Learning Difficulties Australia is an association of teachers and other professionals dedicated to assisting students with learning difficulties through effective teaching practices based on scientific research, both in the classroom and through individualised instruction.
Announcements
The Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties
LDA has been advised by Taylor and Francis, publishers of the AJLD, that they have suspended the printing and distribution of print copies of journals until further notice, due to problems that they are experiencing in printing and distribution as a result of the coronavirus situation. This will affect the distribution of the next issue of the AJLD, due out in early May. However pre-print copies of articles that are due to be published in the May issue of the Journal are now available from the Taylor and Francis website, which can be accessed by members of LDA through their member login. Abstracts of these articles are also available to non-members of LDA. See listing of the latest articles that will appear in the May issue of the AJLD here.
Nominations for LDA Awards are now being accepted
Each year, LDA selects recipients for special awards that recognise those working in the field of learning difficulties. LDA encourages members to nominate outstanding individuals or organisations for these awards. The Awards are explained here. Nominations close on Sunday 31 May.
New Editor of the LDA Bulletin
LDA is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Editor of the LDA Bulletin, Dr Roslyn Neilson, who will be taking over the Editorship of the Bulletin from Issue 1 of 2020. For more information go to the publications page.
LDA COUNCIL 2019-2020
For details on the current Council members, refer to our Governance page.
Update on LDA Publications
The most recent issue of the LDA Bulletin (Volume 51, Nos 2 and 3, Summer 2019) has now been released, and can be downloaded here. The next issue of the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties (Volume 25, No 1, May 2020) is due for release in early May. Members of LDA can access copies of the online version of the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties via their LDA member login here, as well as pre-print copies of the latest articles, and a listing of the contents of each issue of the Journal with links to the abstracts of each article are available here.
Publications Announcement:
LDA publishes the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties. Editor: Dr Tanya Serry. Members of LDA have free access to previous, current and upcoming issues and articles of the Journal, as well as receiving a print copy of each issue in the mail.
Current Issues
Education Council Endorsement
Federal Education Minister The Hon Dan Tehan MP and the Education Council has endorsed the following:
'all undergraduate teaching degrees will have to double the minimum number of literacy subjects from 2 to 4, and there will have to be one subject dedicated to early reading instruction. This subject must include evidence-based practices in the Big Five plus oral language.'
LDA is proud to support the expert panel's findings and commend the Education Council's commitment to improving the reading outcomes of all Australian children. For more information click here and here
Proven Methods of Literacy Instruction for Victorian Government Schools
Reading and writing are essential skills that our children will need throughout their lives and they deserve to be taught using the best evidence-based methods.
Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) and Code Read Dyslexia Network Australia Ltd (Code Read) and Learning Difficulties Australia (LDA) and AUSPELD (inclusive of all State SPELD entities) call upon the Minister for Education, for the sake of our children, to remove programs such as Reading Recovery and Leveled Literacy Intervention from Victorian public schools.You can also click here to read and then to sign the petition.
Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert
Continuing public interest questioning how children learn to read and a review of reading science research, and a look at how the research makes its way into classrooms is the topic of the recently published and acclaimed article written by former LDA President Anne Castles, Kathleen Rastle and Kate Nation.
Recent Publications
NOTE: LDA Members can access complete back issues of these publications and pre-publication Journal articles when logged into the LDA Members Only section, via the latest articles item in the Taylor & Francis main menu.
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Volume 51, Nos 2 & 3, Summer 2019 |
Volume 24, No 2, 2019 |
Subscribe to our monthly LDA e-News |
Current & past issues  |
Past issues |
Professional Learning
Weekly Wednesday Webinars
Learning Difficulties Australia are offering a free webinar series to engage with our membership and the wider educational community in Australia. As the name suggests, each Wednesday we will offer a webinar at 6pm. This is intended to support members’ professional development during the current pandemic and into the future.
Our presenters will be a mix of local and international educators who will present on a range of topics aligned to the aims of LDA. For more information see details on our professional learning page. Recording of previously held webinars can be found on our LDA YouTube channel.
Dr Jan Hasbrouck Tour Postponed
Unfortunately, due to the recent Australian Government travel restrictions imposed to limit the spread of Covid-19, we have had to postpone the Jan Hasbrouck Australian tour. We have already discussed alternative dates with Jan, but we will obviously wait until this situation is at a point that enables us to make decisions before announcing these.
Online Professional Learning and Courses
There are a number of free and low cost online courses that provide evidence-based professional development in the areas of literacy, numeracy and learning difficulties. See our professional development page for more information and links.
Post Graduate Course Information
MOTIf: An assessment resource for researchers and professionals
National Year 1 Phonics Screen
LDA strongly supports this proposed federal initiative as an opportunity for early identification and lifting the performance of struggling beginner readers.
Click here to read more about the Phonics Screen and phonics research resources.
Past LDA Conferences and Seminars
LDA Members can access presentation notes from Past Conferences and Seminars in the Members Area when logged in.