Candidates for election to the PETAA Board of Directors 2024

The PETAA Annual General Meeting will take place remotely via Zoom at 5:00pm (AEST) on Thursday 30 May 2024.

Voting procedure in 2024

Three PETAA Board directors are to be elected by digital voting, in a locked and confidential ballot, via invitation and confirmation emails sent to financial members of PETAA.

All members who remain subscribed to PETAA emails and are eligible to vote have the opportunity to vote digitally — following the link to a ballot in an invitation email, then responding to confirm that vote — from when voting opens on Sunday 5 May until the close of digital voting at 4pm AEST on Tuesday 28 May 2024.

Register to attend the 2024 PETAA AGM

Helen Adam (WA)

Associate Professor Helen Adam is a senior lecturer, course coordinator and researcher at Edith Cowan University. Her 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, and she is the author of Transforming Practice: Transforming Lives Through Diverse Children’s Literature, the EPAA highly-commended PETAA text.  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.

Amanda Barton (QLD)

Amanda Barton has 27 years of experience as an educator and is currently Deputy Principal of a primary school in Queensland. Previously, she has led the improvement of literacy practices across a region, and led a middle schooling initiative to improve student transition and literacy levels. She has a breadth of experience in schools across QLD, including regional, remote and urban communities, and has worked with students from various backgrounds, including First Nations, EAL/D, out of home care, trauma backgrounds, and students with disabilities. Amanda has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors board training (2019) and has served on Parents and Citizens Association committees. 

Lachlann Carter (QLD)

Lachlann Carter is a former primary school teacher and co-founder of 100 Story Building, a not-for-profit creative learning organisation that supported the development of literacy skills through evidence-based storytelling programs that drew on professional practice. He was CEO of the organisation for 10 years. In his time with 100 Story Building, he worked with hundreds of primary schools, thousands of teachers and over 40,000 students in programs that ranged from one-off creative writing workshops to multiyear, multi-school partnerships. He has worked in partnership with schools in Melbourne, and more recently in Cairns. He is also a children’s author, and has a forthcoming series for 7-10 year olds and picture book series for younger children, both published by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing. He is a founding board member. He was a founding board member of Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC). He is a General Committee Member of Foundation for Literacy & Learning and Vice President of the Whitfield State School Parents and Citizens Association.

Rachael Hill (QLD)

Rachael Hill is an Education Officer: Literacy with Brisbane Catholic Education and supports over 60 primary schools. She has been a primary school teacher of 35 years with a Bachelor of Education (Primary). In addition, she has teacher librarian qualifications (Grad Dip Teach TL), and for 10 years, she combined the teacher librarian role with Curriculum Leadership roles as a leader of learning in a large primary school. Currently, Rachael supports leadership teams and curriculum leaders in their school contexts, a member of a multidisciplinary team who work together to support schools from both an education and wellbeing perspective. This work led to a nomination for the Excellence in Teaching Awards and receiving the BCE Highly Commended in Leading Excellence in Learning and Teaching in Schools Award in 2018.