From Marsden Park to the latest SBP conferences across Australia
In 2019, I had the privilege of attending one of the inaugural Sharing Best Practice (SBP) events held at Marsden Park Public School. With our school being about 40km away and the event scheduled during the school holidays, generating local interest was a challenge. Despite this, one of my most inspiring colleagues, a seasoned educator with over 25 years of experience, was enthusiastic about joining me.
“Making Best Practice Common Practice”
-Dinham et al.You can’t ask for a better mission statement for schools!
The event was a revelation. For just $50 a ticket, we enjoyed a full day of top-notch professional learning. Experts like Kathryn Thorburn from Language & Learning, Alison Clarke from Spelfabet, and Lisa Watts from Sounds Write shared ground-breaking insights into the Science of Reading. It was also my first opportunity to hear the esteemed Dr. Lorraine Hammond speak in person. The experience felt like an educational gift leaving me eagerly anticipating the next opportunity to engage with SBP.
Last year, SBP announced a phenomenal lineup of over 17 conferences across the country. Determined not to miss out, I took time of teaching to focus on my small business and justify attending some of the NSW events. I set up a small stand showcasing my product, bursting with pride as I introduced my kits to attendees and said “I created these kits, but SPELD NSW sells them.”
SBP, a grassroots organisation led by passionate educators like Jeanette Breen, Lorraine Hammond, Dr. Catherine Scott, Tracey King, and Troy Verey, boasts a roster of speakers with unparalleled credibility. Past presenters include Dr. Pamela Snow, Lyn Stone, Prof. John Sweller, Bruno Reddy, Dr. Nathaniel Swain, Dr. Jennifer Buckingham, Veronica Alexander, Reid Smith, and Prof. Anne Castles. With such esteemed voices contributing to the discourse, the value of these conferences to education is immeasurable.
The SBP website has been updated, revealing that there are more conferences this year. Notably, one will be returning to Marsden Park on September 21st, and another will be held in Newcastle on November 18th. I’m excited to attend these events and continue my journey with Sharing Best Practice. If you are passionate about advancing your educational practice and connecting with like-minded professionals, I highly recommend you seize the opportunity to attend these inspiring conferences!
2024
17 & 18 Jan: Gold Coast
20 Jan: Toowoomba
17 Feb: High Country
24 Feb: Geelong (Secondary)
2 March: Parramatta
16 March: Central Coast
23 March Windsor
27 April: Port Fairy
27 April: Wagga Wagga
4 May: Illawarra
23 June: Gladstone
29 June: Gippsland
27 July: Adelaide
21 Sept: Sydney
28 Sept: Brisbane
12 Oct: Ballarat
18 Nov: Newcastle
