Behaviour and Diverse Learning Symposium | May 4 & 5 2026

About this event

Join us for this two-day event bringing together leaders from across the Catholic education sector in NSW to examine evidence-informed strategies that strengthen student wellbeing, behaviour and diverse learning.

DAY 1: Monday, 4 May

TOPICS: A focused forum exploring the key issues shaping safe, respectful and cohesive school communities, including anti-bullying, antisemitism, social cohesion, and school safety and security.

AUDIENCE: Designed for Diocesan Directors, System Leaders, Wellbeing Leaders, Heads of Counselling, Safeguarding Leads and Principals.

FORMAT: The programme will feature Emeritus Professor Donna Cross OAM, Peter Moroney from Nemesis Consultancy Group and other distinguished keynote speakers, alongside diocesan and school case studies, panel discussions, and structured table conversations with dedicated Q&A time.

DAY 2: Tuesday, 5 May

TOPICS: Exploring contemporary approaches to consent and respectful relationships education, diverse learning, countering violent extremism (CVE) and school safety, and mental health and pastoral care.

AUDIENCE: Designed for school and diocesan leadership, diverse learning specialists, wellbeing staff, counsellors, pastoral support teams and Principals.

FORMAT: The programme includes keynote addresses from Tom Bennett (UK) OBE and Dr Mark Williams recently featured on 60 Minutes, and four dedicated workshop streams for CRRE, CVE, Diverse Learning and Mental Health.

Event Programme Now Live

Keynote Speakers 

Emeritus Professor Donna Cross OAM is a globally recognised expert in bullying prevention who has led major anti-bullying initiatives. Her work focuses on evidence-based strategies to reduce bullying and improve the mental health and social-emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents.

Professor Cross was appointed in 2022 to guide a statewide approach to anti-bullying in NSW schools.

"This Framework is designed to support schools with high quality evidence to identify where they should focus their efforts and resources to reduce bullying behaviour, and to stop doing what the research tells us is ineffective."

Peter Moroney served 18 years with the NSW Police Force, including 10 years in the Terrorism Investigations Squad. As a Senior Investigator on Operation Pendennis (NSW)—one of Australia’s largest terrorism investigations and criminal trials—they contributed to complex national security investigations and the development of counter-terrorism capability within policing.

Peter designed and developed the NSW Police Counter Terrorism Investigations Course and helped develop terrorism indicators for frontline policing. His work has also included risk assessments and emergency reviews for government and education organisations, as well as contributions to operational reviews of major incidents including the Lindt Café siege (under legal privilege).

Peter is now Director of Investigations and Risk at Nemesis Consultancy Group.

Tom Bennett OBE, is a former teacher from London’s East End and a leading voice in behaviour management and evidence-informed teaching. He is the founder of researchED, an international teacher-led movement promoting research literacy in education. Tom has authored several books, including the bestselling Running the Room. He has served as Behaviour Advisor to the UK Department for Education and leads the Behaviour Hubs program supporting schools across England. In 2022 he was awarded an OBE for services to education. 

Dr Mark Williams has an extensive academic background in brain research and teaching. He is a professor of cognitive neuroscience, with over 25 years experience conducting behavioural and brain imaging research focusing on our social skills. Mark has received numerous awards for his teaching and research. He has taught the fundamentals of neuroscience to a wide range of students, as well as publishing more than 70 scientific articles and worked at MIT in the USA and multiple universities in Australia. He recently featured in a segment on 60 Minutes on the impact of technology on children and adolescent’s brains. Brain scans of teenagers spending 6 to 8 hours a day on devices are showing the same deterioration patterns previously seen only in elderly Alzheimer's patients. Watch HERE.

Dr Shiralee Poed is an Associate Professor within the School of Education at the University of Queensland. Her career spans more than 30 years, and includes working as a teacher and leader in Australian state, Catholic and independent primary, secondary and special schools. She was awarded the 2023 International Positive Behaviour Leadership Award for her extensive leadership of Positive Behaviour for Learning in Australia, and internationally.
 

"This was a highly valuable event that providing critical research findings and suggested best-practice for maintaining student safety. The discussions with other diocesan colleagues was invaluable for the continuous improvement of our system".
                                                            2025 Participant

UNIQUE FEATURE OF CSNSW PL

A unique feature of CSNSW PL is that post-event, we do the hard work for you: we find the research and resources mentioned, we locate any media articles, embed videos and websites, we even try to find the best price on any books that presenters recommend! 

It is all presented in an accessible and engaging interactive format, which is easy for you to share with your colleagues to have those important learning conversations post-conference. 

2025 Classroom and School Behaviour Management

Designed for Early Career Teachers and those looking to enhance their professional practice, this engaging interactive event offered expert-led workshops on consent education, respectful relationships, school safety, and mental health, providing practical strategies to address key behavioural challenges. 

It allowed participants to gain valuable insights, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with actionable tools to create positive change in their school communities.

2025 System Approaches for Behaviour Management: with Tom Bennett

This day for gave system, school and wellbeing leaders an opportunity to participate in discussions on policies and procedures in order to shape and maintain positive, safe and respectful learning environments. 

It allowed participants to gain valuable insights, participate in interactive discussions, and leave with actionable tools to create positive change in their school communities.

All Catholic staff can access resources from these symposium and other Past Events on the CSNSW PL Platform using their NETiD log-in. 

Once you have registered for these great days on 4 & 5 May, what else will you be joining your Catholic Learning Community for in 2026?