Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 20 March
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
The Fifth Estate is the Wheeler Centre’s new series of fortnightly forums: a more measured approach to news and current affairs. Provocative and studied, authoritative and unhurried, this is real analysis that will be pulling no punches. Hosted by broadcaster, journalist and anthropologist Sally Warhaft, The Fifth Estate is indispensible live journalism.
The Gonski Report on Australian education funding was delivered to the government last month after an intensive 18 month review process. The biggest review of school funding in decades, the report recommends an injection of A$5 billion to the education sector, three-quarters of which would go to public schools.
Delivered amidst the tumult and shouting of the latest political leadership tussle, public discussion of the report was somewhat deprived of oxygen … until now. Join host Sally Warhaft, and our panel of educational experts and school principals, as they discuss the state of schooling in Australia, the findings of the Gonski report, and the future of Australian education.
How do we compare to the world leaders in education? Does our education system need a major overhaul? Will the funding changes recommended in the Gonski report help achieve this? How can state and federal governments work to implement the suggested changes quickly and efficiently? Is our education system in need of saving – and if so, is this the answer?
Joining us to debate these and other questions will be Lesley Lamb, Paul Sheahan and David Zyngier.
Download the audio: mp3
Featuring
David Zyngier
David Zyngier is a senior lecturer in curriculum and pedagogy at Monash University. Previously, he was a teacher and school principal.
His research has attracted significant funding and covers teacher pedagogies and beliefs and how they impact the learning and achievement of children from disadvantaged and marginalised communities. From 2016–2018, David will use the expertise and experience of Australia’s excellence in civics and citizenship education to assist in the development of a national Civics Education framework in Thailand as the country moves forward to full democracy.
His research focuses on pedagogies that engage students, with a focus on how these can improve outcomes for students from communities of disadvantage by looking at issues of social justice and social inclusion.
He regularly disseminates research through opinion pieces on educational issues through professional educational publications, mainstream newspapers, television, radio interviews and presentations to major educational organisations. He has provided expert evidence to the House of Representatives and Senate Committees on education. He has developed a widely recognised research reputation in education in issues related to student engagement and how teachers understand and practise democratic education.
Lesley Lamb
Lesley Lamb has been Principal of Glen Eira College in Caulfield since 2007, after six years as Principal of Gilmore Girls' College in Footscray.
In her earlier career, she taught English in several schools, both metropolitan and country.
Lesley is a passionate believer in government education. She was privileged to have received an excellent government education in the western suburbs of Melbourne, which prepared her for her tertiary education at Melbourne University. Lesley’s husband shares her passion and is also a Principal in the government system. Each of their three children were educated in government schools and all are now highly qualified professionals.
Sally Warhaft
Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer. She is the host of The Fifth Estate, the Wheeler Centre’s live series focusing on journalism, politics, media, and international relations, and The Leap Year ...
Paul Sheahan
Paul Sheahan, former Victorian Sheffield Shield and Australian Test Cricketer, has been a high profile educator since the mid 1970s.
His work in education culminated in the roles of Head of Geelong College and Melbourne Grammar School, and he has been a key member of numerous educational boards and committees throughout his career. Amongst other things, he is now Development Manager of sport at Melbourne University.