SLANSW Professional Learning Summit
All the Literacies:
Read, Discern, Discover
16 May 2026
Abbotsleigh Senior School, Wahroonga
The first SLANSW Professional Learning Summit of 2026 will be held in face-to-face mode at Abbotsleigh Senior School, Wahroonga, on Saturday May 16, from 9:00 am – 4:00pm. The theme of the Summit is All the Literacies: Read, Discern, Discover. Our keynote speakers are Libby Baker (Reading Australia Fellow 2025), Dr Andrea Salins (Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, ACU ) and Kate Temple (Australian Children's Author). They will be accompanied by a number of talented and inspiring presenters, as well as demonstrations from industry experts.
Our program is also structured to foster networking with like-minded library professionals and industry partners through our Trade Fair. As a SLANSW member you are encouraged take advantage of this great opportunity to build your professional expertise through keynote speakers and workshops which will add over five and half hours professional development.
Details of the full summit program are available here
Featured speakers:
Libby Baker
Libby Baker is a teacher-librarian and literacy consultant working in the ACT. Libby is the Reading Australia Fellow for 2025. In her fellowship, Libby explored diversity in Reading Australia's picture books. Libby has completed a Master's of Education focusing on literacy education and a Master's of Teacher Librarianship through Queensland University of Technology. Libby also completed a Master of Education Research degree through Griffith University, focusing on using Functional Grammar for critical literacy. In her work as aliteracy consultant, Libby has presented on functional grammar at local, state and national events. Libby is currently the ALEA ACT Vice President.
Dr Andrea Salins
Dr Andrea Salins earned her PhD in Cognitive Science from Macquarie University in 2022 before commencing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. She has also taught as a lecturer at Macquarie University and Australian Catholic University, delivering undergraduate courses across cognitive science, psychology, and speech-language pathology.
Dr Salins' research examines how best to support children's language and literacy development. Her work focuses on oral language and reading in both typically developing children and those with hearing difficulties, with the goal of identifying evidence-based supports that enhance learning outcomes. A key focus of Dr. Salins' research is the investigation of mechanisms linking literacy and wellbeing in children and adolescents, including the interplay between reading achievement, anxiety, and engagement.
Through her research, Dr Salins aims to advance understanding of the factors that shape children's learning and wellbeing, and to contribute practical insights for educators, clinicians, and policymakers seeking to support diverse learners.
Kate Temple
Kate Temple is an internationally awarded children’s author of over 40 books for children. She is the co-author of the best-selling Bin Chicken series and CBCA honour book That Bird Has Arms. Her book Room on Our Rock has been translated into over 20 languages and was recently selected in The Guardian’s Top Ten Best Australian Picture Books and was the recipient of the prestigious Charlotte Huck Award. Kate also writes her own series of dark fantasy chapter books called The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat.
Kate holds an MBA as well as a PhD in organisation theory and is particularly interested in how children respond to an increasingly organised and commercialised world. Kate's academic work has been published in international journals and she has written for The Herald and Guardian. Kate speaks to thousands of children each year at festivals and school visits and is passionate about fostering a love of reading and an appetite for critical thinking in children.
Workshops and Presentations
Dr Stephanie Smith (Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House)
Picture Perfect Literacy: Using Narrative texts to Build Media Savvy Citizens
Dr Jane Garner (Charles Sturt University)
Working with Vulnerability in Library Spaces: Insights from High-Need Contexts
Dr Mathieu O’Neill and Andrew Ross (University of Canberra)
Co-designing media and information literacy methods to effectively counter misinformation
Gabrielle Mace (ProReading Solutions)
Building Critical Literacy Through Authentic Inquiry
Katherine Garner (Queanbeyan South Public School)
Helping students find their spark book
Vicki Courtenay & Andrea O’Driscoll (Trinity Grammar)
Re-evaluating reading culture
Plus
Hands on activities with:
SCIS, Wheelers Books, Informit and QBD Books
*Tips for Registering
Details of the full summit program are available here
We are excited to offer some workshops and presentations twice during the Summit. Your feedback has indicated that this option would be appreciated to allow greater access and choice for participants.
Concurrent Workshops 3 - 6 will be repeated as Concurrent Workshops 11 - 14.
The following are direct repeats:
Dr Stephanie Smith (K-6) Workshops 3 and 11
Dr Jane Garner (K-12) Presentations 5 and 13
The following shifts focus and participants may wish to attend both, or the one most relevant to their context:
Dr Mathieu O'Neil and Andrew Ross -
Stage 3 (Presentation 4)
Stage 5 (Presentation 12)
The following are two separate workshops and participants may like to select the one most relevant to their context:
Gabrielle Mace -
7-12 (Workshop 6)
K-6 (Workshop 12)
Demonstrations 7 - 10
Participants are asked to select any two (2) of the four (4) demonstrations on offer:
7. Ceinwen Jones (SCIS)
8. Charlotte Newton (Wheelers Books)
9. Jessica Darnell (Informit)
10. Elizabeth Kull (QBD Books)
Details of the full summit program are available here
Please note SLANSW's Cancellation and Refund Policy for Professional Learning Events when registering for this conference
Suggested NESA Standards addressed by this Summit for Teacher participants
2.5.2 Apply knowledge and understanding of effective teaching strategies to support students’ literacy and numeracy achievement.
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