Expertise

In his new book, From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset, educational leader and author Brad Gaynor explores the growing pressures on school leaders and the toll these demands can take on wellbeing. In this extract for Teacher readers, Gaynor draws on his own lived experience of burnout to unpack the warning signs and share why naming it gave him the first foothold toward recovery.

St Theresa’s Primary School Albion in Melbourne’s west is strengthening science learning through a knowledge-rich curriculum focused on Australia’s Great Southern Reef. In today’s article Literacy Leader Jackie O'Connor-Croydon shares more about the P-6 program that integrates field experiences, expert-led learning and sequenced content, to deepen students’ scientific understanding. 

We’re well and truly into the new school year here in Australia. In today’s Teacher Staffroom podcast, we run you through the highlights from this month, including our round-up of some key events happening throughout the school year to help you with lesson planning, and an article that shares 4 design principles to help turn classrooms into spaces that support and celebrate student learning.

In early childhood settings, educators often navigate a familiar tension: how to honour children’s play as the foundation of learning while ensuring curriculum expectations are met? In today’s article, early childhood educators Helen Bartlett and Lauren Bastion explain how they built a curriculum-tracking platform that analyses children’s learning stories and generates visual curriculum insights.

In today’s article, Professor Jacqueline Ullman from Western Sydney University explores the importance of school-based connection for gender and sexuality diverse students, why teachers’ responses to homo/transphobic attitudes are paramount, and shares details of a new micro-credential she co-designed to support teachers seeking to create gender and sexuality diversity-inclusive school cultures.

The 2026 recipient of the Global Teacher Prize has been announced – Rouble Nagi from India took out the top prize. One Australian teacher was a top 10 finalist this year – Colleen O’Rourke from the Hills Cristian Community School in Adelaide, South Australia. Teacher caught up with her shortly after she was named a finalist to find out about the work she’s been recognised for. 

In his new Teacher column, Professor Martin Westwell – Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Education – shares findings from a major systematic review of persistence and academic resilience across K-12 education. He highlights how persistence and resilience are not fixed personality traits but rather a part of the learning process, shaped by task design, classroom conditions, and how teachers respond when students struggle.

In today’s episode Dominique Russell speaks with the 2 recipients of the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching – Paula Taylor from the ACT and Matt Dodds from NSW. They share the lesson activities that are a hit in their science classrooms, the teachers that had an impact on them, and how they’re sharing their knowledge with other educators. 

‘When educators understand how stress affects the brain and nervous system, they gain practical ways to support learning, behaviour and wellbeing – for students and themselves.’ From 13-15 March, the Holistic Life Foundation will host its Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Certification in Melbourne. The 3-day professional learning experience is designed specifically for teachers, school leaders and system-level decision makers.

A pioneering educator and acclaimed artist from India who has transformed neglected walls into hundreds of vibrant, open-air learning centres has won the $1 million 2026 Global Teacher Prize. Rouble Nagi creates large-scale, interactive educational murals teaching literacy, numeracy, science, hygiene, history, environmental awareness, and social responsibility.