Summit Blog

Written by Andrew Oberthur, Director, Creative Collaborative Solutions Schools are made up of various teams, including year-level teaching teams, a leadership team, there maybe specialist teaching teams, support staff who are teamed with classroom teachers, front office staff who would make a team. By nature, schools are service oriented organizations,

Written by Trish Templeton, Head of Library Services, St Laurence’s College Language and learning are inextricably linked because the latter is hard to achieve without knowledge of the former. Language consists of words used in a structural and conventional way which is the principal method or system of communication communities

Written by Sarah Macdonald, Canine Comprehension, CEO and Founder  A growing body of research highlights the critical importance of meeting students’ emotional needs if we want them to reach their intellectual potential. In schools, dog-assisted incursions are emerging as an innovative, evidence-based way to support mental health and, by extension,

Written by Emma Derainne, Researcher, The University of Queensland The heart of any school garden is the meaning. Not the mulch. Not the raised beds. Not the grant you fought tooth and nail to secure. Not even the tomatoes (although let’s be honest, when they actually grow, it does feel

Written by Sharyn Pratap, Teacher Librarian, St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School Incorporating diverse literature into School libraries and classrooms is a fantastic way for teachers to enhance students’ learning experiences. For years, Teacher Librarians (TLs) have championed the call for diversity in library collections. This focus on diverse literature is

Written by Millie Carr, Inclusion Outreach Coach, Warringa Park School There’s a sentence I’ve heard many times, as a teacher, as a parent and as a student when I was at school. “She’s fine here.”. Sometimes it’s said kindly. Sometimes with relief and sometime with genuine confusion. Often, it’s true,

Written by Teresa Deshon, Education Improvement Leader Diverse Leaners, Department of Education Educational Support (ES) staff are the quiet drivers of inclusion in schools. They are the steady presence that helps students navigate learning, emotions and relationships. Yet, in many schools, their work is guided more by goodwill than by

Written by Andrew Murray, Former Secondary Principal, Director Lumina Wellbeing Strategy It’s been a long week. You move from one meeting to the next. A colleague shares a deeply personal struggle. Your inbox lights up. Someone knocks and says “just a quick question” even though it will probably take at least

Written by Dr Sarah Glencross, Research Manager, The Sycamore School Queensland and Adjunct Lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast & Chantall Opperman, Head of Teaching and Learning, The Sycamore School, Queensland The Sycamore School is a specialist P–10 school for autistic young people located in Redland Bay near Brisbane. Our

Written by Andrew King, School Principal, President New Zealand Rural Schools Association, Oropi School For the past twelve months, the educational landscape in New Zealand has been fast paced and challenging. During periods of rapid change, we need to remind ourselves of the power to be focused on the long

Written by Dr Michael Stewart, Retired School Principal, Volunteer Adolescents Mental Health Unit, Sunshine Coast University Hospital I invite you to explore the following findings based upon my research which provide valuable insights into cultivating a positive school culture. 1. Culture Is Continuous and Collective A positive school culture requires

Written by Jo Muirhead, Canva Learning Consultant, Wasserman Jo Muirhead is Australia’s Canva Learning Consultant. She supports Australian Canva for Schooling Systems in integrating Canva into teaching, learning, and school practice. With over 20 years of experience in education and technology integration, Jo conducts free virtual and in-person workshops, helping

Written by Helen Velikans, Learning Resoutrce Support Librarian, Catholic College Wodonga Why AI and Creativity Matter in Education AI is transforming classrooms worldwide, but its role in education often sparks debate. Is AI a shortcut for students? Does it undermine creativity? These questions are valid—and necessary—because they push us to

Written by Dr Sonia Cheema, Leadership Coach, Teaching and Learning  Coach, VCE Chemistry teacher, Al Taqwa College  As Australian schools continue to face unpredictable disruptions—from climate events to health-related absences—hybrid learning is no longer a temporary solution. It is an essential component of future-focused education. But the success of hybrid

Written by Jessica Finden, Teacher Librarian, Carmel College Why AI is a game-changer for library staff AI tools like CoPilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are designed to assist with a wide range of tasks.  For library staff, this means: Time saving: AI can summarise articles, draft emails, generate book lists,

