SUMMIT BLOG

One of the subtler challenges in schools today is: students are researching more than ever, but often without knowing what research actually is. They know how to look things up. They’ll go to Google, ask ChatGPT, scan a few headlines or click on the first few links. These sources may even mimic authority, but they rarely invite scrutiny. And that’s the issue.

We’re in a new financial year, so what should you be doing about your super?

Yes, we understand what burnout is. We’ve seen it in our staffrooms. We’ve felt it in our calendars, our shoulders, and our sighs at the end of a long week. That creeping exhaustion that no long weekend can fix. The feeling of caring deeply and still wondering if it’s enough. We’re not short on effort. We’re short on air.

Exhibiting at the National Education Summit is a valuable opportunity to connect directly with passionate educators, school leaders, and education decision-makers from across the country. But standing out from the crowd and achieving long-term ROI requires a solid plan – our media partner Education Matters share their insights below.

As the demand grows for innovative, future-focused education, Hologram Zoo, developed by Axiom Holographics, is emerging as a groundbreaking tool for schools. Designed to immerse students in the world of cutting-edge technology, Hologram Zoo bridges classroom learning with real-world application—bringing STEM concepts to life in a captivating, hands-on way.

Literacy is more than just reading and writing—it’s a gateway to opportunity. In today’s fast-paced, information-rich world, core literacy skills are essential for accessing knowledge, participating fully in society, and achieving personal success.

Often when we talk about the mental health issues associated with digital technology, we focus on the extremes – sextortion, radicalisation and body dysmorphia. But behind these headline-grabbing harms lies a quieter crisis: the everyday mental strain technology places on young people.

I used to think good leadership meant carrying it all every crisis, every deadline, every difficult conversation. That’s just what leaders do, right? We steady the ship, hold space for others, and keep everything moving.

During the course of the Summit, NGS Super will be doing 5 minute power sessions at their booth, number C08, and those topics will include heading towards retirement contribution, and are you on track?

Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions in the world – and also one of the hardest. In the past few years, we’ve seen a global shift in education: from academic catch-up to collective burnout, from wellbeing rhetoric to a real need for systemic support. But too often, educator wellbeing is treated as an afterthought.

In schools, relationships form the bedrock of daily interactions. Whether it’s between teachers and students, staff and families, or among colleagues themselves, education is inherently relational. Educators are drawn to this profession because they care deeply about people, growth, and connection.

As an exhibitor at the National Education Summit (NES), you’re already positioning your brand at the forefront of Australia’s education sector. But to truly maximise your investment, it’s essential to amplify your presence before, during, and after the event.

If you’ve worked inside a primary or elementary school lately, you’ll know: the classroom is changing. Children today are navigating a world more complex, connected, and emotionally demanding than ever before. Academic skills still matter, of course – but they’re no longer enough. More and more, educators are asking: What can I do to help my students thrive?

With upskilling posing a challenge, hybrid work debates still unsettled, and a new generation of education professionals entering the field, here’s what you need to know for 2025.

The question stopped being “ask the librarian” and became “ask Google.” Discovery services made full-text content available, not just citations. That was transformative. AI now adds yet another layer—people aren’t necessarily searching for the original content anymore. They’re asking a model to synthesise or generate a specific answer. Now it’s “ask ChatGPT.”

Eight schools from Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) involved in a pilot Writer's Toolbox programme have achieved NAPLAN growth rates eight times higher than state counterparts. The schools, a diverse mix across the Brisbane Diocese, used Writer's Toolbox to lift student writing results, as well as develop student thinking skills and confidence.

A Personal Reflection on Literacy, Teacher Training, and the Urgent Need for Change

As I reflect on my journey as both an educator and a mother, one phrase continues to echo in my mind: I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

There’s a lot of information out there about super, but how do you know what applies to you? What information is relevant? Super can be complex, but we believe it doesn’t need to be. Improving your knowledge and understanding of super is always going to be one of the best ways to effectively manage your savings and maximise your retirement savings.

What if we stopped designing school culture around what staff can endure and instead built it around what helps them flourish? We talk a lot about student wellbeing, and rightly so. But here’s the truth: when the adults in the building are not flourishing, the whole school feels it.

Library interventions are big, powerful marketing campaigns designed to create a lasting impact on patron behaviour and mindset. In school libraries, they can be used to promote library engagement, increase use of a service or product and help students forge a positive self-identity as a reader.

In a world where seconds matter, access to advanced medical care should not be a luxury—it should be the standard. As educators, parents, and health professionals, we all share one unshakable commitment: to protect our children and provide them with a safe environment to learn, grow, and thrive.

It’s time to make coffee. Take a breath. Maybe take a walk on the beach. And reflect. Some leaders burn out not because they’re doing too much—but because they’re not protecting their energy.

Did you know that you can teach in a foreign country, in your area of expertise, without having to learn a language? To experience new cuisines and cultures and meet people from diverse backgrounds. A chance to explore the local environment, and venture to other international destinations….to get out of your comfort zone and have an adventure!

Dyslexia affects an estimated 10% of the population, yet misconceptions about it persist in classrooms across the world. For educators, understanding dyslexia is not just about helping a few students—it’s about ensuring that every child has access to instruction that meets their needs.

Schools are ecosystems of change. Throughout my career as a school leader, I was immersed in it all—curriculum reform, project-based learning, blended models, student coaching, PB4L. I loved it. I thrived on it. But one line from Ecclesiastes always stayed with me: “There is a time for everything.”

Let’s reimagine what creativity can look like in our schools. Why do we spend 90% of class time typing on devices and writing on paper? What if we wrote poetry on school walls with spray paint, explored science through ceramic glazes, or calculated math through clay shrinkage rates in pottery?

It’s 5:00 pm on a Friday. The school is quiet. Students are gone. Staff are wrapping up a long week. You’re finally about to shut your laptop, breathe out, and head into the weekend. Then it arrives. An email. Not a thank-you. Not a check-in. It’s a task, a problem, or a pointed question.

The use of complex texts for learning is a well-established pedagogical practice and therefore the selection of appropriate texts is an integral part of teaching and learning.  Traditionally, textbooks and single origin resources have been a staple in classrooms, but the use of a singular resource can be problematic in an environment that has significant variation in literacy levels and background knowledge

If you’re a teacher attending the National Education Summit this year, you already know the toll burnout is taking on our profession. You may even be one of those standing at the edge of exhaustion. And if you’re not here in this room—perhaps you’re one of the many too overwhelmed to attend, too depleted to even name it.

In 2025, bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the classroom isn’t just an idea, it’s happening every day. Teachers around Australia and the world are discovering practical ways to use AI to help their students learn better. But with so many options, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. The key question isn’t "Should I use AI?" but "How do I use AI effectively and simply?"