Exploring the heart of adolescence, the science of development, and the future of middle schooling.
JOIN US AND FOR THIS MIDDLE YEARS' SYMPOSIUM
At St John's Anglican College, Forest Lake, Qld
10 October, 2025; 8.30 - 4.00 PM
ENGAGE WITH OUR FOUR EXPERT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Andrew Fuller - Andrew has recently been described as an ”interesting mixture of Billy Connolly, Tim Winton and Frasier Crane” and as someone who “puts the heart back into psychology”. As a clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller works with many schools and communities in Australia and internationally, specialising in the wellbeing of young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne.
Donna Pendergast - Professor Donna Pendergast is Director of Engagement in the Arts, Education and Law Group at Griffith University. She is an expert in the field of adolescent learners, including engagement, learning and wellbeing and middle years practices; and, school and sector policy reform and transformation. She brings extensive experience about the needs of adolescent learners and ways of implementing programs of change in education systems. She has served in leadership roles including 14 years as Dean and Head of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. She is currently Professor of Education and Director of Engagement in the Arts, Education and Law Group, where she leads engagement across 7 elements
Natasha Matthews - Dr Natasha Matthews is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland. Natasha is a psychologist and neuroscientist whose research focuses on understanding the development of attention and metacognition in children and adolescents. Natasha has a passion for applying this knowledge from research into practice. She is a Chief Investigator with the Learning Lab at The University of Queensland, which brings together researchers and education practitioners to work on shared educational challenges. She is also the recipient of numerous teaching awards for her use of metacognitive pedagogy in her teaching practice.
Marian Wright - Marian Wright is an experienced educator and advisor whose work with schools focuses on sustainable, future-focused change. With a background in teaching, leadership, and system strategy, she supports schools and sectors to embed explicit and integrated career learning within broader learning ecosystems. She has contributed to national and international conversations on the future and purpose of education, including a contribution to the OECD’s Disrupted Futures Conference, which brought together examples of global best practice in career education. Her approach to career education is less about preparing students for a fixed destination, and more about empowering young people to design meaningful futures that are hopeful, connected and truly theirs.
