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35th National Spera Conference Brisbane

National SPERA Conference Brisbane

2-4 October 2019
Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove Campus Brisbane Australia

The 35th National SPERA Conference was proudly hosted by the Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology.

SPERA Conference Full Program

Improving Rural Education: Connectedness, Communities & Collaboration

Subthemes 

  • Building digital connections for rural communities
  • Ensuring rural communities’ well-being
  • Sharing innovations in ‘rural’ collaboration
  • Connecting the global and the rural
  • Community learning and sharing
  • Resourcing an interconnected approach

Guest Speakers
SPERA is thrilled to announce that Tony Cook, Director General of Queensland’s Department of Education has confirmed as a guest speaker of the conference.

Before joining the Queensland Department of Education in April 2018, Tony worked for the Australian public service as the Associate Secretary for Schools and Youth within the Department of Education and Training. Tony previously held several senior executive positions in the Victorian public service, including Deputy Secretary, Government and Corporate with the Department of Premier and Cabinet; Deputy Secretary, Office for Children and Portfolio Coordination; and Deputy Secretary, Office for Planning, Strategy and Coordination within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. He began his career with Education Queensland.

Tony is a registered primary school teacher with a major in early childhood education. He has been a deputy principal and has taught in schools and preschools in Queensland and the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the Queensland University of Technology.

In October 2013 Tony was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council for Education Leaders, and in January 2014, he was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service, especially in driving schools policy and funding reform in Australia.

Program:

2 October:     Emerging Rural Scholars Summit (optional 1st day) 9am to 5pm

Join us in a gathering of international rural education scholars to network, present your work, and receive valuable feedback and advice from experts in the field.  This exciting event will be held on the campus of QUT the day prior to the 2019 SPERA conference and is targeted at postgraduate research students, early career researchers, and scholars new to the field.

Emerging Rural Scholars Summit 2019 FINAL

Application Form – Emerging Rural Scholars Summit

3-4 October:  2019 Spera Conference (2 days)
Thursday 3 October: 8am registration. Program 9am to 5pm followed by cocktail reception
Friday 4 October: Program 9am to 5pm
Conference program to be released 29 August 2019