Sean Scalmer, all about his upcoming talk.
- [History comes to life for VCE history students in Warrnambool, Shepparton and Traralgon](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/history-comes-to-life-for-students-in-warrnambool-shepparton-and-traralgon/): Our VCE Roadshow has taken place in one form or another since the 1970s—a day-long program intended to complement students' in-class learning in advance of end of year VCE history exams. This August, VCE students from Warrnambool, Shepparton and Traralgon, regional locations often unable to easily access similar opportunities in the metropolis, received a tailored program of presentations from renonwned historians from Melbourne University, Monash University, Australian Catholic University, and more.
- [Speakers announced for the 2026 History Council of Victoria VCE History Roadshow](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/speakers-announced-for-our-2026-vce-history-regional-roadshow/): The History Council of Victoria VCE Roadshow has taken place in one form or another since the 1970s, and this August we expand the program to three regional locations to bring a tailored program of presentations to VCE history students across Victoria. 
- [Nominations are now open for our 2026 Lynette Russell Prize and 2026 Jane Hansen Prize](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/nominations-are-now-open-for-our-2026-lynette-russell-prize-and-2026-jane-hansen-prize/): The History Council of Victoria awards two annual prizes to reward those who celebrate and advocate for history in Victoria. The Lynette Russell Prize for First Peoples' Histories in Schools awards Victorian students for their work exploring First Peoples' cultures and histories; and the Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy recognises the work of an individual or group in advocating for the value of history or the work of historians. 
- [Book+Author: Contaminated Country with Dr Jessica Urwin – thank you for a sold out event!](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/bookauthor-contaminated-country-with-dr-jessica-urwin-thank-you-for-a-sold-out-event/): Thank you to all those who attended our sold out Book+Author talk last Thursday at Bard's Apothecary! In a full room, convener Dr Yves Rees spoke to Dr Jess Urwin (University of Tasmania) about her newly published book Contaminated Country: Nuclear Colonialism and Aboriginal Resistance in Australia (Melbourne University Publishing). 
- [Meet your new HCV intern Rosina Virgona!](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/meet-your-new-hcv-intern-rosina-virgona/): Each year, the History Council of Victoria hosts an intern from a Victorian university to work with us on our careers in history event — a panel discussion for tertiary students featuring professionals who once studied history, now working across a range of history and history-adjacent fields.
- [History Council of Victoria EOFY appeal](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/history-council-of-victoria-eofy-appeal/): Support the work of the HCV by becoming a Friend or making a fully tax-refundable donation by hitting the button below. 
- [Joint submission from the History Councils of Australia to influence revised National Cultural Policy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/joint-submission-from-the-history-councils-of-australia-to-influence-revised-national-cultural-policy/): The History Councils of Australia have submitted a joint submission to the Australian Federal Government to help shape the next National Cultural Policy, the successor to 'Revive: A place for every story, a story for every place', which has guided arts and cultural policy since 2023. The joint statement comes from the History Council of Victoria, The History Council of South Australia, The History Council of Western Australia, and the History Council of New South Wales, peak bodies for history representing collecting and heritage bodies, history teachers, academic and professional historians, and local, Indigenous, and specialist history organisations.

## Pages
- [Nell Musgrove](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/nell-musgrove/): FAHA FASSA
- [Deborah Tout-Smith](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/deborah-tout-smith/): Deborah Tout-Smith joined the History Council of Victoria in November 2021, representing Museums Victoria. Deborah is Senior Curator, Home & Community, in the History & Technology Department of Museums Victoria. She curates the Home & Community and Military History collections, and co-curates the Clothing & Textiles and Childhood collections.
- [Peter McPhee](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/peter-mcphee/): FAHA FASSA
- [Stephanie Holt](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/stephanie-holt/): Stephanie Holt is an editor by profession, with a specialisation in editing on Australian history, sport, art and culture. She joined the History Council of Victoria as Executive Officer in December 2023.
