Meet the accomplished education experts who will be facilitating two days of insightful, inspiring learning.
Helen’s research addresses the role and importance of quality inclusive literature in the social and emotional and educational wellbeing of the child, with a particular focus on the importance of authentic representations and inclusion of cultural diversity in children’s literature. Helen’s work has a particular focus on promoting socially just and equitable education through the promotion of the publication and use of authentically diverse and inclusive literature as one way to break down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding in society. Her work is published in internationally renowned research journals. Helen has served as a judge for the Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Awards and is frequently called on for expert comment in the media and as a presenter to diverse audiences of educators and academics. She is the author of the EPAA highly commended PETAA text Transforming Practice: Transforming Lives Through Diverse Children's Literature.
Kate Banks is a committed teacher who has worked in both the public and independent sector in Australia. She has a keen interest in developing innovative and dynamic learning experiences, and engaging learners through transdisciplinary inquiry approach to education. Kate has most recently worked the Years 3-6 Co-ordinator and a Year 5 teacher at Korowa Anglican Girls’ School in Melbourne Australia. During her time at Korowa she has worked to ensure her students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as 21st century learners, through programs such as STEM, Mastery and Expedition learning. Kate’s latest action research on Mastery Learning is part of a series of transformational projects documented in a new book ‘The Magic in the Space Beyond’ edited by Ian Wigston.
Lorri has been a primary teacher, school leader and curriculum advisor for more than 30 years in NSW public schools. She has published more than twenty articles in practitioner and academic journals on teaching English in primary schools. Lorri is a co-editor of the text, The Alphabetic principle and beyond… surveying the landscape (PETAA, 2019) and is currently working on her next PETAA book, The Early Reading and Music Partnership, due out end 2023. Lorri currently presents registered courses for PETAA on integrated unit writing, and she supports undergraduate teachers during their practicums and internships in schools. Her PhD research investigated the impact and sustainability of teacher professional learning. Her current research project is a collaboration with a Southern Cross University researcher, Jubilee Smith, on how teaching reading and music together in the early years improves student language acquisition.
Maxine Beneba Clarke is an Australian poet and writer of Afro-Caribbean descent. She is the ABIA and Indie award-winning author of Carrying the World (2016), Foreign Soil (2017) and The Hate Race (2018). She is the author of five books for children, including the CBCA and Boston Globe/Horn Prize award-winning picture book The Patchwork Bike (2016, illustrated by Van T Rudd), and the critically acclaimed Wide Big World (2018, illustrated by Isobel Knowles). Maxine is the author-illustrator of two picture books, Fashionista (2019) and When We Say Black Lives Matter (2020). She also illustrated the picture book 11 Words for Love (2022), written by Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Jon is an experienced teacher, having worked in primary schools, universities and in professional development for teachers. His areas of expertise include primary English and literacy teaching. His research areas include visual literacy, multimodality, the use of ICT to support literacy and multimodal learning, as well as student creativity and engagement. As a professional literacy consultant, he has worked alongside teachers in their classrooms, in Australia and the US. He is passionate about engaging and equitable education for all his students. Jon's key reference text for teachers, The Shape of Text to Come: How Image and Text Work, will be published in an updated and expanded edition by PETAA in 2023.
Dr Helen Cozmescu is Lecturer in Primary Language and Literacy at Melbourne Graduate School of Education. She is an experienced primary teacher and school leader. Her PhD studies, completed in 2021, used constructivist grounded theory methodology and the scholarship of Paulo Freire and Lorenzo Milani to investigate the intersection of critical literacy, Indigenous perspectives and the early years of schooling. Helen has written several teacher reference materials published by PETAA, including teaching units of work based on quality texts. Currently, Helen lectures and co-ordinates subjects in the Master of Teaching and Master of Education programs. She also works within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education partnership with Orbis, providing professional development to teachers in South Australia.
Annie is a dedicated teacher, leader and researcher committed to evidence-based literacy instruction, with a particular interest in writing. Through her experience in developing professional learning programs and guiding teachers across schools, she has gained valuable insights into improving whole school literacy practices. Annie is passionate about bridging the gap between research and the classroom, empowering teachers with practical strategies they can confidently implement.
