2025 K-12 Curriculum Reform Conference | 29 & 30 September

About this event

Enlivening hearts and minds!

Catholic Schools NSW will bring together experts in education, curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and Catholic mission to build on the success of the past two years in continuing to support and inform diocesan school systems and schools in the implementation of the NSW curriculum reform.

The 2025 conference will pick up on the key themes of bringing to life the educational mission of the Catholic Church through the NSW Curriculum Reform. We can't wait to see you all soon!

The theme, Enlivening hearts and minds aims to explore the educational mission of the Catholic church through the delivery of the NSW Curriculum Reform that is centred on the learner, with hope-filled orientation that is future-focused.

Key Areas will include: 

• Delivery of the NSW Curriculum Reform
• Development of new syllabuses
• Place of Liberal Arts in Catholic education
• Assessment
• Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning 

FULL PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE

The full conference programme offers inspiring keynote speakers, engaging workshops and masterclasses, and importantly opportunities to connect with leaders in the field and your colleagues from around NSW.

Participants will be beautifully guided over the 2 days by Libby Denny, who will create a space for us to share and reflect as we continue to "journey together" in curriculum reform. 
 

 

Your conference experience also includes:

• A professional networking hour overlooking the pristine NRL Grand Final-ready sports field,
• An exclusive behind-the-scenes stadium tour, featuring areas normally reserved for athletes and VIPs, including the players’ changing rooms, warm-up zones, and the famous signature wall,
• Easy access to precinct highlights, including the Sydney Aquatic Centre, Cathy Freeman Park and Art in the Park. Plus the venue is 6 minutes from DFO Homebush and 15 minutes to Westfield Parramatta for post-conference activities!

Reinvent the Classroom Podcast

In this special episode of the Reinvent the Classroom Podcast, Monica O’Brien and Mary Ryan explore the upcoming 2025 K-12 Curriculum Reform Conference with Brett Salakas.

LISTEN HERE

 

 

Last years conference was sold-out!

Register now to secure your place to join YOUR Catholic community at this distinctly Catholic PL!

REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE NOW

Once you have your tickets, you will save on accommodation...

Discounted Hotel Accommodation

Accor is offering our wonderful conference delegates a 10%* discount when booking the following hotels in the Olympic Precinct a short stroll to the conference venue:

• Ibis Sydney Olympic Park
• Novotel Sydney Olympic Park 

• Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park 

  To book CLICK HERE

Please note: This conference is specifically for Catholic educators in NSW. For any enquiries contact professionallearning@csnsw.catholic.edu.au. 

Meet your MC:

Libby Denny

Libby Denny has served Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Sydney for over 40 years as teacher, middle leader in Pastoral Care/Wellbeing and Curriculum, Assistant Principal and Principal. Libby’s previous roles include Regional Consultant for Sydney Catholic Schools, Manager and Director of System Performance. 

Libby currently serves on a number of boards and committees including Director of Marist Schools Australia, Member of the Governing Council for Good Samaritan Education and Deputy Chair of the Board of OLMC Parramatta. Libby also works as a Principal mentor and has recently completed qualifications in Professional and Pastoral Supervision. Libby provides pastoral supervision and accompaniment for senior leaders in ministry including diocesan and PJP school communities. 

Keynote Speakers:

We are thrilled to showcase the following speakers for the conference!

 

Professor Renee Köhler-Ryan
Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Academic Registrar - University of Notre Dame Australia
and, 
Director of the Institute for Ethics and Society

Renee holds her PhD in Philosophy from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Her research interests and publications are in the thought of St. Augustine and contemporary Catholic theology. She has been involved in Catholic Education, including training and forming teachers and leaders for over 12 years. She has served as a board member of Mary Aikenhead Education Ministries and a non-bishop voting member of the Synod.

She has published Companions in the Between: Augustine, Desmond, and their Communities of Love, and has a published article on Edith Stein, with a forthcoming book on Stein's Essays on Woman. (2026).   Professor Köhler-Ryan also designed the Graduate Certificate in Catholic Thought for the formation of teachers who want to teach Studies in Catholic Thought.

 

Dr. Ben Jensen
CEO - Learning First
Ben has advised governments in Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia on education strategy and reform. Before founding Learning First in 2014, he was director of the Grattan Institute’s School Education Program. He also worked with numerous education systems across the world during five years at the OECD, where he conducted research on education policy and school and teacher effectiveness.

Ben has a particular interest in the "learning of the curriculum" through the quality delivery and assessment of the curriculum. 
 

Paul Cahill
Executive Director, Curriculum Reform, NESA

Paul Cahill is the Executive Director of the Curriculum Reform division at the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). Paul has worked at NESA for five years and over the past eighteen months has been leading Curriculum Reform, the biggest overhaul of the education system in more than 30 years. Before his time at NESA Paul was Head of Secondary Curriculum at Sydney Catholic Schools.

Christine Jackson
Principal Researcher,  AERO

Christine Jackson leads the School Writing Instruction Framework (SWIF) research project at AERO. Her work includes the reports "Writing Development: What Does a Decade of NAPLAN Data Reveal?",  ‘Which skills are important for future literacy and numeracy’ and the recently released suite of SWIF writing resources.

Christine began her career as a secondary English teacher in central west New South Wales, later teaching both internationally and in Sydney. She has also held a research role at the Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education at Australian Catholic University, contributing to projects focused on writing instruction and the role of NAPLAN in shaping policy, school practices, and community understanding. 

