Learning Difficulties Australia

Representation

To formally represent professionals working with people who experience difficulties with learning.
To improve the status and recognition of the profession and professionals in the field.
To set high standards in the field, by requiring appropriate qualifications, experience and professional practice of all LDA consultants, and by promoting the inclusion of information about learning difficulties in the training of both teachers and allied professionals.

Resources

To produce quality professional development programmes and publications so that all members have access to theoretical advances and well researched teaching strategies in the field of learning difficulties.
To provide an Australia wide referral service staffed by appropriately qualified professionals.
To support research that will advance understanding of theoretical and practical issues in the field of learning disabilities.

Promotion

To promote understanding in the community of the complex nature of learning difficulties and the need for intervention to be carried out by qualified and expert professionals.
To lobby for improved services to students experiencing difficulties with learning.
To liaise with other related associations, thereby promoting co-operation and inter-disciplinary exchange of ideas.
To promote excellence in the field by recognising outstanding contributions through the following awards: The Mona Tobias Award, The Bruce Wicking Award and The Student Award.

LDA offers :

The Mona Tobias Award, in recognition of a person who has made an outstanding contribution to some aspect of Special Education, perhaps leadership, research, practice, teacher and community education
The Bruce Wicking Award (an occasional award) to a teacher or other professional who has made a continuing contribution of an innovative nature in the education of children with special needs.
The Student Award to a tertiary student producing exceptional work in the Learning Difficulties field.