In a recent blog post, Melissa Close and Professor Linda Graham from C4IE challenge the Australian Senate Inquiry’s push for a ‘Behaviour Curriculum’ aimed at reducing classroom disruptions. They argue that this recommendation overly simplifies the complex nature of student behaviour, particularly overlooking the needs of specific students, such as those with ADHD, by not accounting for the diverse factors influencing behaviour. Instead, Close and Graham advocate for the adoption of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), proposing a more holistic educational approach. In their piece, they sugges ..read more

In their response to the recent Senate inquiry into challenging student behaviour in Australian schools, Glenda McGregor and Martin Mills highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing these issues. They acknowledge that schools are workplaces where safety should be a priority, but they also point out that the recommendations of the inquiry, particularly those focusing on initial teacher education (ITE) and classroom management, miss the mark. McGregor and Mills argue that the inquiry’s emphasis on ‘explicit instruction’ and traditional classroom structures overlooks the complex ..read more

By Professor Linda Graham On the 13th of December 2023, the Centre for Inclusive Education will be launching the second edition of the best-selling book, Inclusive Education for the 21st Century. I have been asked many times by owners of the first edition whether there is much of a difference between this edition and the last, and there is. While all chapters have been updated, there are 11 new chapters in this edition, either because some have been completely rewritten (e.g., legislation, Social Emotional Learning, etc) or because we have included new chapters to cover additional topics (e.g ..read more

A lack of commitment to ending the binary education system of mainstream and special schooling has once again been justified by the argument of parental choice. Two alternate recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission regarding the future of special schools leave parents, still, bearing the weight of deciding between two unacceptable schooling options for their children with disability. The vision and ethical leadership that are required to move Australia beyond an educational status quo continue to elude us.  In this post, Dr Glenys Mann revisits her 2022 blog on parental ch ..read more

Congratulations to Professor Linda Graham for her significant contribution to a recent article in The Guardian titled ‘Neurodivergent kids ‘dumped’ from mainstream education amid debate over special schools‘. In the piece, Professor Graham highlighted the injustices faced by students with disabilities in mainstream schools. This publication follows a divided final report from the Disability Royal Commission on whether segregated education should be discontinued. The post Neurodivergent kids ‘dumped’ from mainstream education amid debate over special schools appeared first on The Centre for Inc ..read more

Schools across Australia are facing one of the biggest threats to adolescents’ long-term health: vaping. In this blog Professor Marilyn Campbell explores why vapes are so problematic, and what can be done to support both students and school leaders in an era that requires innovative approaches to health messaging.  E-cigarettes, often called “vapes” look like metal pens, watches, or USBs. They are battery-powered to heat the cartridge of liquids inserted into them, turning the liquid into vapour which is inhaled. Vapes come in various appealing flavours such as watermelon, strawberry and ..read more

In this podcast, Marianne Power, host of the podcast Classroom 5.0 The future of learning interviews Professor Suzanne Carrington who talks about inclusive education and the power of transformative leadership. Listen and read about this podcast episode here.    The post How to become a better, kinder leader appeared first on The Centre for Inclusive Education ..read more

QUT researcher, former secondary teacher and Head of English, Julie Arnold, is reviewing assessment learning practices with a recent study published in Review of Education. Studying her PhD at QUT, she is also a part of the Australian Research Council’s Linkage research project, Improving outcomes through accessible assessment and inclusive practice, overseen by leading education academics Professor Linda Graham and Associate Professor Jill Willis. Ms Arnold (pictured below) said the new exam system has brought about a “washback effect”, with teachers under pressure to make sure thei ..read more

  C4IE Position Statement on the Dual System of Regular and Special Schools The Centre for Inclusive Education (C4IE) is founded on an understanding that Inclusive Education is a fundamental human right that enables all other rights. The Centre exists to produce research that will reduce exclusion and increase inclusion to provide all children and young people with equitable opportunities to learn and develop as independent and valued human beings. Researchers from C4IE put forward this position paper in response to the ongoing government practice of promoting inclusive education yet con ..read more

The Centre for Inclusive Education (C4IE) is founded on an understanding that Inclusive Education is a fundamental human right that enables all other rights. The Centre exists to produce research that will reduce exclusion and increase inclusion to provide all children and young people with equitable opportunities to learn and develop as independent and valued human beings. Researchers from C4IE put forward this position paper in response to the ongoing government practice of promoting inclusive education yet continuing to resource segregated special schools for students with disability. C4IE ..read more