Professor Jim Tognolini
Professor and Director, Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment (CEMA), University of Sydney. 

In his current position at the University of Sydney he has developed modules on Assessment Literacy and Data Literacy which are designed to maximise the quality of the information and use of evidence by teachers and leaders across education systems. He also advised the Assessment Committee of the University of Sydney on measuring graduate qualities for the purpose of monitoring and reporting on graduate performance at the time of exit.  

From 2006 to 2016 he was Senior Vice President (Research and Assessment) at Pearson and for the last 2 years of that appointment he was the Distinguished Research Scientist for the Pearson Assessment Centre.

From 2009 to 2013 Jim was in residence as a Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment during part of each year and has been an active participant in the workshop program of the Centre. 

He has extensive experience in liaising with representatives at all levels of government and educational organisations within Australia and overseas on assessment, standards and particularly the use of measurement information in informing system level planning; monitoring of standards; and, utilising data for improving school level teaching and learning.

Professor Miriam Tanti
Associate Dean, Academic Partnerships, La Trobe University

Professor Miriam Tanti is an education leader and drives innovation in teacher education and school-based practice. With over 25 years of experience integrating technology in education, she is committed to transforming learning, systems and societies to better empower individuals to develop the key human capabilities that matter most now and into the future.

Her current research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, cognition, and human-centered pedagogy, with a focus on developing ethical and evidence-informed AI policies and practice for schools. Professor Tanti collaborates with industry leaders including Cisco and Optus, advises edtech companies, and contributes to national and international thought leadership as a member of the Oxford University AI in Education community and the AI Advisory Board for Independent Schools Victoria.

Lee Barrett
Prompt Engineer and AI Advocacy Project Officer, CEnet

Lee is an experienced educator and advocate for innovative teaching practices, specialising in the integration of AI in education. As the Prompt Engineer and AI Advocacy Project Officer at CEnet, Lee has played a key role in leading the rollout of the cechat tool, working in close collaboration with educators and technology designers to enhance both classroom and organisational practices.

With a Master’s in Educational Leadership and over two decades of global teaching experience, Lee has shared her expertise at national conferences including the SMH Schools Summit, the Catholic Schools NSW AI Symposium, and as a panelist at EduTECH to name a few. She has travelled across multiple jurisdictions in Australia to engage directly with teachers, school leaders, and system executives, supporting them in navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.

Passionate about fostering student engagement and supporting teacher success, Lee combines deep expertise in literacy and AI-driven learning with a strong commitment to professional growth and ethical innovation. And yes, Lee absolutely used AI to help her write this bio!

Dr Simon Crook
Director of CrookED Science, Honorary Associate, The University of Sydney School of Physics and Series Consultant, Cambridge

For the past 10 years with CrookED Science, a science education consultancy, Simon has worked with K-12 science teachers and students across NSW, including running PL for all of the current Stage 6 science syllabuses and planning PL for the new ones. He has been assisting NESA regarding the new Science and Physics syllabuses.

Simon is a regular commentator on science syllabuses and education with nearly 40 journal articles, and is a reviewer for 4 international STEM education journals. Previously, Simon was a high school science teacher for 15 years and Adviser in Sydney Catholic Schools for 7 years. Simon is on the Branch Executive and is a Fellow of ACEL NSW and an Honorary Fellow of Teachers’ Guild NSW

What does a CSNSW Curriculum Conference look like?

Thanks for a great conference. I had leaders, and teachers who all gained valuable insights.  
2024 Attendee

Last September, over 400 teachers and education leaders from across the state gathered for an energising two-days at the Animating the Curriculum for Human Flourishing K-12 Curriculum Reform Conference. The conference included: 

• International keynote speaker Fr Johnny Go who posed the questions: How can we teach reasoned assent to help our students become thinking believers or at least spiritual seekers, & not just obedient believers?
• Keynote Professor Jenny Gore who shared the findings and impact of the Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools project.
• Over 22 sessions, with presenters from NESA and our own colleagues from our Catholic Education Offices and schools from across NSW, sharing practice, resources, case studies and next steps in Curriculum reform in our Catholic schools.

A really positive and dynamic conference. Thank you for the thought provoking and challenging conversations! 
2024 Attendee

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CSNSW THANKS OUR SPONSORS

PLANNING AHEAD

We have chosen a venue that is conveniently located close to a range of transport options plus ample parking.

Arriving by Train 

Accor Stadium is easily accessible on the Sydney Trains network. The closest train station to Accor Stadium is Olympic Park, which is just a short 5-minute walk from the station.

You can catch a train from Lidcombe Station direct to Olympic Park, with services operating every 10 to 20 minutes. This makes it a convenient and eco-friendly travel option.

Arriving by Bus

Accor Stadium is easily accessible by bus, with Sydney Buses operating a number of services to Sydney Olympic Park including:

• Route 525 runs between Parramatta and Strathfield via Sydney Olympic Park.
• Route 526 runs from Rhodes to Burwood via Sydney Olympic Park Ferry Wharf
• Route 533 runs from Sydney Olympic Park to Chatswood via Rhodes and North Ryde

Parking at Stadium

The conference venue is adjacent to a large parking station, so there is ample parking for those wanting to drive.