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SLANSW Professional Learning Summit - All the Literacies: Read, Discern, Discover
Kate Temple – Author
Rose Tinted Reading Glasses - the politics of nostalgia and the
changing young reader
From nostalgic classics to the fabulous new books of today, there’s never been more choice. But kids have changed and so have their reading habits, what’s working and what’s not? Join Kate for a critical dive into the politics of nostalgia, the challenges of publishing for today’s young reader and the bright opportunities to ignite the love of reading.
Presenter Bio
Kate Temple is an internationally awarded children’s author of over 40 books for children. 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. 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 commercialized world.
Registrations open at https://www.slansw.net.au/events
Libby Baker – Reading Australia Fellow 2025
Everybody’s Story: Investigating Character Diversity in Reading
Australia’s Picture Books
This keynote will focus on Libby's project as the 2025 Reading Australia Fellow. The project investigated the diversity of main characters in Reading Australia’s Picture Book collection. Libby’s analysis investigated how picture books in this collection provide for diverse classrooms, in terms of culture, gender, age and ability.
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. In her work as a literacy consultant, Libby has presented on functional grammar at local, state and national events. Libby is currently the ALEA ACT Vice President.
Dr Andrea Salins (Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, ACU)
Psychosocial Factors of Reading Achievement and Reading Engagement
Reading ability is generally expected to develop through repeated practice and regular engagement with text. Yet for many primary school children, reading is not only a cognitive challenge but also an emotional one. This talk explores the relationship between reading anxiety, reading frequency, and reading ability in primary school students.
Dr Andrea Salins earned her PhD in Cognitive Science from Macquarie University in 2022 before commencing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Dr Salins' research examines how best to support children's language and literacy development. 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.
Professor Mathieu O’Neil and Associate Professor Andrew Ross (University of Canberra)
Co-designing media and information literacy methods to
effectively counter misinformation
Since 2022 University of Canberra researchers have been developing with teacher-librarians methods to teach information discernment and verification skills which are effective in an attention economy. This presentation is the final stage in the 2025-2026 SLANSW co-design process. After (a) preliminary work with a SLANSW Committee and (b) an initial consultation with SLANSW members regarding Stage 3 and Stage 5 differences during the 28 April 2026 ‘Beyond the Checklist’ Online Meet-Up, in these sessions we will (c) seek further SLANSW membership feedback about our new website’s functionality and about how to best build the lesson plan structure.
Presenter Bios
Mathieu is a Professor of Communication in the University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre and Honorary Associate Professor of Sociology at the Australian National University. A specialist in the digital commons and information diffusion, he co-founded the Virtual Observatory for the Study of Online Networks (VOSON). His research has been supported by the Australian Research Council and the Ford Foundation.
Andrew is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra whose research focuses on critical discourse analysis and media literacy in school contexts.
Dr Jane Garner (Charles Sturt University)
Working with Vulnerability in Library Spaces: Insights from
High-Need Contexts
Libraries are increasingly engaging with individuals experiencing complex and often hidden forms of vulnerability. This presentation draws on research into how people experiencing vulnerability engage with library spaces. It explores what makes libraries accessible, meaningful, and safe for individuals who may be distrustful of institutions, reluctant to seek help, or navigating multiple forms of disadvantage. Key themes include trust, autonomy, low-barrier access, and the relational nature of library work.
Dr Jane Garner is an Associate Professor and Social Science researcher with the School of Information & Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia. She researches the roles of reading, libraries and information in closed, restricted and vulnerable communities, including people living in prisons and people experiencing homelessness and other forms of poverty and disadvantage. Jane is also interested in the impact of user behaviours on the wellbeing of library workers.
Dr Stephanie Smith (Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House)
Picture Perfect Literacy: Using Narrative texts to Build Media Savvy Citizens
This session is designed to provide teachers with creative and practical solutions for developing their students’ critical thinking skills through the exploration of a high-quality, curated selection of picture and chapter books. Participants will explore rich learning experiences including ready-to-use resources developed by the MoADEducation team providing tangible tools and creative approaches to deliver content, deepen student engagement, and nurture the next generation of media-savvy, civically engaged young people.
Dr Stephanie Smith is the Head of Learning and Museum Experience at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD). In her current role, Stephanie leads delivery of online experiences, outreach programs and teacher professional development. She is committed to fostering an innovative approach to education for all, regardless of age.
Gabrielle Mace (ProReadingSolutions)
Building Critical Literacy Through Authentic Inquiry
This workshop explores how inquiry-based learning frameworks, specifically Barbara Stripling's Model of Inquiry and Guided Inquiry Design (GID) can transform literacy instruction from passive reading to active investigation. Participants will engage in a mini-inquiry experience, analysing a set of conflicting evidence to practice reading, discovering, and discerning.
Gabrielle Mace is an independent literacy consultant, former Head of Library, and co-founder of The Detective Experience. Gabrielle specialises in immersive learning experiences designed to reach reluctant readers, including the 'Just Read' programme. A global speaker and thought leader in literacy innovation, Gabrielle is passionate about helping school libraries evolve into dynamic centers of student-driven inquiry and literacy transformation.
Vicki Courtenay & Andrea O’Driscoll (Trinity Grammar)
Re-evaluating reading culture
This workshop will share the process that Trinity Grammar School's Senior School Library followed to assess and improve our whole school reading culture. Using Merga's 7 strategies for positive reading culture as categories to group and evaluate existing strategies, and determine and address gaps. We will share our process, our challenges and our successes, and what we learned along the way.
Vicki and Andrea are both Teacher Librarians at Trinity Grammar School with a passion for encouraging reading in the teenage years. They have worked together for 8 years, over which time they have been instrumental in reviewing, creating and promoting strategies for a positive whole school reading culture. 2026 marks their third review, with their original meeting with Dr Margaret Merga occurring in 2018.
Katherine Garner (Queanbeyan South Public School)
Helping students find their spark book
Participants will explore strategies to help students discover books that spark their interest and foster a love of reading. Drawing on practical examples from Katherine's experience, the session will cover ways to match students with texts, encourage exploration, and build reading confidence. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to engage students and personalise their reading journeys.
Katherine successfully completed her Master of Education in Teacher Librarianship at Charles Sturt University in 2018. Katherine demonstrates a strong passion for promoting literacy and fostering a love of reading within her school community. She is known for her enthusiasm when discussing books, and her commitment to enhancing students’ engagement with literature reflects this.
✨ Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and literary inspiration at the SLANSW Awards Celebration 2026!
Celebrating: SLANSW Award Recipients for 2026 and welcoming acclaimed author, literary historian, and lecturer Susannah Fullerton, who will share stories from her latest book—promising an evening that is both entertaining and enlightening.
Friday, 15 May 2026 6:00pm arrival | 6:30pm commencement The Greengate Hotel, Killara NSW $45 per person
https://slansw.net.au/event-6597471
️ Spaces are limited—be sure to register and submit payment by Friday, 1 May 2026 to secure your place.
We look forward to welcoming members, guests, and the wider community for a truly inspiring night of recognition and celebration.
#SLANSW26 #AwardsNight #LibraryCommunity #LiteraryEvents #ProfessionalCommunity
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