Conferences

2024 National Conference for Regional, Rural and Remote Education

We are excited to announce the Call for Submission and Registration for the 2024 National Conference for Regional, Rural and Remote Education (NCRRRE) is now open! The Conference theme “Growth Through Equity” aims to highlight strength-based models for regional, rural and remote education, whereby education providers recognise and partner with the rich knowledge, experiences, skills […]

2021 SPERA Conference

National Conference for Regional, Rural and Remote Education: Informing a creative tomorrow, Barossa Valley April 2021 The NCRRE will bring together teachers, principals, university professional and academic staff, educational leaders, equity and widening participation practitioners, all community owned Regional Universities Centres and their boards, government departments, policy makers, not-for-profit organisations and anyone interested in RRR […]

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 […]

34th National SPERA Conference, Perth

29 – 30 November 2018 Access for All: Equity Matters SPERA, in partnership with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education based at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia held the 34th National SPERA Conference. Subthemes based on Halsey’s 2018 Independent Review on Rural, Regional and Remote Education: Global Directives [OECD & UN SDG4] Asset […]

33rd National SPERA Conference

(includes Rural Educators Day) 27- 29 September 2017 Rethinking Rurality: Writing the Rural into Policy and Practice CLICK HERE TO REGISTER SPERA, in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Mathematics at the University of Canberra, invites you to join us for the 33rd National SPERA Conference. Hosted by University of Canberra, the […]

33rd National SPERA Conference, Canberra

27- 29 September 2017 Rethinking Rurality: Writing the Rural into Policy and Practice CLICK HERE TO REGISTER SPERA, in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Mathematics at the University of Canberra, invites you to join us for the 33rd National SPERA Conference. Hosted by University of Canberra, the 2017 conference will bring together […]

32nd National SPERA Conference and 4th International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education

Early Bird Registrations are now open! SPERA, with the SiMERR National Research Centre at the University of New England, invites you to join us for the 32nd National SPERA Conference and 4th International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education. Hosted by CQUniversity Australia’s Ooralea Campus and supported by the University of Tasmania, the 2016 conference […]

32nd National SPERA Conference 2016

Rural Education: Place, Pedagogies, Partnerships and Possibilities Hosted by CQUniversity Australia’s Ooralea Campus and supported by the University of Tasmania, the 2016 conference will bring together a range of national and international teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community members and parents who are passionate about rural education. Where: CQUniversity Australia: Ooralea Campus […]

Deakin University Geelong Waterfront Campus – Travel, Accommodation and Dining

Travelling to Geelong Geelong is a city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria in Australia. It is located approximately 75 kilometres south-west of the state capital, Melbourne. Geelong has all of the benefits of a sizeable city, but with the relaxed atmospher of coastal country. Geelong boasts a […]

31st National SPERA Conference 2015

The 2015 conference theme is Mapping education policy landscapes: Rurality and rural futures. Deakin University’s Geelong Waterfront Campus is located on Corio Bay, in the central business district of Geelong.

Sponsorships for Pre-Service Student to SPERA Conference 2014

Pre-service Educator Sponsorship to attend 2014 – 30th SPERA National Conference is provided by SPERA, the Isolated Children’s Parents Association QLD, Isolated Children’s Parents  Association WA, the Catholic Education Office Toowoomba, and the Sidney Myer Chair, Rural Education and Communities (Dr J Halsey, Flinders University). This offer of support is for thee pre service educators; one from […]

30th National SPERA Conference 2014

3 Decades On: Reflections Upon Rural Education: Student Engagement, Aspirations & Motivation Sub Themes Student Engagement Aspiration & Motivation Pre-Service/Higher Education Curriculum /Pedagogy Policy/Place Partnerships Indigenous Venue: University Of New England, Armidale, New South Wales Date: 1 – 3 October 2014 Download the SPERA 2014 Conference Program

Red Dirt Thinking Lecture – Alice Springs

Red Dirt Curriculum: Reimagining Remote Education With the nationalising of curriculum, teacher standards and measures of student literacy and numeracy achievement, the value and relative success of remote community education is framed within a homogenous, metro-centric understanding of achievement and success. Increasing and (at times) competing system pressures and policy demands have amplified pressure to […]

Relational Leadership and Learning for Hope-full Sustainable Futures

An International Dialogue Santa Fe New Mexico 3-5 October 2013 Event details The Inaugural International Dialogue on Relational Leadership and Learning for Hope-full and Sustainable Futures will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 3-5 October 2013. Purpose The purpose of the event is to ‘re-claim’ the primacy of relationships in learning and leadership […]

3rd International Symposium (ISFIRE) 2013

Rural Education on the Global Stage: Connecting for Innovation The University of Western Australia and SPERA, invite you to the 3rd International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education at UWA, Perth, Western Australia. This International Symposium will bring together international teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, community groups and organizations and parents who are passionate […]