Melita Godson is a teacher at Cowandilla Primary School. For many years, she was a literacy consultant in the Literacy Secretariat, at the SA Department of Education, supporting teachers to build their literacy teaching capacity in low-socioeconomic schools. Melita has worked with students of all year levels and has a particular interest in working with Aboriginal students. She has been lucky enough to work in remote, rural and metropolitan settings, both as a literacy consultant and teacher. She has a Master of Education in TESOL and a Graduate Certificate in Accelerated Literacy.
Dr Helen Harper is a Senior Lecturer in English, Literacies and Language Education at the University of New England. She has previously worked as a researcher, lecturer and mentor in literacy education, as a linguist in remote Indigenous communities, and as an EAL/D teacher. Helen spent more than two decades in the Northern Territory. Initially she went to study Aboriginal languages, but over time she was drawn more to primary education, and to questions about how schooling can best support children to become effective users of language and literacy. Helen’s current research interests include collaborating with teachers to apply principles of scaffolding language both in the literacy block and across the curriculum. In 2016-2017 she was a co-recipient, with Bronwyn Parkin, of the Primary English Teaching Association of Australia (PETAA) Research Grant.
Dr Bree Hurn has researched the ways in which teachers' knowledge about language impacts their self-efficacy and pedagogical decisions in literacy teaching. She also has a special interest in the potential effects of professional learning for enhancing teacher knowledge and subsequent practice. Bree is an experienced primary teacher, literacy leader and education writer. Bree has been a lecturer in language and literacy at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) for the past 8 years and has worked on various early-years literacy projects for the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, the Department of Education (Victoria), the Department for Education (South Australia), and Brisbane Catholic Education. Bree delivers language and literacy professional learning to teachers and leaders in both the primary and secondary sectors and works with parent groups on creating quality home literacy learning environments. Bree is also the Course Coordinator of the Master of Teaching, Early Childhood and Primary at the University of Melbourne.
Pauline Jones is Associate Professor, Language in Education at the University of Wollongong where she teaches educational linguistics, English curriculum and research methods to preservice and experienced teachers. Her research interests include multimodal literacies, pedagogic discourse and literacy transitions, interests which she brings to collaborations with classroom teachers. Recent publications include Teaching Language in Context 3rd Ed. (Derewianka & Jones; OUP, 2023), Transition and Continuity in School Literacy Development (Jones, Matruglio & Edwards-Groves; Bloomsbury, 2022) and Dialogic Pedagogy: Discourse in Contexts from Pre-school to University (Thwaite, Simpson & Jones; Routledge, 2023). She is also currently president of PETAA.
Alison Lester is one of Australia's most popular and bestselling creators of children's books. She is also an educator. Alison was awarded the inaugural Australian Children's Laureate position in 2011. She has received multiple awards, including multiple CBCA Book of the Year awards, the Dromkeen Medal and the 2018 Melbourne Prize for Literature. She became a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day honours. Alison lives on a farm in the Victorian countryside. She spends part of each year travelling to schools around Australia, helping students and teachers develop their own stories.
Di is a highly experienced education consultant for the Mathematical Association of Victoria who has worked in many State, Catholic and Independent primary schools across Victoria. Her role includes working collaboratively with schools to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics by supporting professional learning communities and developing teachers' capability and aspiration for mathematics learning. In addition, Di has managed several initiatives from the Victorian Department of Education and Training, including the Middle Years Maths Challenges and F – 4 Learning Sequences. Di has completed a Bachelor of Teaching/ Applied Science from Deakin University majoring in Biology and Environmental Science. She then completed a Graduate Diploma, specialising in Literacy and Numeracy Instruction. She is currently completing a master's in educational research, through The University of Melbourne, where her project seeks to explore how a pedagogy of listening illuminates student voice.