The National Education Summit (NES) announced a landmark partnership with the Global Joy Mission (GJM), founded by Chartered Organisational Psychologist and author Simi Rayat, to position joy as a measurable and practical driver of learning and educator wellbeing across Australian schools in 2026. This partnership marks a significant step forward in

Written by Michelle Ware, Senior Quality Teaching Adviser, University of Newcastle  At a time when schools and educators are feeling the strain on so many fronts, one form of PD is breathing new life into teachers’ everyday practice: Quality Teaching (QT) Rounds. Distinguished Laureate Professor Jenny Gore AM and her

Written by Andrew Murray, former Principal and Director, Lumina Consulting By mid-term many of us feel wrung out and distracted. Attention is thin, patience is thinner, and the to-do list seems to grow arms. Most mornings, before I open my laptop, I slip into the water. I’m not a great

Written by Sarah Smith, Senior Business Development Manager, Furnware As the National Education Summit approaches, one focus feels especially timely – how we support teacher wellbeing in real, practical ways. It’s something we think about often at Furnware, because we know that when educators feel supported, everyone benefits. That’s why

Written by Jeremy Waters, Founder, Elastik – WriteMark AI Educators are driven by care, connection, commitment, and a profound sense of purpose. More than 90% say they entered teaching “to make a difference” and they want to do work that is meaningful, even when it is challenging. But across Australia

Written by Ros Lugg, CEO/Founder, StepsWeb This is a complex time for teachers. More and more pressure, more complex expectations and, even worse, mixed messages at times. One of the things I meet most frequently when working with schools is teachers who are confused about the role of technology in

Written by Peta Simpson, eSmart Engagement Manager, The Alannah & Madeline Foundation When someone mentions online-safety risks for children and young people, what do you think of? If you’re like most people, your mind probably goes straight to AI, online bullying, scams and sexual grooming. Those are all real problems,

The final year of school is a marathon, but for many students, the last term feels like a sprint to the finish. Year 12s are juggling SACs, revision, exams, and the pressure to perform. As teachers, you carry the weight of guiding them through it all.

Written by Kerri Pearce, Owner/Director, Hologram Zoo Melbourne Educators have long recognised that children learn best through active, sensory-rich experiences. When students can see, hear, and engage with what they are learning about, their understanding deepens and their curiosity grows. At Hologram Zoo Melbourne, we combine education, fun, and technology

Written by Kery O’Neill, Founder, Director and Head Mythbuster, Active Axons Education We’ve all seen it: the “wall” in schools, separating “academics” from “wellbeing.” It feels natural, a long-standing tradition. But what if this division isn’t just outdated, but actively draining the very lifeblood from our education system? Like so

Written by Kery O’Neill, Founder, Director and Head Mythbuster, Active Axons Education Every year, thousands of eager new teachers step into classrooms with passion, purpose, and determination. Yet, a staggering number—nearly 30-50%—leave the profession within five years. While we often hear about long hours, student behaviour, or administrative burdens, a

Written by John Varvarigos, Chief Operating Officer, Elevate Education Regardless of whether you see AI as the dawn of a new era or the beginning of academic Armageddon, one fact is undeniable: students are already using it, and they’re using it a lot. In Elevate Education’s recent survey of over

As a school leader, I used to find Mondays tough. Even after shaking off the “Scary Sundays”, that creeping feeling that the weekend was ending and the week’s challenges were lining up, Monday mornings often felt like stepping straight into a storm. The emails, the planning, the student needs, the unexpected fires to put out… all before the first coffee had even kicked in.

Written by Meeti Shah, Mindflight7 VR in Education Specialist Five years ago, virtual reality in education was often seen as little more than a novelty—a “carrot” for engagement or a tool for entertainment. Today, the conversation has completely changed. VR is now a powerful tool for differentiation, building student confidence,

Written by Kelly Longworth, VIC School Partnership Manager, Kelly Longworth When I first joined Toolbox Education, what struck me wasn’t just the depth of the psychology, but it was how human it all felt. Yes, we teach mental health skills. But what makes them stick is how we deliver them