Rural Futures Matter Summit 2011

Rural Futures Matter: A Sustainable Australia The Sidney Myer Chair of Rural Education & Communities (SMC), Professor John Halsey, from Flinders University’s School of Education, and the Society for the Provision of Education for Rural Australia (SPERA) partnered to present the “Rural Futures Matter – A Sustainable Australia” Summit (RFMS) in September 2011. 83 delegates […]

26th National SPERA Conference 2010

Sustaining the Rural Education Community: Promoting High Quality Teaching and Learning Themes The Interactive Experience Developing Professional Capacity Pre-service Experience Enriching Rural Communities Sustaining Rural Communities Building Opportunities Dis-enfranchised Youth Curriculum and Social Networking University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Dates: 15 – 17 September 2010 Download SPERA Conference 2010 Program Download SPERA Conference 2010 Paper Abstracts […]

2nd International Symposium (ISFIRE) 2011

New Directions for Educational Welfare in Rural Schools The Second International Symposium for Innovation in Rural Education (ISFIRE2) 2011 Korea-Japan Society of Educational Administration Symposium (KJSEAS 2011) ISFIRE2 and KJSEAS will be an international forum for sharing research findings, innovative ideas and evaluative approaches linked to positive and practical action. The Symposium will have a […]

25th National SPERA Conference 2009

Education in a Digital Present: Enriching Rural Communities Digital information technologies are transforming the way we work, learn and communicate. In this digital revolution are new learning approaches that transform hierarchical, industrial-based models of teaching and learning. Education in a digital present could be a comprehensive search for strategies and tools for effective online / digital […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2008

The Face of Learning – Generation M: The Mobile Generation KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Mal Booth Creative use of new and emerging technologies at the Australian War Memorial Mark McCrindle Changing generations, Emerging Trends: Understanding today’s learners Andrew Douch Paving the ICT Desire Paths: Redefining ‘Classroom’ Stephen Crump and Colin Boylan Interactive Distance e-Learning for Isolated Communities: Finishing […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2007

Collaboration for Success in Rural and Remote Education and Training KEYNOTE SPEAKERS John Pegg Developing a national holistic approach to addressing issues in rural and regional school education Andrew Wallace and Colin Boylan Reawakening education policy and practice in rural Australia Matt Benson and Terry Waldron Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council REFEREED PAPERS Colin […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2006

Community, Diversity and Innovation in Rural and Remote Education and Training KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Angela Cooke, Wendy Fletcher The why and how of provision of online extension programs forhighly able / gifted students in rural schools in Tasmania Marietta Sansom-Gower The benefits of online programs for gifted students from rural schools – a support teacher’s perspective Anne […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2005

Our Stories: Innovation and Excellence in Rural Education KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Steven Arndt Creating Collaborative Communities – The Regional South Australian Experience Michael Christie Local versus global knowledges: Resolving a fundamental dilemma in ‘Remote Education (Refereed). Peter Kenyon C.R.E.A.T.E. – Creating Rural Entrepreneurial Attitudes through Education Tony Richards IDL – Interactive Distance Learning in the Northern […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2004

Working Together: Staying Vital Official Opening Address by His Excellency Lieutenant General John Sanderson, AC, Governor of Western Australia KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Stephen Kemmis, Marianne Atkinson and Roslin Brennan Kemmis A.M. Indigenous Education: A Collective Task for all Australians Murray Lake, David Platt and Grant Draper From Conference Resolution To Project Implementation: ABCDE – A Strategy For […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2003

Global Focus – Local Partnerships KEYNOTE SPEAKERS John M Bryden Some links between economic and social changes in rural areas and the need for reform in rural education Jack Shelton Consequential Learning REFEREED PAPERS Pam Bartholomaeus Rural ABCs and Genres? Learning literacy in a rural school Colin Boylan & Andrew Wallace Curriculum organisation in a […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2002

Country Class Pam Bartholomaeus Rural education and rural communities: Gifts for our Young People Colin R Boylan and Andrew R Wallace Beyond the Line: Promoting Country Schools Gail Dobbin From College to Cowshed: Beginning teachers in rural schools Bronwyn Ellis, Janet Sawyer, Maureen Dollard and Dianne Boxall Working as rural academics Sharman Glover-Milne From Big […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2001

Providing Quality Education and Training for Rural Australians KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Paul Herschell Why aligning curriculum and assessment in new times is ultimately a pedagogy question Mike Frost VET in rural schools. Faith Trent Aliens in the classroom? REFEREED PAPERS Kennece Coombe and Joy Lubawy Learning partnerships in rural early childhood settings Roger Edmonds Cut your […]

SPERA Conference Proceedings 2000

Dawning of Opportunity Luke Baills, Sherrin Bell, Bridget Greensill and Louise Willcox Bridging the gap between beginning teachers and isolated/rural communities Betty Baram Workshop: Convergence of distance education and mainstream schooling – increasing opportunities for rural and isolated learners Marg Beagley Flexible delivery: initiatives and innovation Hedley Beare ‘Now, Year Ones, this is your life!’ Preparing […]