AES 2026 Chinese New Year Celebration
On the evening of 28 February 2026, the Australian Education Society (AES) hosted the AES 2026 Chinese New Year Celebration at the Chinese Museum in Melbourne’s Chinatown. Guests from the education sector, government, and multicultural community gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year and to reflect on AES’s achievements in promoting education and fostering Australia–China educational exchange.
The event opened in a warm and festive atmosphere, providing a platform for guests from Melbourne’s education and international education sectors, as well as community organisations, to connect and engage.
AES Chair, Mr Howard Gao, delivered the opening address, outlining the association’s development and its long-standing contributions to advancing Australian education and strengthening educational cooperation between Australia and China. He emphasised that AES is committed to building bridges for cultural and educational exchange, and will continue to expand international collaboration and language education initiatives to support Australia’s multicultural society.
Mr Paul Hamer MP, Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing the state government, attended and addressed the audience. He praised AES for over a decade of efforts in promoting Australia–China educational exchange and international education, and acknowledged the association’s important role in fostering collaboration and multicultural engagement.
The event also welcomed Ms Judi Benney, Executive Principal of the Victorian School of Languages, and Ms Chrissy Gamble, Principal of Kingswood College. As leaders of prominent institutions in Melbourne’s language education sector, their participation highlighted ongoing support for AES’s initiatives in Chinese language education and international educational cooperation.
The event received strong support from the Greater Dandenong City Council. Councillors Lana Formoso and Jim Memeti were unable to arrive on time due to travel delays, but they extended their sincere congratulations to AES and conveyed their Chinese New Year greetings to all attendees.
Although The Hon Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education, was unable to attend, he expressed his support for the event and sent his best wishes to AES and all guests.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed vibrant cultural performances by artists from Melbourne’s Chinese arts community, including traditional Peking opera, graceful Chinese dance, and moving musical performances. These performances showcased the richness of Chinese culture and added a festive, celebratory atmosphere to the gala.
AES also took the opportunity to introduce its Chinese language programs for 2026 and outline its future development plans, highlighting the association’s long-term vision in promoting language education, cultural exchange, and international educational cooperation.
Multiple rounds of lucky draws engaged the audience and kept the energy high, building excitement throughout the evening. The gala concluded with a spectacular dragon and lion dance performance, symbolising good fortune and prosperity, bringing the celebrations to a joyful and memorable close.
The AES 2026 Chinese New Year Celebration was not only a celebration of culture and community, but also a testament to AES’s ongoing contribution to international education, Australia–China educational collaboration, and multicultural engagement. Moving forward, AES will continue to work closely with education and community partners to advance educational cooperation and cultural exchange to new heights.