Teaching a child to read is one of the most powerful things we can do.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, host Tim Edwards, Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching at Catholic Education Sandhurst, is joined by Robyn Wheldall and Iain Rothwell from MultiLit, to discuss their mission: making sure every child in every school has access to high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction.

Now celebrating its 30th year, MultiLit is one of Australia’s most trusted names in reading instruction, grounded in the science of learning, shaped by research, and focused on outcomes that matter.

In this episode, we explore:

• The story behind MultiLit’s 30-year journey — from a university research project to 6,500+ schools
• Why early literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning
• How MultiLit’s tiered programs are reducing the number of struggling readers
• The importance of system-level change — and why whole-school implementation matters
• MultiLit’s work in Closing the Gap with 42 majority-Indigenous schools
• And what’s next in improving literacy in our country

Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or parent invested in the future of learning, this episode offers powerful insight into the kind of instruction that transforms lives.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters. 

Mentioned in this episode

• Magnify Sandhurst
• Catholic Education Sandhurst  
• MultiLit

ABOUT MULTILIT  

MultiLit is a private company which was spun out of Macquarie University in 2006. MultiLit is a leading provider of effective literacy instruction in Australasia. Its programs are uniquely placed to be effective because they are all grounded in scientific evidence-based best practice. As a result of being a research initiative of Macquarie University, MultiLit’s publications, professional development and Literacy Centre are continually informed by an ongoing program of research. The research team is led by Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall AM. For three decades, MultiLit has provided assistance to thousands of students in a variety of settings, including schools, its own Literacy Centres and community-based literacy projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

ABOUT MAGNIFY SANDHURST 

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement.  

ABOUT CATHOLIC EDUCATION SANDHURST 

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 56 Catholic schools across Central and North Eastern Victoria, educating 19,750 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story. 

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.