Webinars and Events

with Jessica Lonard, Head of Library and Information Services, St Patrick’s College Strathfield

Wednesday, 10th June 2026, 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm AEST, Brisbane, QLD

Non-member registration is $45.00 for this live webinar. 

At a time when student anxiety is rising and academic pressure feels constant, the school library has become something more than a place for study. It is a purposeful space for wellbeing. This session explores how today’s libraries go beyond supporting learning to become places where students feel safe, welcome and genuinely valued.

Drawing on real-world school examples, we’ll look at how libraries create a sense of belonging for a wide range of students. From flexible seating and quiet corners to vibrant makerspaces and lunchtime clubs, the physical and social design of the library helps students regulate, connect and recharge. We’ll also reflect on the important role teacher librarians play in providing informal support, curating inclusive collections and balancing energy.

Rather than treating wellbeing as an add-on, this session positions it as embedded practice. When we intentionally design programs, spaces and relationships, the library becomes a steady presence in a busy school: a place where students can find connection, creativity and confidence.

Outcomes for attendees:

• Recognise how library activities can act as intentional wellbeing supports.
• Assess current programs through a belonging and inclusion lens.
• Design inclusive, low-barrier clubs that engage diverse learners.
• Align library programming with whole-school wellbeing priorities.

Jessica is a Teacher Librarian and Digital Learning Specialist with over 18 years of experience in secondary education. She creates programs that help students build on what they know while encouraging them to explore new ideas using research and information skills. She is passionate about getting students into reading and sharing my love of books. Jessica is also interested in AI and its applications in education, exploring how it can enhance learning and teaching. Beyond the library, she runs webinars and workshops on educational technology and teacher librarianship, sharing tips and strategies with other educators.

For all States and Territories:
This webinar will provide self-identified professional development addressing the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Proficient level:
3.3 – Use teaching strategies
3.4 – Select and use resources
6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice
6.4 – Apply professional learning and improve student learning

Please check the time in your time zone at Event Time Announcer

[Subscribed members, please log in to register for this event. Your membership subscription includes access to this webinar.]

with Virginia Hand, Secondary Teacher Librarian, Shellharbour Anglican College

Wednesday, 17th June 2026, 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm AEST, Brisbane, QLD

Non-member registration is $45.00 for this live webinar. 

As senior students transition to greater independence, many struggle with the academic research skills required for success in Year 12, tertiary study, and vocational pathways. This professional development session presents an evidence-informed model for explicitly teaching academic research processes through a structured, scaffolded program embedded within the school curriculum.

Drawing on information literacy frameworks (Association of College & Research Libraries, 2021), metacognitive theory (Zimmerman, 2020), and recent studies on student autonomy and self-regulated learning (Bai et al., 2023; Broadbent & Poon, 2022), this session outlines a multi-module program that supports students to develop inquiry skills, critically evaluate sources, integrate evidence ethically, and reflect on their learning processes. Particular attention is given to teaching students how to locate and identify peer-reviewed journal articles, evaluate credibility in digital environments, and apply research skills across subject areas.

The session will demonstrate how teacher librarians can lead whole-school approaches to academic rigor, support curriculum goals, and advocate for the library as a centre for research skill development. Participants will explore practical examples, implementation strategies, and alignment with senior secondary assessment requirements, ensuring students are equipped for independent, evidence-based learning.

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Design and implement a structured research skills program to support independent senior learners.
• Teach students how to locate, evaluate, and use peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Embed information literacy and metacognitive strategies into curriculum and assessment tasks.
• Advocate for the role of the teacher librarian in developing academic rigor and research capability.

With over 30 years of experience in Australia and Hong Kong, Virginia is a Teacher Librarian and educator passionate about literacy, information literacy, AI, and research-based, project-based learning through guided inquiry. She loves putting books into the hands of readers, fostering critical thinking, and designing dynamic learning experiences that blend academic rigor with creativity and collaboration. She is committed to putting principles into practice and learning something new every day in her roles at Shellharbour Anglican College.

As a presenter, Virginia has shared her expertise across Asia and Australia, engaging educators in innovative approaches to literacy, inquiry, and emerging technologies. As a Sessional Lecturer for the Master of Teacher Librarianship at Charles Sturt University, she guides future educators in evidence-based practice. I am also deeply committed to connecting and networking with future-focused educators, sharing strategies for student-centered learning, and exploring how technology can support meaningful, inquiry-driven education

For all States and Territories:
This webinar will provide self-identified professional development addressing the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Proficient level:
3.2 – Plan, structure and sequence learning programs.
3.3 – Use teaching strategies
3.4 – Select and use resources
6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice
6.4 – Apply professional learning and improve student learning

Please check the time in your time zone at Event Time Announcer

[Subscribed members, please log in to register for this event. Your membership subscription includes access to this webinar.]

with Fiona Philip, Head of Library and Learning Services, Anglican Church Grammar School

Monday, 22nd of June 2026, 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm AEST, Brisbane, QLD [Note the day on which this webinar is scheduled.] 

Non-member registration is $45.00 for this live webinar. 

As AI reshapes how information is created, shared, and trusted, the need for critical information literacy has never been greater. This session examines the pivotal role of teacher librarians in helping schools navigate a world of AI slop, misinformation, and disinformation. Participants will explore practical strategies for teaching lateral reading, source verification, and critical AI literacy—skills that empower students to question, evaluate, and create information responsibly. Together we’ll consider how the foundations of truth, credibility, and authorship are under pressure—and what it means to prepare students for informed participation in an AI-mediated world.

Outcomes for attendees:

• Strategies and resources for programming information and media literacy sessions.
• Scaffolds for rethinking how we guide students in research when using AI.
• A deeper understanding of how AI is changing information networks.

Fiona is an educational leader with a Master of Education in Teacher Librarianship and over 15 years of experience driving innovation in teaching, learning, and educational technology. Her professional philosophy is centred on providing students with opportunities to grow and develop as critical thinkers and lifelong learners through evidence-based strategies that are responsive to the ever-changing educational environment. With the library situated firmly in the centre of learning and pedagogy in the school, she has played an instrumental role in delivering key school core values, particularly in literacy, generative AI, and academic integrity.

For all States and Territories:
This webinar will provide self-identified professional development addressing the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Proficient level:
3.3 – Use teaching strategies
3.4 – Select and use resources
6.2 – Engage in professional learning and improve practice
6.4 – Apply professional learning and improve student learning

Please check the time in your time zone at Event Time Announcer

[Subscribed members, please log in to register for this event. Your membership subscription includes access to this webinar.]