- [Katherine Sheedy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/katherine-sheedy/): Katherine Sheedy joined the History Council of Victoria (HCV) in February 2005, representing the Professional Historians Association (PHA Vic).
- [Bronwyn Cook](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/bronwyn-cook/): Bronwyn Cook joined the History Council of Victoria in November 2018, representing the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria (HTAV).
- [Margaret Anderson](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/margaret-anderson/): Margaret Anderson joined the History Council of Victoria (HCV) in 2016 and represents the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne, where she is the General Manager.
- [Lynette Russell Prize Winner 2024](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/lynette-russell-prize-for-first-peoples-history-in-schools/lynette-russell-prize-winner-2024/): Students from Prep to grade 6 at Briar Hill have been spent time observing their local environment and learning about the Wurundjeri seasons, and developing an appreciation of the deep knowledge, wisdom and connection that First Nations people have to the land and their expertise in caring for our environment. They have made a point of connecting with local elders. Younger students have created handcrafted items out of beeswax, wool and clay that represent elements from the Wurundjeri seasons, while grades 5 and 6 created maps of the Kulin nations and investigated traditional land care practices such as the burning-off season.  
- [Lynette Russell Prize Winner 2023](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/lynette-russell-prize-for-first-peoples-history-in-schools/lynette-russell-prize-winner-2023/): Women left to right: Megan Liston, Angie McKail, Aunty Dottie (Dottie Moffatt, Koorie Engagement Support Officer), Sylvia Holland. Blokes left to right: Paul West, Doug Vickers ( principal), Peter McPhee, Grattan Mullett (Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC))
- [Lynette Russell Prize Winner 2025](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/lynette-russell-prize-for-first-peoples-history-in-schools/lynette-russell-prize-winner-2025/): In a field of strong entries, Chewton Primary School's stuck out as an incredibly complex and impactful project. This project had placed authentic and meaningful relationships with the local Dja Dja Wurrung stakeholders at the centre, with extensive and ongoing support from many Elders and key figures in the community. Their focus is not just on the content within the curriculum but also the context beyond the curriculum. This was evidenced by having a large number of local community members participating in the school’s reconciliation walk and an ongoing commitment to reconciliation.
- [Newsletters](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/newsletters/): The History Council of Victoria Incorporated is the peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria. Our vision is to connect Victorians with history and to inspire their engagement with the past, their identity and the world today. The HCV champions the work of historians and the value of history. We recognise that history can be written about any place, any person, any period. We advocate why history matters.
- [Newsletter Archive](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/newsletters/newsletter-archive/): Past newsletters can be downloaded as PDF files from this page.
- [Events](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events-categories/): A series of online panel-style discussions with expert historians on topical themes. These are presented with support from the Old Treasury Building, the Monash University History program and Monash University Publishing.
- [Jane Hansen Prize Past Winners](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/jane-hansen-prize-for-history-advocacy/jane-hansen-prize-past-winners/): Peter Symons, who made an extraordinary commitment to the access and preservation of history research, through his successful efforts to lobby for Trove funding for the National Library of Australia.
- [Jane Hansen Prize Winner 2024](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/jane-hansen-prize-for-history-advocacy/jane-hansen-prize-winner-2024/): The Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) is an independent peak membership body established in 2000 to provide support, advocacy, research and empowerment for survivors of past abuse and neglect in child welfare systems in Australia and New Zealand. CLAN has shown leadership in advocating for a more authentic, layered and nuanced history and, in doing so, generated vitality to a previously neglected field of public history. In the aftermath of the Royal Commission, CLAN won a Commonwealth grant to purchase a property to serve as a permanent home for the Australian Orphanage Museum, now established in Ryrie Street, Geelong. The unique museum is a remarkable achievement among CLAN’s contributions to the way history is presented and received in the community.
