Using technology to improve student wellbeing and equity outcomes
Technology is increasingly sought to support school efforts to improve student and staff wellbeing. Teacher workloads have increased significantly and student wellbeing is a critical issue, impacting learning. There is a pressing need for tech innovation to identify, measure, track, and inform responses regarding students’ emotional states. While student wellbeing funding has increased, there are opportunities to improve the way in which success is measured and for wellbeing interventions to be more preventative, not just reactive. How do we establish a baseline to show improved outcomes through prevention?
In this event, our expert panellists discuss the state of wellbeing and the technology supporting efforts to address wellbeing in schools and at State, national and global levels.
Opening Address - Andrew Smith and Q&A panel
ABOUT OUR EXPERTS
Andrew Smith is CEO of Education Services Australia, a not for profit education technology company owned by all Australian education ministers. ESA develops and deploys national education infrastructure, develops digital education resources and provides technology-based services to the education sector. Andrew has qualifications in education, science and business and brings to the role of CEO extensive experience and expertise in strategic leadership in the education, training and not-for-profit sectors. Having started his career in the classroom, Andrew’s previous roles include Vice President (Engagement) at Swinburne University and CEO of the Australian Council for Private
Education and Training.
Nikki Bonus is an experienced ed-tech founder and CEO of Life Skills Group, harnessing more than 20 years of deeply personal and professional experience in the development and delivery of social-emotional literacy programs for individuals, organizations, and most importantly, teachers and students. Nikki’s work has helped give voice to more than 850 schools, connecting with 20,000 teachers and 500,000 primary school children to build a continuing evidence base of what works to measure, report and implement real improvements in Social Emotional and Physical Literacy for school communities.
Dianne Giblin has worked in education in both paid and unpaid capacity for the past 32 years.
Di has a passion for education, in particular public education, and the opportunities it affords young people. She has led the ACSSO secretariat since 2011 but has been a significant player in parent activism since 1984 when her eldest child commenced school. She is proud of her four children’s achievements – all successes of public education.
She has held various volunteer roles in the parent movement finishing her P&C career as President of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW.
Di was a founding Director of Public Education Foundation whose board position she held for six years; a founding Director of Primary Ethics Board and also a founding Director of The Parenthood board.
She worked in a paid capacity for the NSW education department in a number of roles across a large area of Sydney. Her roles were all in the area of parent engagement and home-school partnerships including school based community officer, across district Community Development Officer and regional Partnership Officer – all through the Priority Schools Program.
Recognition of her work saw her commended for Meritorious Service to Public Education and Training in 2010. In 2012 Dianne was admitted as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her service to public education and the community.
Di’s greatest love is her family but coming a close second is her love of music. Whilst an amateur guitarist she likes to spend downtime with it, her grandchildren and her playing her vinyl albums on the new turntable.
Dr. Phil Lambert has extensive experience in education as a school principal; inspector; Executive Director; Assistant Director-General; Regional Director (Schools), Sydney and General Manager, Australian Curriculum where he led the development of Australia’s first national curriculum. He has authored books, presented a number of papers and keynotes at national and international conferences, had a number of articles and occasional papers published in journals and led statewide reviews and reforms. His current book ‘The Knowing and Caring Profession’ is scheduled for release in late 2021. He is an internationally recognised school education expert.
