2009 Consult and Collaborate Conference
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre18-19 September 2009The Biennial 2009 Joint Conference for Learning Difficulties, hosted by the combined associations SPELD (Association for Specific Learning Difficulties, Queensland), RSTAQ (Remedial and Support Teachers Association of Queensland) and LDA (Learning Difficulties Australia) will take place on 18-19 September 2009. This conference will be held at the premium location of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, Brisbane, Australia.
In past years, up to 300 attendees ranging from academics, classroom practitioners and parents have attended these conferences. A 'hands on' approach which is supported by keynote speakers has proven successful. The conference keynote speakers are Professor Maggie Snowling (Director of the Centre for Reading and Learning, University of York) and Professor Charles Hulme (Department of Psychology, University of York). There will also be a special presentation by Sir Jim Rose, the leading British educationalist who has undertaken a number of reviews of education in the UK, including the 2006 independent review of the teaching of early reading. Sir Jim Roses visit to Australia is being funded by LDA.
For 2009, the theme for the conference will be 'Consult and Collaborate'. The conference will consist of both formal presentations and a series of interactive workshops. Topics will cover theory and practice in the following areas:
How is consultation and collaboration facilitated between stakeholders
What frameworks are in place to ensure effective systems
Reporting to parents
The role of consultation in planning student programs
Creating collaborative environments for professionals and students
Consultation and collaboration to improve literacy/numeracy outcomes
Further details of the conference are now available on the Queensland SPELD website, at
www.speld.org.au/?q=node/37, where copies of the Conference Program and the Conference Registration Form can be downloaded.