30–31 May 2025 | Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Join a host of national and international speakers over this two-day conference focusing on research, leadership and theory to practice in delivering effective instruction.
MultiLit began in 1995 as a research initiative at the Macquarie University Special Education Centre, led by Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall AM with Dr Robyn Wheldall (Beaman).
In celebration of MultiLit’s 30th anniversary, the inaugural Advancing Effective Education Summit will be hosted on
30–31 May 2025 in Sydney.
The Advancing Effective Education two-day summit will host keynotes from national and international speakers, allow for participation in workshops and panel discussions, and provide insightful presentations on varying topics around effective education, including:
- current research on reading, writing, oral language and numeracy,
- insights from change makers on leading transformation at the system and school level, and
- practitioners sharing their experiences of translating theory to practice.
Day one of the Summit will conclude with a cocktail evening celebrating 30 years of MultiLit.
Pre-summit writing workshop
Hosted by eminent researchers in the field of writing instruction, Regents Professor Emeritus Dr Karen R. Harris and Regents Professor and the Warner Professor Dr Steve Graham of Arizona State University, this half-day writing workshop will be held on Thursday 29 May for a limited audience. Further details below.
Cocktail evening
Delegates and presenters are invited to join us on 30 May as we celebrate 30 years of MultiLit at our cocktail evening at the close of day one of the summit.
Who should attend?
We invite all educators, support staff, school and system leaders, as well as policy-makers passionate about leading change and advancing education through effective instruction grounded in evidence-based practice.
Topics and speakers
Join the discussion and hear from experts in the key areas of research, leadership and implementation of theory to practice about topics ranging from explicit instruction to leading change in schools.
International speakers
Dr Steve Graham
Regents Professor and the Warner Professor in the Division of Leadership and Innovation in Teachers College, Arizona State University (US)
Dr Karen R. Harris
Regents Professor Emeritus and Research Professor, Arizona State University (US)
Dr Jonathan Solity
Director of Optima Psychology and Honorary Lecturer, University College London (UK)
Dr Teresa Cremin
Professor of Education (Literacy) and Co-Director of The Literacy and Social Justice Centre, The Open University (UK)
Local speakers and guests
Dr Alison Madelaine
Andy Russell
Anna Taylor
Chloe Allen
Elissa Baker
Diocese of Lismore (NSW)
Georgie Wynne
The Academy for the Science of Instruction
Dr Greg Ashman
Ballarat Clarendon College (Vic)
Jasmine Deighton
Grace Lutheran Primary School (Qld)
Dr Jennifer Buckingham
Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation
Jennifer White
Catholic Education Tasmania (Tas)
Joanne (Jo) Forrest
Grace Lutheran Primary School (Qld)
Dr Karen Ray
School of Health Sciences
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Karene Janke
Curriculum Teaching and Learning
Queensland Department of Education (Qld)
Ken Lountain
Department of Education South Australia (SA)
Louise O'Donovan
Jilbup Primary School (WA)
Maddy Goto
The Academy for the Science of Instruction
Dr Mark Carter
Dean
The Academy for the Science of Instruction
Senior Research Fellow
MultiLit Research Unit (MRU)
Melanie Henry
Monica Wright
The Academy for the Science of Instruction
Dr Nicola Bell
Patrick Ellis
Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited (NSW/ACT)
Rebecca Birch
Queenwood (NSW)
Tyson Grinham
Lockleys North Primary School (SA)
More to be announced...
Pre-summit writing workshop details
- Date: 29 May 2025
- Time: 9am–1pm, registration opens at 8:30am
- Venue: MultiLit, Level 7, 15 Talavera Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Hosted by eminent researchers in the field of writing instruction, Regents Professor Emeritus Dr Karen R. Harris and Regents Professor and the Warner Professor Dr Steve Graham of Arizona State University.
The workshop will cover:
- Evidence-based practices, including data on Self Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD), in writing across the grade levels and using them in classrooms.
- A focus on how SRSD instruction can be implemented and evidence-based strategies you can teach in your classroom or school.
Celebrating 30 Years
MultiLit has been a leading provider of effective literacy instruction in Australasia since 1995, when it began as a research initiative from Macquarie University. With the support of co-founder and Managing Director Iain Rothwell, MultiLit went on to become a spin-off company of the university, incorporating the MultiLit Research Unit (MRU) into the business to ensure all programs are founded in solid evidence.
MultiLit has come a long way in 30 years, from a founding mission of ensuring every child learns to read, to our new mission, striving to enable effective education instruction to ensure every child learns. Over the past 30 years, we have supported thousands of students in a variety of settings, including schools, our own Literacy Centres and community-based literacy projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. As we move into 2025, over half of Australian primary schools feature a MultiLit program, supporting whole-class instruction and intervention.
Over the next year MultiLit will continue to celebrate this milestone by sharing and commemorating MultiLit moments, past and present.
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
