A note about the conference dates
QTiP25 is being held during the July school holidays. This is the first time we have scheduled this event during school holidays.
We recognise teachers need time to rejuvenate from a long school term and plan for the term ahead. But we’ve also heard from teachers and school leaders that it’s difficult to take time away from classes. This is especially true since the teacher shortage has worsened and for those from schools in regional areas or wishing to attend QTiP from interstate.
We hope this change makes it easier for many of you to attend and we are open to hearing your feedback.
Recognising the profound impact that teachers have
The theme for the 2025 Quality Teaching in Practice conference is QTiP25: The Power of Pedagogy, recognising and celebrating the profound influence that teaching has on students’ lives.
At its heart, pedagogy is the art and science of teaching; it’s about fostering meaningful learning experiences that inspire, engage, and challenge students to reach their full potential. QTiP25: The Power of Pedagogy celebrates the exceptional work teachers are already doing in classrooms, emphasising that high quality teaching is the cornerstone of student achievement.
Quality teaching has the power to transform not just individual classrooms, but entire communities. By focusing on evidence-based practices, QTiP25 highlights the critical role of teachers in shaping the future. It acknowledges that when educators are empowered with the right tools, strategies and support, they can significantly enhance student outcomes, opening doors to greater opportunities in life.
By celebrating the power of pedagogy, QTiP25 aims to inspire educators to continue their commitment to excellence, knowing that that the work they do makes a difference.
Keynote
Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University
President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute
Linda Darling-Hammond is the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University and founding president of the Learning Policy Institute, created to provide high-quality research for policies that enable equitable and empowering education for each and every child. At Stanford she founded the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and served as faculty sponsor for the Stanford Teacher Education Program, which she helped to redesign.
Keynote
Experienced educator
Author of Understanding by Design
Jay McTighe brings a wealth of experience developed during a rich and varied career in education. He served as director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium, a state collaboration of school districts working together to develop and share formative performance assessments. Prior to this position, Jay was involved with school improvement projects at the Maryland State Department of Education where he helped lead Maryland’s standards-based reforms, including the development of performance-based statewide assessments. He also directed the development of the Instructional Framework, a multimedia database on teaching.
Laureate Professor, School of Education University of Newcastle
Director of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre, University of Newcastle
Laureate Professor Jenny Gore AM began her career in education as a secondary physical education teacher in South Australia. Since 1992, Jenny has been awarded 102 grants for a total of more than $34 million in research funding. Her educational and research interests have consistently centred on quality and equity, and have ranged across topics such as teacher socialisation, alternative pedagogy, power relations in teaching, reform in teacher education, pedagogical reform, and teacher development. Her career to date has been dedicated to improving the quality of teaching by empowering teachers to enrich student learning.
Head Teacher Secondary Studies, Concord High School
NSW Teachers Federation Representative
Alice Leung is currently Head Teacher Secondary Studies at Concord High School where she leads whole school technology, STEM, high potential and gifted education, whole school assessment, data analysis, academic coaching and the school library. Alice has taught at Aurora College, a virtual academically selective school for rural and remote students, held various statewide curriculum support roles with the NSW Department of Education in future focused learning, STEM and curriculum implementation. She has also been Head Teacher Science at Merrylands High School and relieving Head Teacher Science and Head Teacher Student Welfare at Auburn Girls High School.
Founder and Director of thatswhatsnext
Leading expert on AI in education
Steve is a creative innovator in STEM education, educational leadership, change management, and leading teacher professional development. He brings bring a wealth of knowledge in initiating and leading new STEM projects in a collaborative and consultative manner, with a particular focus on delivering high quality STEM educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Emeritus Professor, Wollotuka Institute University of Newcastle
Indigenous education trailblazer
Emeritus Professor Doctor John Lester, a respected Wonnarua Elder, has over 40 years operative and managerial leadership in Indigenous education and training covering school, TAFE and University which is well supported with diploma, a degree, Masters in Educational Administration and national award-winning Doctorate, Why do Aboriginal kids switch off school?
Director, Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, University of Newcastle
Global Innovation Chair of Equity, University of Newcastle
Professor Penny Jane Burke is Global Innovation Chair of Equity and is Director of the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education at the University of Newcastle, NSW. As recipient of the prestigious UK Higher Education Academy’s National Teaching Fellowship award in 2008, Penny Jane has been deeply committed to the development of high quality educational opportunities for students from under-represented backgrounds through research, practice and professional development and she has been keynote and invited speaker at numerous high profile events across the globe. Penny Jane is a member of the Australian Commonwealth Department of Education and Training Equity Research and Innovation Panel.
Senior Lecturer, School of Education University of Newcastle
Deputy Director of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre, University of Newcastle
Dr Drew Miller is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and the Deputy Director of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre. He has extensive experience in collaborative design and leadership of rigorous evaluation of educational interventions, having developed and led multiple large-scale RCTs and longitudinal evaluations, as well as bespoke program evaluations for and with research partners. Drew has also led national reviews, sits on several national advisory groups, and has been a visiting academic at four international institutions. He is currently leading the Centre’s $4.3m Thriving Schools project.
President, Australian Primary Principals Association
Angela Falkenberg is an experienced school and community leader whose personal leadership commitment is to support students, educators, and families to have skills of resilience and optimism and for leaders to be and lead well.
President, Australian Primary Secondary Principals Association
Andy Mison is the President of the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association; the peak body working for the professional interests of Australian secondary principals and the advancement of the school communities they lead.
Senior Lecturer, School of Education University of New England
Dr Sally Larsen is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the School of Education at the University of New England. She has previously worked as a secondary English and French teacher, research project manager, and researcher in a government agency. Sally’s research is in the area of reading and maths development across primary and early secondary school in Australia. She investigates patterns of growth and change in reading and maths in these middle years of school, and predictors of longitudinal development in these skills.
Share your story at QTiP25
A key feature of the QTiP conference each year are our school story presentations. Attendees tell us how much they value hearing firsthand the experiences of other teachers and schools, implementing and evaluating QT in their own unique contexts.
We’re interested in hearing presentation ideas about any aspect of working with the QT Model in your school. This can include QTR, using QT in assessment practice, program design, or other innovative ways of engaging with the Model.
If you are interested in presenting at QTiP25, click the button below to submit your details.
Your contribution will help enrich the dialogue around evidence-based practice and its impact on teaching and learning.
Sponsor prospectus
Thank you to our sponsors
Getting to QTiP25
Key information
- QTiP25: The Power of Pedagogy will be held on Tuesday 8 – Wednesday 9 July 2025 at NUspace, the University of Newcastle.
- NUspace is located on the corner of King St and Auckland St, Newcastle NSW 2300
- It is located near the Civic light rail stop, which travels along Hunter St from Newcastle Beach to the Newcastle Interchange Train Station.
- Information on the best off street parking options can be found on the City of Newcastle website. Civic West, Gibson St is closest to the venue, and The Store connects with both train, bus and light rail services.
- Information on flying in and out of Newcastle, and transport services connecting the airport and the city can be found on the Newcastle Airport website.
If you have any questions about attending QTiP25, get in touch: [email protected]
