In case you missed it, the PISA 2025 results were recently released. As is always the case, there is plenty to digest. This month at Teacher, we’ve shared insights from many experts to begin to unpack the results. In this episode of Teacher Staffroom, we catch you up.

Host: Dominique Beech

Recorded live at the National Education Summit in Melbourne, Teacher’s Deputy Editor Rebecca Vukovic is joined by Jonathan Heard, a Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research for this School Improvement episode. They discuss the importance of having a shared definition on what critical thinking is, the connection between critical thinking and information literacy, and provide some key takeaways for teachers, teacher librarians and school leaders.

Host: Rebecca Vukovic

Guest: Jonathan Heard

Hello, it’s Rebecca Vukovic jumping into your podcast feed to let you know about a new episode that will be in your ears tomorrow. Recorded live at the National Education Summit in Melbourne, I am joined by Jonathan Heard, a Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research for this School Improvement episode. We discuss the importance of having a shared definition on what critical thinking is, the connection between critical thinking and information literacy, and provide some key takeaways for teachers, teacher librarians and school leaders.

Last week, the latest 2025 results for the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (or, PISA) were released. PISA is the world’s largest international assessment of student learning, and it shows how well 15-year-old students can apply their knowledge and skills in science, reading and mathematics to real-world situations. PISA 2025 involved 760,000 students internationally, and in Australia, more than 14,500 students from 766 schools participated in the assessment.

ACER is responsible for the design and implementation of PISA globally and it led the transition to a fully digital assessment platform for PISA 2025. In today’s episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Dr Jonas Bertling, Research Director of ACER Implementation and Reporting and co-author of the report sharing Australia’s 2025 PISA results. We’re going to talk all about what the results tell us about the specific knowledge and skills students possess across science, mathematics and reading; how teachers can think about and use the results in relation to their own school contexts, and have an interesting discussion about technology and AI.

Host: Dominique Beech

Guest: Dr Jonas Bertling

Welcome everyone to this special episode. We're going to be talking about leadership burnout with educational leader Brad Gaynor. It's a timely topic. It's R U OK? Day in Australia today. Brad's recent book, From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset, looks at the growing pressure on school leaders and how that can impact wellbeing. He also shares his own lived experience of burnout. There's a lot to reflect on from this really important discussion.

It’s Teacher Editor Jo Earp dropping into your podcast feed to give you a heads up on a special episode coming up tomorrow to coincide with RU OK Day. We’re going to be talking burnout with educational leader Brad Gaynor. He writes about it so candidly in his book From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset – sharing his own lived experience. I really can’t recommend this one enough – it’s such an important discussion and there’s so much to reflect on. Listen to the full episode tomorrow!

In this episode of School Assembly, Teacher editor Jo Earp catches up with the leaders from all 3 series – Dan McShea from Notre Dame P-12 College in Queensland, Jo Camozzato from Bemin Secondary College in Victoria, and Dr Ray Boyd and Rachael Lehr from Dayton Primary School in Western Australia – to hear all about the progress made at their schools since we last spoke.

Throughout the school year, there are many important events and celebrations on the education calendar, and this month has been no exception. From Australian Primary Principals Day to National Science Week, we've marked these occasions by sharing stories and resources that we hope resonate with educators across the country. In today's Teacher Staffroom episode, we take you through the highlights.

Host: Rebecca Vukovic

Ahead of the 2026 ACEL National Conference – presented in partnership with ACER – Teacher editor Jo Earp is joined by Lisa Newland, CEO of ACEL, and Lisa Rodgers, CEO of ACER, to unpack the conference’s theme of bold leadership. Lisa and Lisa tell us about their approach to leadership, what they’ve learned over the years, and more.

Host: Jo Earp

Guests: Lisa Newland and Lisa Rodgers

It’s Teacher Editor Jo Earp dropping into your podcast feed to give you a heads up on a cracking new episode coming up tomorrow. It’s all about leadership and I’m joined by 2 guests with a wealth of experience on the topic – Lisa Rodgers, CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Research, and Lisa Newland, CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. We’re speaking ahead of the ACEL National Conference, with the 2026 theme Bold Leadership: New Frontiers in Education. ACER is partnering with ACEL to deliver the conference this year. Join me for tomorrow’s episode to hear Lisa and Lisa talk about their own approach to leadership, great examples they’ve seen over the years, and the importance of amplifying educator voice and elevating the profession.