Lorraine is the author of the highly successful PETAA publication A Literature Companion for Teachers, which has been significantly expanded in a revised in her brand new edition published March 2023. She is currently Honorary Fellow, School of Education, Australian Catholic University (ACU), Sydney. Lorraine, a former classroom teacher, has taught pre- and postgraduate teachers in Literacy Education, Linguistics, ESL and Literature for Children and Young Adults. She is a regular presenter at international conferences and currently is teaching at ACU and the University of New England, NSW. When not teaching or presenting engaging and innovative workshops and addresses for PETAA, Lorraine indulges in her other love — travelling.
Dr Maria Nicholas is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Deakin University and an Associate Investigator at the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. Maria has an interest in literacy development in the pre-school years and primary years of schooling, specialising in the learning and teaching of reading. Maria's teaching and research interests also include high-ability teaching and learning in primary and secondary school contexts. Prior to working as an academic, Maria was a primary school teacher for 12 years and also worked for the Victorian Department of Education as a School Improvement Partner with a focus on literacy and numeracy.
Sher Rill Ng is a Melbourne-based author and illustrator. She designed and illustrated for software companies before releasing her debut picture book, Our Little Inventor. Her work also includes contributing Thumbelina's illustrations to the anthology Fairytales for Feisty Girls by Susannah McFarlane, illustrating Emma Allen's The Night of the Hiding Moon and co-creating Be Careful, Xiao Xin! with Alice Pung, which was shortlisted in the 2023 Australian Book Designers Awards - Best Designed Children's Book, and the 2023 ABIA awards.
Dr Bronwyn Parkin is an adjunct lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Adelaide and a literacy consultant with a long history of working in the area of literacy with Aboriginal and low socio-economic students. For many years, she was a Literacy project officer in the Literacy Secretariat, SA Department of Education, and has recently retired from the PETAA Board. Along with Dr Helen Harper, she was a recipient of the 2016 PETAA research grant with a project entitled Scaffolding Academic Language with Educationally Marginalised Students. Recent publications for PETAA include Teaching with Intent 1: scaffolding academic language with marginalised students; Teaching with Intent 2: Literature-based literacy teaching and learning (both with Dr Helen Harper); and Teaching the language of climate change science (with Julie Hayes).
Alice Pung is the bestselling author of the memoirs Unpolished Gem and Her Father's Daughter (winner of the 2011 WA Premier's Award) and the essay collection Close to Home, as well as the editor of the anthologies Growing Up Asian in Australia and My First Lesson. Her debut novel Laurinda won the Ethel Turner Prize at the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards and has been adapted into a successful play. Her second novel, One Hundred Days, was shortlisted for the 2022 Miles Franklin Award and has been optioned for a film. She is the author of children's books including Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (ill. Sher Rill Ng), which was a CBCA 2023 Notable book and shortlisted for the ABIA and Australian Book Designers Awards, When Granny Came to Stay (ill. Sally Soweol Han) and the Meet Marly books (ill. Lucia Masciullo). Alice was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to literature in 2022.
As a committed learner herself, Karen is excited to be joining PETAA as Literacy Leader for Victoria. Her passion for enabling agency through literacy has guided her time as a classroom teacher and led her to complement her M.Teach with a M.Ed (Literacy Education) from the University of Melbourne. She has worked in initial teacher education and finds joy in sharing her enthusiasm for literacy teaching with other educators. Karen also holds qualifications in Medical Science from the University of Canberra as well as a M.Info.Sci (Children’s Librarianship) from CSU. She looks forward to supporting teachers to translate quality research and theory into authentic and meaningful classroom learning experiences for all students.
Andrea Rowe is a best-selling award-winning picture book author, freelance writer and nationally awarded writer of short stories, and late night book reader. Her debut picture book Jetty Jumping, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville was awarded the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood. A past radio announcer, and media and PR manager, Andrea’s also freelance magazine writer and a copywriter for Australian not-for-profit organisations and kids clubs communications for organisations like the Royal Flying Doctors, Conservation Volunteers and Junior Rangers. Andrea writes books for children, young adults and grown-ups too. She combines her nostalgic celebration of culture, family diversity, and the environment in our everyday lives with the questions and conversations that draw us together. Andrea believes in the power of stories, of reading out loud and in secret spots surrounded by cushions and stacks of books. She lives on Bunurong Country, in the sand dunes of the Mornington Peninsula, where her writing days are fuelled by a secret stash of Cherry Ripes. Andrea and Hannah have teamed up once again with their next book Sunday Skating released in June 2023.
