Top Talks

About Top Talks

Top Talks showcases exceptional oral presentations from VCE Extended Investigation students.

Selected students share their original and rigorous independent research and findings through 8–10 minute presentations. Following the presentations, a Q&A panel discussion is held with the presenters, giving the audience an opportunity to learn more about the students' research topics and methods, as well as their experiences studying VCE Extended Investigation.

Top Talks 2026 took place on Friday 6 March 2026 at the State Library of Victoria and online.

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The following students were selected to present their VCE Extended Investigation research at Top Talks 2026.

  • Fenella Collins, Dromana Secondary College, Indigenous identity and legitimacy in modern Australia
  • Judah Braunstein, Mount Scopus Memorial College, Six strings one planet: the guitar’s secret sustainability issue
  • Nina Rainona Aguilar, University High School, Acculturating through the belief of how we are perceived
  • Ryan Almazi, Melbourne High School, The evolving role of high-stakes testing in education
  • Thomas Hill, Wurun Senior Campus, To what extent was the influence of Niccolò Paganini on the style of Franz Liszt present in his music from 1839-1847?

Students who have completed VCE Extended Investigation are not required to submit an application for Top Talks. Participants will be selected via the externally-assessed task assessment process. Participants must receive an A or an A+ for the externally-assessed task, and an exceptional mark for their oral presentation.

The selection panel ensures all presentations are considered fairly according to the criteria and cover a breadth of research topics. The VCE Season of Excellence team and other VCAA staff members have no input into which talks are selected.

Invitations to present at Top Talks will be sent to participants by email and/or post in mid-late December.

The VCAA provides a suite of resources to accompany VCE Season of Excellence programs. These resources are provided to students and educators across Victoria to support learning across various study areas. 

Top Talks Recordings 

Access previous Top Talks presentations and downloadable transcripts in the Top Talks Archive. 

Visit Season Resources to explore more.