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
Primary Reading Pledge
AUSPELD, Five from Five, and Learning Difficulties Australia have collaborated on an evidence-based framework for schools to dramatically reduce the number of children who finish primary school unable to read proficiently.
In 2020, more than 50,000 students started their secondary studies with low literacy levels. These students are half as likely to complete school as their peers and have serious lifelong educational and social disadvantages.
Primary schools can use the Primary Reading Pledge today to ensure all children can read.
Add your support to the Primary Reading Pledge through social media with the hashtag #primaryreadingpledge and/or email your state or territory education minister.
Update on LDA Publications
The most recent issue of the LDA Bulletin (Volume 52, No 1, June 2020) has now been distributed to members and can also be downloaded here. The latest issue of the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties (Volume 25, No 1, May 2020) has been printed and copies to members should now be in the mail. 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. Non-members of LDA can access abstracts of articles from the current and past issues of the Journal, as well as pre-print articles, here. For further information about LDA Publications go to the publications page.
LDA COUNCIL 2019-2020
For details on the current Council members, refer to our Governance page.
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.
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.
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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The Bulletin
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.
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
Past LDA Conferences and Seminars
LDA Members can access presentation notes from Past Conferences and Seminars in the Members Area when logged in.