Johanna Simmons is a Student Achievement Manager in the School Improvement Division in South Western Victoria Region. She was previously an inaugural Master Teacher for English in the Teaching Excellence Program at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership and is a highly skilled English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher. Johanna is a passionate school leader, deeply committed to teaching and learning excellence and with a proven track record in inspiring high-performing teams to achieve. She is committed to both excellence and equity and the motivation behind her work is the desire for all students and communities have access to world-class education. In her previous role, Johanna was a Teaching Partner for schools across the Hume-Moreland area working with teachers and school leaders to enhance teaching and learning.
Stephanie is the Founder and Educational Leadership Coach from Sanctuaries of Learning, which aims to bring back the joy of learning in schools. She collaborates with leaders to reflect on ways we can better support our teachers and co-creates supportive frameworks to meet the unique teachers of teachers and students within schools. She is also a facilitator and Critical Friend of four Instructional Rounds networks, enhancing whole-school pedagogical practices. She is an award-winning classroom teacher, and former Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at a public primary school in NSW, Australia.
Jasmine Seymour is a Dharug woman belonging to the Burubiranggal people. She is a Dharug language teacher, researcher and activist. Jasmine is a registered primary school teacher (BEd) with a Masters degree in Indigenous Languages Education (University of Sydney). She teaches Dharug language at her school and also delivers Dharug lessons in community to adults. Jasmine is the author/illustrator of Baby Business, winner of the CBCA Best New Illustrator Award in 2020, the author of the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Award winning children’s title, Cooee Mittigar, illustrated by Leanne Mulgo Watson and also the author illustrator of Open Your Heart To Country. As a researcher, she is engaged with documenting Dharug language, has collaborated with Grace Karskens on the Real Secret River project and is a co-curator for the Dyarubin exhibition at the State Library of NSW. Jasmine is the secretary of the Da Murrytoola Aboriginal Education Consultancy Group (AECG). She is currently studying a Masters by Research at Western Sydney University.
Jubilee has been a Primary teacher and Initial Teacher Educator for the last 25 years with a passion for literacy, digital technology and teaching English using quality children's literature. Jubilee has taught Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary education students in areas including literacy, English, technologies and Professional Experience in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University for the last 20 years. Jubilee completed her PhD on early childhood educators' use of digital technology in early childhood settings. She has a passion for supporting and developing educators at all levels to use digital technology effectively in their practice to promote children's learning, development and health and wellbeing.
Dr Martina Tassone completed her doctorate in 2020, researching literacy assessment practices of early years teachers in Catholic Schools in the Melbourne archdiocese. Martina presented her research findings at the Australian Literacy Educators Australia (ALEA) conferences and in 2022 gave a keynote for the Primary English Teaching Association annual conference in Sydney. She has worked on key literacy projects with Catholic Education Melbourne and continues supporting Catholic Primary school leadership teams to facilitate change in literacy learning and teaching. Martina is leading system-wide literacy professional learning for early years teachers in Catholic schools in Melbourne and Brisbane. She is engaging in research into how professional learning supports teachers with implementing contextualised literacy learning in the early years. She has also worked with Catholic schools in Wellington, New Zealand, to support literacy learning and teaching. Martina received a Melbourne University Researcher Development Grant and is currently the Chief Investigator on the Edmund Rice Global Classroom Program Project. She currently lectures in language and literacy subjects at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, where she is the Director of Initial Teacher Education.
Tim is a former teacher and school principal. He has also worked as a Project Manager for the Department of Education (Vic), supporting school improvement across a large network of schools. He serves on the Boards of the Australian Alliance of Associations in Education, Ganbina and the Victorian Student Representative Council (as well as being a past PETAA board member). He is passionate about realising a more equitable education system that can meet the needs and realise the aspirations and strengths of all students, no matter their background. He currently leads the Education Equity Alliance, a collaboration of students, teachers and school leaders, to lead both school and system change for equity.