- [Jane Hansen Prize Winner 2025](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/jane-hansen-prize-for-history-advocacy/jane-hansen-prize-winner-2025/): Dr Alice Garner has been a powerful advocate for history, with a particular focus on oral history, as a committee member of Oral History Victoria and then its President from 2021 to 2024. This role saw Alice dedicate significant time and skill to the tasks of raising the profile of oral history in the community and supporting the development of skilled and ethical oral history practice. As a historian, Alice draws upon her broad and substantive skills as a scholar, public historian, teacher, writer, actor, musician and audio producer to reach broad, diverse audiences with her historical storytelling. She is driven by a desire to share stories of the past in creative and engaging ways, and to bring new audiences to historical material (particularly oral histories) held in collecting institutions.
- [Past Events](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events-categories/events-past/): The History Council of Victoria delivers a range of public programs and recurring event series that explore history, public engagement and education.Below are our key event series and current programs.
- [Coming Up](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events-categories/coming-up/): The History Council of Victoria offers a range of accessible and thought-provoking public events for students of history, history lovers and professional historians. These include regular series, annual programs, and special one-off events.
- [Friend of the HCV – Recurring](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/become-a-friend/friend-of-the-hcv-recurring/): As a Friend of the History Council of Victoria, you receive a range of benefits including:
- [Institutional Member](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/become-a-friend/institutional-member/): As a Member of the History Council of Victoria, you receive a range of benefits including:
- [Individual Member](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/become-a-friend/individual-member/): As a Member of the History Council of Victoria, you receive a range of benefits including:
- [Become a Member of the History Council of Victoria](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/membership/): As a Member of the History Council of Victoria, you receive a range of benefits including:
- [Friend of the HCV – One Year](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/become-a-friend/friend-of-the-hcv-one-year/): As a Friend of the History Council of Victoria, you receive a range of benefits including:
- [Donate](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/donate/): The History Council of Victoria is registered as a Cultural Organisation with the Australian Government and is able to receive tax-deductible donations for its cultural purposes from Australian taxpayers.
- [Annual Reports](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/annual-reports/): Our Annual Reports on HCV activities can be downloaded as PDF files from this page.
- [The Value of History](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/advocacy/the-value-of-history/): Studying our past and telling our stories is critical to our sense of belonging, to our communities and to our shared future.
- [One Place, Many Stories](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/advocacy/one-place-many-stories/): One Place, Many Stories was a project that produced a free online resource designed for teachers and middle to upper primary students as a way of engaging children in the history of Victoria. It was designed as a rich, cross curricular resource that could be incorporated into the classroom in a variety of learning contexts.
- [Drought Stories](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/advocacy/drought-stories/): After 13 years of drought, in 2010, regional Victorians know all too well its devastating impact. Communities have been placed under acute and sustained stress, but have also responded in creative and inspiring ways.  Drought Stories: A Spoken and Visual History of the Current Drought in Victoria is an important project, initiated by the History Council of Victoria, which captures this experience by collecting oral and documentary material from people who are living through the drought.
- [Lynette Russell Prize for First Peoples’ History in Schools](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/lynette-russell-prize-for-first-peoples-history-in-schools/): Nominations are now open for the 2026 Lynette Russell Prize for First Peoples' History in Schools.
- [Advocacy Timeline](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/advocacy/advocacy-timeline/): As the peak body for history in Victoria, the History Council makes submissions on current issues. In doing this, the HCV Board is guided by its Advocacy Policy and by the Value of History, a statement developed co-operatively by the HCV and the History Councils of New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
- [Advocacy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/advocacy/): The History Council of Victoria (HCV) has undertaken a number of projects that promote history and heritage.
- [Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/jane-hansen-prize-for-history-advocacy/): Nominations are now open for the 2026 Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy.
- [Credits](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/credits/): The History Council of Victoria acknowledges the State Library of Victoria and the Public Record Office Victoria for supply of the archival images that appear on this website.
