Key Events from ECAWA’s Archives

Incorporation and Early Leadership (1970s & 1980s)

• 1970s ECAWA was founded by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, passionate about computing education
• 1987: ECAWA was formally incorporated, marking the beginning of structured leadership, with Lorraine Kershaw becoming ECAWA’s inaugural President following incorporation.
• 1987 ECAWA State Conferences began – and just in time for the teachers who by the later 1980s were introducing students to computers in their libraries, computer labs and classrooms.

Growing Influence and Early Conferences (1990 – 1999)

• During the late 1980s and 1990s, ECAWA expanded alongside rapid ICT adoption in schools—moving from MICROBEE (Z80), Acorn to Apple systems and IBM Compatibles and peer‑to‑peer networking.
• COMPUTER Pals across the world mid 1980s (intelsat)
• 1990s saw a decade that started with MICROBEE (Z80) Acorns and moved on to Apples and IBM Compatibles with Windows 3.11 arriving at the end of 1993. We also saw access to peer to peer networking for the computers in our classrooms, labs and libraries.
• 1995 saw students of all ages swapping email with each other, and with students across the world. A row of clocks on the wall showing different timezones, to make it easier to understand why a response wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow. And then, the internet arrived.
• 1998 – Conference Cornucopeia The 1998 Curnucopia Conference, held from 11–13 September in Denmark, Western Australia, was a distinctive professional learning event organised by ECAWA that blended innovation, collaboration, and creativity. Educators travelled together to the South West for a weekend conference designed around a bazaar-style learning model, with themed “rooms” offering hands-on, exploratory experiences. Conference spaces included the Numbat Room (robotics, programmable logic devices, and interfaces), Turtle Room (Logo programming and device control), Toucan Room (multimedia creation using presentations, digital cameras, scanners, and image software), and the Magpie Room (open discussion and idea sharing). Hosted by the Robotics SIG, the conference had a strong focus on robotics while supporting collaborative and exploratory learning across the curriculum. Attendance typically included a mix of primary and secondary educators, with a strong representation of women. Curnucopia 1998 reflected ECAWA’s commitment to sharing expertise, travelling to regional areas, and supporting innovative classroom practice across Western Australia.
• 1999 Conference titled Wired 2000 in October at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento. Presenters were: Associate Professor Anne McDougal is from the University of Melbourne. Anne is the Australian Computer Society representative to the Australian Council for Computers in Education. Her topic will be very relevant to what are the requirements of the teacher of the future. It is titled Learning with the New Technologies. Deborah Kemba is the project officer for oz-TeacherNet. She will be telling us about the on-line projects that oz_TeacherNet is involved with and how Internet projects can be structured to develop students’ Information Literacy skills. Dr. Roger Atkinson, well known to the members of the ECAWA list server ECHALK, will be telling us about The Secret Life of Echalkers: Workplace learning and DIY professional development. This should be very pertinent to many Western Australian teachers!
• Welcomed 35 new members at the conference
• 1999 ECAWA Conference Dinner – Wired 2000 – Hillarys Underwater World, October 8th 1999, 7:00 pm, Presenter Stuart Hoare – CISCO

A New Millenium (2000 – 2015)

• 2000 Conference, the theme for which is Y2KPlus – Computers in Education into the 21st Century. The conference was on September 26 and 27 at the Mandurah Performing Arts Center. A whopping 219 people registered to attend the massive 49 sessions on offer over the 2 days. Keynote speakers were: Jennifer Elwin Jennifer Elwin is a full time computing teacher at Pembroke School in South Australia, and coordinates the Yr 7 – 10 computing syllabus. She developed and maintains the computing section of the school’s Intranet and has written much of the course material. Associate Professor Sandra Wills Sandra has over 25 years international experience in the field of education and technology from primary through to university education including teacher training, as well as curriculum and software development. Sandra is from the University of Wollongong. Janine Bowes Janine comes from a background of twenty years as a teacher. From her first year of teaching she has been involved in educational computing as a teacher of the discipline of computer science as well as various professional support roles in the use of computers across the curriculum. Janine is from the Vocational Education Community Online project in Tasmania. Ken Price Ken has taken numerous leadership roles in computer education and in the use of learning technologies. He has acted as a school network manager, project officer for a statewide IT in Schools project and was instrumental in the development and introduction of VET courses in the IT area. He is currently Learning Technologies Coordinator (and teacher) at Claremont College in Tasmania.
• 2001 – Technology and Enterprise State Conference, Lorraine Kershaw Conference Coordinator. ECAWA State Conference Lord Forrest Hotel, Bunbury October 1st –2nd, 2001. ECAWA had approx. 72 members
• 2002 – ACEC2002 Australian Computers in Education Conference, Hosted by TASITE, the Tasmanian Society for Information Technology in Education, on behalf of the Australian Council for Computers in Education. 11 July – 13 July 2002 Hobart, Tasmania. ECAWA had approx. 141 members
• 2003 – ECAWA Dinner will be held on Tuesday the 9th of December in the Aquinas College Dining Room, overlooking the beautiful Canning River at Salter’s Point. Guest Speakers will be ECAWA Life Members Jan Ring and Paul Newhouse, both currently of ECU. ECAWA had approx 126 members
• 2004 – State Conference, theme is “Hands On Learning.” Held at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento
  ECAWA has sponsored or supported a number of events including the March in March Workshop, the SIGfest, Pedagogy in Information Technology, Technology and Enterprise State Conference 2004 and ECAWA Unplugged. Added to this, here are many conferences or full day workshops being held in Perth by other organisations. Some members will also attend the ACEC in Adelaide in July.
• 2000 – ECAWA was a founding member of the Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE), the peak body for state and territory computer education groups, and serious collaboration between groups around Australia began. This was part of a national move to strengthen collaboration between state and territory computer education groups. This alignment clarified that ACCE membership was held by professional associations rather than individuals, while still recognising the contributions of educators through a new Professional Associate structure. The change preserved the ethos of national professional recognition, strengthened advocacy for computing education, and connected ECAWA members to a broader national community and leadership framework
• 20XX The National Conferences began and two were held in WA.
• ECAWA played a key role in organising national conferences under ACCE, with Perth hosting the ACEC in 2012.
• After ACEC2012 the next national conference took the title ACCE 2014 from the title of our peak body.

Recent Developments (2015 onwards)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 State Conference, ECAWA rapidly adapted, delivering smaller yet impactful events post‑pandemic.
Following COVID, ECAWA returned to large-scale in-person events with the 2025 State Conference held in February at Christ Church Grammar.