Libraries supporting and resourcing the new English Curriculum
Join Alyson Simpson, Alex Wharton, Edwina West, Tania Moriarty and Karen Seeneevassen for a panel presentation on the important role Teacher Librarians and School Libraries can play in supporting the introduction of the new English Syllabus. Our experienced panelists will bring different perspectives and approaches and outline ways school libraries can become a vital resource, particularly in the support of students reading for challenge, interest and enjoyment.
About Alyson Simpson
Alyson Simpson is Professor of Education specialising in English and Literacy Education working with pre-service teachers in Undergraduate and Graduate-entry programs at the University of Sydney. She started her career as a teacher librarian and is still passionately committed to encouraging children and teachers to read quality literature. She advocates for children’s engagement with reading through KOALA, the CBCA and IBBY.
About Alex Wharton
Alex Wharton is a K-12 English Teacher in rural NSW. He is celebrated for Award-winning programs around cultures of wide reading in schools and regularly presents at local, state and national conferences. Alex has been a literary judge for Red Room Poetry, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, and is the Co-Convenor for the 2025 Children's Book Council of Australia's Book of the Year Awards. He is an education resource writer, authoring research and practice papers for Reading Australia, National Literacy and Numeracy Week and many publishers and publications. He is a PhD candidate at Western Sydney University in the topic of Media Literacy @whartonag
About Edwina West
Edwina West is an English Teacher from Oakhill College in Castle Hill, Sydney. She has a great personal interest in the benefits of reading, not only academically but also personally and socially. This has been the inspiration for her Reading Australia Fellowship research which centres around Aliteracy - the worrying and growing trend of actively choosing not to read. Edwina has investigated how Australian literature can help to combat Aliteracy, focusing on what teachers can do about this persistent issue.
Edwina has been the Coordinator of Student and Staff Development where she was responsible for developing professional learning experiences for teaching staff and for providing enrichment experiences for students with high academic potential. Previously, Edwina also held the role of Assistant Leader of Learning (English) at Brigidine College in Randwick, as well as English and HSIE teaching roles in NSW public schools. After a year of parental leave in 2022, Edwina has moved back into the classroom full-time in 2023 where continues to foster a love of reading in her students.
About Tania Moriarty
Tania Moriarty started working as a teacher librarian in public primary schools around Western Sydney in 2000. Over the course of the last 20 years, she has worked in both primary and secondary schools, across public and private systems. Over 10 years working at Abbotsleigh School provided Tania with a unique perspective on girls’ education. For the last 4 years, Tania has been a teacher librarian at Oakhill College at Castle Hill, an independent Catholic Boys school that moves to co-educational for the senior years. At the beginning of this, Tania took up the position of Academic Head of Library of Oakhill College.
About Karen Seeneevassen
Karen Seeneevassen is a Teacher Librarian, current President of SLANSW and Head of Library and Information Services at Abbotsleigh Senior School. She has worked in the field of Librarianship for over 40 years. Karen has worked in many sectors, including Public Libraries, Private and Government Special Libraries, and Library Software companies, prior to completing her education degree in 2007. Since that time, Karen has worked in the Independent School sector in K-12 settings. She also has a Master of Education in Gifted Education, which she believes is a connected and companion field to Teacher Librarianship.
Karen has been an active member of SLANSW since 2018, previously holding the position of Vice President, Professional Learning for four years. She is passionate about supporting and collaborating with colleagues through mentorship programs and by providing professional learning and networking opportunities that promote the sharing of experience and expertise.
Suggested Standards addressed by this Online Meet-up
2.1.2 Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
6.2.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
6.3.2 Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice.
7.4.2 Participate in professional and community networks and forums to broaden knowledge and improve practice.
Certificate of participation available via request to: info@slansw.net.au
About SLANSW Online Meet-Ups
The one-hour meet-ups take place in SLANSW's Zoom Conference Room and include a presentation from a guest speaker, with facilitated discussion between participants. We aim to include Q&A time as a wrap-up of each online meetup.
A maximum of 100 places are available for each meet-up, so get your registrations in ASAP.
Participation in SLANSW online meet-ups is at no cost to members. Non-members may access the meet-ups for $45 per session.
The one-hour meet-up takes place in SLANSW's Zoom conference room.
Those who register for this event will receive an email within 24 hours before the event, with details to access this online session.