CSNSW Inclusive Education Symposium | 1 May

About this event

Catholic Schools NSW invites education leaders, teachers and support staff in diversity to join us for another excellent day of learning and collaboration.

We are delighted that Dr Shiralee Poed, Associate Professor within the School of Education at the University of Queensland, will once again be joining our professional learning community. Dr Poed will share the latest research in inclusive and restrictive practices in education, providing valuable insights into current trends and effective strategies.

Keynote:

Dr Shiralee Poed
Associate Professor In Education & Director of Higher Degree Research, University of Queensland

Dr Shiralee Poed career spans more than 30 years, and includes working as a teacher and leader in Australian state, Catholic and independent primary, secondary and special schools. She was awarded the 2023 International Positive Behaviour Leadership Award for her extensive leadership of Positive Behaviour for Learning in Australia, and internationally.

Learn more about her research HERE.

Additional Speakers:

Lisa Boland
Speech Pathologist, Sydney Catholic Schools

Topic: ‘Necessary for some. Good for all’: Supporting classroom teachers to include students with complex communication disabilities at tier 1.

Lisa has over 24 years of experience working collaboratively within mainstream and special educational settings. Lisa supports students presenting with a highly diverse range of speech, language, and communication needs, as well as their teachers and families. Since 2012, Lisa has worked within the Sydney Catholic Schools Central Diverse Learning team in a role focused on developing and improving a dedicated service to enhance teacher capacity to meet the needs of students with complex communication disabilities. This team is known as the SCS Complex Communication Needs Support Service.

Penina Kiss
High Potential & Gifted Education Coordinator, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese 

Topic: The Paradox of Twice Exceptionality.

Penina Kiss is a dedicated educator with a passion for supporting gifted students. She has extensive experience in the Catholic education sector, working closely with teachers and leaders to strengthen gifted education practices. Her work spans K–12 settings, including roles as a secondary science coordinator, leader of teaching and learning, and system-level leader in gifted education. Penina supports both whole-school planning and individual student needs, with a focus on identification, differentiation, and acceleration. She is currently completing a PhD at Griffith University, exploring how to better support twice-exceptional learners. A co-recipient of the Hamdan Foundation award, she leads the gifted agenda at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.

Audrey Bower
Chief Legal & Risk Officer, Catholic Schools NSW 

Topic: Enrolment of Students with Disability and the Law.

Audrey Bower is the Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Catholic Schools NSW and leads the Legal, Risk and Research Team. Audrey provides high quality legal advice and related compliance services to the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Catholic School Agencies. The Legal Risk and Research Team researches, develops and implements strategies, policies and procedures that provide the Company with a legal and risk framework in which to operate.
Audrey is the Catholic school’s representative on the Non-Government Schools Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee. Prior to joining Catholic Schools NSW Audrey worked in financial services for over 20 years providing advice and legal support to Boards and businesses on compliance and governance.