- [Refunds Policy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/refunds-policy/): Updated: February 2026
- [Website Terms of Use](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/website-terms-of-use/): Updated: February 2026
- [Purposes and Goals](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/purposes-and-goals/): The Association is established for public charitable purposes of promoting the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of written literature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, oral history, film and other art forms that have historical content or significance by, without limitation:
- [Contact](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/contact/): PO Box 443Carlton South  Vic  3053Australia
- [Become a Friend](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/become-a-friend/): Friends
- [Prizes and Competitions](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/prizes-and-competitions/): Celebrating excellence
- [HCV Board and Staff](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/hcv-board/): ChairProfessor Nell Musgrove (bio)
- [About](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/about/): The History Council of Victoria Incorporated is the peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria. Our vision is to connect Victorians with history and to inspire their engagement with the past, their identity and the world today. The HCV champions the work of historians and the value of history. We recognise that history can be written about any place, any person, any period. We advocate why history matters.
- [CiviCRM](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/civicrm/): Do not delete this page. Page content is generated by CiviCRM.
- [Privacy Policy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/privacy-policy/): Updated: February 2026
- [Home](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/): The History Council of Victoria Incorporated is the peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria. Our vision is to connect Victorians with history and to inspire their engagement with the past, their identity and the world today. The HCV champions the work of historians and the value of history. It recognises that history can be written about any place, any person, any period. It advocates why history matters.

## Events
- [HCV Book+Author: Snake Talk – April 2026](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/hcv-bookauthor-snake-talk-april-2026/): Our second event in the 2026 Book+Author in-person conversation series, which showcases new books from some of Australia’s most exciting historians.
- [HCV Book+Author: Contaminated Country – June 2026](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/hcv-bookauthor-contaminated-country-june-2026/): Our final event in the 2026 Book+Author in-person conversation series, which showcases new books from some of Australia’s most exciting historians.
- [The Shortest History of the United States of America](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/the-shortest-history-of-the-united-states-of-america/): Our final event in the 2026 Book+Author in-person conversation series, which showcases new books from some of Australia’s most exciting historians.
- [Careers in History – The Past is Your Future](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/careers-in-history-2026/): A free event for history students interested in professional pathways in history, held at the Public Record Office, Victoria.
- [2026 Annual Lecture – Direct Action, Protest and Democracy](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/annual-lecture-2026/): An annual showcase featuring a leading historian on a topic of pressing importance and wide interest, and the announcement of our major annual prizes.
- [Women and the Criminal Justice System in Australia](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/women-and-the-criminal-justice-system-in-australia/): A free Zoom webinar exploring issues and approaches in making public histories with an expert panel.
- [Special Damage: The Slander of Women and the Gendered History of Defamation Law](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/hcv-bookauthor-special-damage-march-2026/): An in-person conversation curated and hosted by Dr Yves Rees, held at Bard's Apothecary.
- [Making Public Histories 2026 – Challenging Anzac](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/making-public-histories-2026-challenging-anzac/): Free Zoom webinar exploring issues and approaches in making public histories.
- [VCE History Roadshow 2026 – Traralgon](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/vce-history-roadshow-2026-traralgon/): A free day-long seminar for regional Victorian Year 11 and 12 History students.
- [VCE History Roadshow 2026 – Shepparton](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/vce-history-roadshow-2026-shepparton/): A free day-long seminar for regional Victorian Year 11 and 12 History students.
- [VCE History Roadshow 2026 – Warrnambool](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/vce-history-roadshow-2026-warrnambool/): A free day-long seminar for regional Victorian Year 11 and 12 History students.
- [Making Public Histories – Why Republics Die](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/making-public-histories-2026-why-republics-die/): A free Zoom webinar exploring issues and approaches in making public histories.
- [The Australian Legacies of British Slavery](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/events/making-public-histories-2026-slavery/): A free Zoom webinar exploring issues and approaches in making public histories with an expert panel.

## HCV Newsletters
- [August 2026 Newsletter](https://historycouncilvic.org.au/hcv-newsletter/august-2026-newsletter/): Dear Colleague,

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