Summit Blog

In today’s educational landscape, fostering a culture of wellbeing is paramount. A holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools involves not only educators and students but extends to the entire school community.

Written by Peter Buckingham, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Spectrum Analysis Australia What data is available for your school that you can use to create a fact-based Strategic Plan? Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census Data Every five years the ABS runs a Census. The most recent Census was conducted

The challenges facing the teacher workforce are intensifying, with factors such as workload, recognition, and classroom conditions impacting teacher wellbeing and, consequently, retention within the profession. To address these issues, St Joseph’s College Toowoomba has implemented strategic Staff Development and Engagement Plans over the past two years.

I’ve always believed that the most meaningful educational programs often have a spark of creativity – the kind that lights up students’ eyes and makes learning feel less like work and more like an exciting discovery. In 2020, I first came across reading-to-dog programs. These initiatives pair struggling readers with a human volunteer and dog team, offering a calm, reassuring space to practice reading aloud.

Let’s talk about flourishing. It’s not just about doing well personally but thriving collectively, too. For educators, this means finding ways to thrive amidst the daily challenges of teaching, leading, and balancing life. Professor Tyler VanderWeele from Harvard University gives us a pretty inspiring take on flourishing. He says it’s “a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are good”—basically, complete well-being.

The topic of well-being is currently very common in the education sector along with other industries. There is a popular push for employers to look after their employees by providing well-being strategies. Education authorities are developing well-being frameworks, promoting their efforts to look after their employees.

Leadership in any context is both a privilege and a responsibility. Picture this: you’re stepping into a school where things have been a bit of a mess—staff morale is low and parents don’t trust the system anymore. Your first instinct might be to dive in and fix everything, but hold up! What if the real power move is to pause, listen, and genuinely connect with the people who make up this community?

There’s an awful lot more discussion and insight into neurodiversity these days, with diagnosis methods evolving beyond the standard criteria that’s been used for far too long. As a result, more people are now disagnosed, or have a neurodivergent family member, student, peer, or colleague. So, understanding what neurodivergent really means, how it differs from person to person, and how individuals can be helped and accommodated in social settings to feel properly included is steadily growing.

As a school leader, I know firsthand how heavy the load can feel as the term progresses. The start of the term may feel fresh, but it’s often the best time to reflect and prepare for the challenges ahead. This very thought inspired my research question: “Who is Caring for the Carers?”

In today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, the integration of technology into teaching and learning is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Our approach is rooted in a shared vision, deliberate strategies, and a strong culture of collaboration, all aimed at using technology to support authentic teaching and learning experiences.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that over 90% of children with disabilities attend mainstream schools across the country. This statistic initially surprised me, even though I was part of that very group during my time as a student.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the journey from classroom teacher to educational leader requires more than just theoretical knowledge—it demands practical skills, real-world application, and a supportive professional network. This reality stands at the heart of an innovative professional development stream at the upcoming National Education Summit, designed specifically

In Australia, the journey from school to work can be fraught with challenges, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Socioeconomic barriers, cultural disconnection, and historical disadvantages often hinder their opportunities for meaningful employment and career development.

Educators have increasingly noticed a significant drop in student engagement between Years 7 and 9, often referred to as the “big dip”. A study of NSW Department of Education, which tracked nearly 8,000 students, revealed a notable drop in motivation and engagement during these year levels.

‘A blueprint for classroom management – authentic techniques you can implement immediately’ is a workshop led by Ash Curmi, an experienced teacher and mentor with 11 years in the field. Ash will be presenting in the Knowledge Centre at the National Education Summit in Brisbane 2025.

Another National Education Summit Melbourne pencilled into the books. For those who spend much of their time attending education spaces, this one always holds the potential to be a good one. Participants get the sense of being a part of the community, not just amid a stream of vendors selling their wares. A real sense of shared camaraderie permeates the lofty roofed spaces.

Preventing failure – sounds a negative way of looking at things, but in reality it’s anything but negative! It’s something we all need to be aware of in our schools, but it’s also a huge challenge for busy teachers with many different needs to address in their classes.

Whilst working with a student for many years as a withdrawal teacher for behaviour support, his teachers kept asking me to provide them with strategies and to work with him to make better choices. They seemed to think he was conniving, manipulative and purposefully choosing to lie in order to get out of being in trouble or facing consequences.

In today’s interconnected world, the ability to communicate in multiple languages is more valuable than ever. As educators, we recognize the importance of equipping our students with skills that extend beyond the traditional curriculum, fostering a global mindset from an early age.

In the online world, algorithms are having an increasingly pervasive and persuasive influence on our daily decision-making, ranging from the music we listen to, to which political party we are going to vote for. The recent influx of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT has further expanded the reach and impact of algorithms in our lives.

My school does not have the latest and greatest robots, so how can I teach the Digital Technologies curriculum? Great news! Digital Technologies can often be taught just as effectively without the need for $5000 worth of robots by utilising a combination of unplugged and plugged activities.

As educators, we’re all too familiar with the daily challenges of managing a classroom full of diverse learners. Whether you’re in Brisbane or Auckland, the struggle to create an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and engaged is universal.

Financial literacy is a crucial life skill, and it’s declining. Several leading educators want it included in the curriculum, with some states and schools having done so. For those yet to, this cheat sheet will help explain how financial literacy can be taught and where it fits in the curriculum.

Written by The Stand-Up Project The Stand-Up Project is a comprehensive training program designed for primary and secondary school students, teachers and families. It addresses how young people experience and respond to poor behaviours. The program is unique because it is peer-led and prioritises student leadership, agency and voice. The

Teaching Aussie kids it’s okay to fall short – and sometimes failure can even be fun – is the centrepiece of an innovative new program aimed at building confidence in the classroom. Authors Adam Wallace and Ingrid Laguna have teamed up for the school incursion which has been swamped by

In 2016, based on our joint passion for indigenous culture, we formed Didgeridoo Australia to share  and inspire others. We wanted to promote a clearer understanding of First Nations cultures within Australia, to raise the profile of this cultural treasure that is often overlooked in Australian society.

Introducing the world of coding to 5-10 year olds can be daunting, confusing and overwhelming, yet even our youngest students are capable of understanding coding if we provide it in the right context. Many teachers overlook this age group, believing they lack the capabilities to understand code, its use and how to write, edit and debug it effectively.

In the fast-changing world of education, keeping up isn’t just a goal—it’s a must. The National Education Summit Brisbane is a great opportunity for educators looking to stay on top of these changes. Taking place on Friday 2 – Saturday 3 August at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, this event is packed with insights, resources, and networking chances that can help educators transform their approach.

The Australian education landscape is rapidly evolving, and educators everywhere are seeking innovative ways to prepare students for the future. At the forefront of this movement is the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, with a particular emphasis on robotics and coding.

Last year Beyond the Classroom Australia launched a new program – Dare To Be A Rockstar Teacher taking the well-being sector of education by storm with this bespoke program.