R U OK? Day is a national day of action that reminds Australians to check in with others and ask ‘are you OK?’ In this special episode, Teacher editor Jo Earp is joined by Dr Hannah Brown to talk about some of the signs that it might be time to have the conversation, how to prepare and the 4 simple steps of ask, listen, encourage action and check in. They also discuss some of the support services and resources available.

In a 3-part series for Teacher, the leadership team at Warriapendi Primary School in Perth are sharing how they have built staff instructional capacity to improve student outcomes in literacy. In this second article, they discuss what they’ve implemented so far to support instructional capacity, and how they keep momentum.

How are you engaging students in STEM subjects and empowering them to choose a career in STEM? These are the aims of the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge, and the 2025 winners have been announced today. Find out more in today’s article. 

Staff and students at Adelaide Botanic High School have been using EdChat, a generative AI tool developed by the South Australia Department for Education, since 2023. In today’s article, principal Sarah Chambers shares examples of how the tool is being used by students to support learning, and by staff to reduce workload. 

Dr Fatemeh Aminpour – Research Fellow at the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW – joins Teacher editor Jo Earp to explore how you can go about making small, thoughtful changes to playgrounds and outdoor spaces informed by student feedback and research to improve the experience for all children.

‘Staff are integrating AI into their practice in ways that align with their readiness, confidence, and classroom context.’ In today’s article, Georgie Facci from Scotch College Junior School, Adelaide, shares how the school is embedding AI into the teaching and learning across the curriculum, and how staff are building their confidence and capabilities to foster a culture of empowered experimentation.

Conversations about children’s online safety are fixated on the most visible harms. The Alannah & Madeline Foundation uses the 4cs framework (Content, Contact, Conduct and Compulsion) to explain why this approach will never achieve lasting results.  

‘… research published in recent months has shown how students’ dispositions to learning are shaped by us, and how these dispositions in turn influence achievement.’ In his latest Teacher column, Professor Martin Westwell – Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Education – discusses the maths gender gap.

‘The challenge facing many primary educators is not whether music education matters, but how to deliver quality music programs when they lack the specialised training, resources, or confidence to teach music effectively.’ Find out more about the Fun Music Company’s teacher-friendly, curriculum-aligned programs making quality music education accessible to every primary classroom.

Transitioning to formal schooling, and from primary to secondary school, is a big change for students. New research shines a light on the impact of student absenteeism during these transition years, and recommends primary and secondary schools work together to support attendance. We’re joined by the study’s lead author to find out more.