Following its sold-out inaugural event, Matthew Flinders Anglican College has announced the return of the Science of Learning Conference, taking place on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, 24 and Thursday, 25 March 2027.
Early bird registrations are open now for the two-day event, which will gather educators from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Designed for Prep to Year 12 teachers, curriculum leaders, instruction coaches, executives and researchers, the conference focuses on turning cognitive science theory into everyday school practice.
The action-packed program features 14 world-class speakers presenting 7 keynotes and 35 practical breakout sessions.
View the full Science of Learning 2027 program and secure the early bird rate at https://scienceoflearningconference.com
Under the theme, Explicit Practice For Powerful Thinking, the 2027 program takes educators beyond the question of “what works” to tackle “what comes next”.
While knowledge-rich curricula and explicit instruction are essential ingredients for student learning, this conference addresses the crucial next step: helping students move from gaining foundational knowledge to thinking deeply and independently.
Matthew Flinders Anglican College Principal, Michelle Carroll, said there is huge momentum building behind the event.
“Our inaugural conference brought together more than 450 educators who were eager to ground their daily teaching practice in cognitive science,” Ms Carroll said.
“Over the past five years, the conversation around explicit instruction has transformed Australian classrooms. In 2027, we’re excited to bring experts in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, literacy and instructional design back to our campus.
“Our focus is to share research-backed strategies so students don’t just remember information, but build the confidence to apply it in an ever-changing world.”
Alignment to AITSL Standards
Delegates can explore six core themes aligned to Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Standards:
- Principles of the Science of Learning: Empowering students to think deeply
- Curriculum Design & Knowledge Acquisition
- Literacy & Numeracy Mastery
- Assessment & Responsive Teaching
- Instructional Coaching & Sustainable Leadership
- Behaviour Management & Learning Cultures
Science of Learning Conference 2027
Dates: Wednesday, 24 March to Thursday, 25 March 2027
Venue: Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Audience: Prep–Year 12 Teachers and Educators, Curriculum Leaders, Instructional Coaches, Executive Leaders and Researchers
Ticketing: Early Bird tickets are now available for $825.00 (incl. GST); Standard registration is $935.00 (incl. GST).
To view the conference program, speaker biographies or to register, visit https://scienceoflearningconference.com
Renowned Australian and International Speakers: Bios
The 2027 keynote and presenter line-up brings together premier experts in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, literacy and instructional design.
Dr Jared Cooney Horvath PhD, MEd is a neuroscientist, educator and author of the best-selling book, Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. Jared has conducted research and lectured at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, the University of Melbourne and over 1,000 schools internationally. He has published six books and more than 60 research articles, and his work has been featured in publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, Harvard Business Review and ABC’s Catalyst. Jared currently serves as the Director of LME Global, a company dedicated to bringing the latest brain and behavioural research to teachers and students.
Tom Sherrington is a highly regarded education consultant and CPD provider with 30 years' experience as a teacher and headteacher in schools across England and overseas. He writes the well-known blog teacherhead.com, is a regular contributor to ResearchEd and the Festival of Education, and co-founded Teaching WalkThrus. His book, Rosenshine's Principles in Action, sold 10,000 copies in its first month.
Nicole Dyson is a multi-award-winning educator, entrepreneur and global authority on project-based learning and entrepreneurial pedagogy. A former school leader, she is founder of Future Anything and YouthX, Australia's only startup accelerator for school-aged entrepreneurs. Nicole was a 2026 Queensland Australian of the Year nominee and has featured on The Educator's “Most Influential” list for four years running.
Rory McCaughey is the Director of Implementation for Steplab AU. He helps schools and multi-school organisations across Australia and New Zealand design and sustain high-impact professional development. A former teacher, coach and school leader with 14 years in education, Rory holds a Master's in Cognitive Psychology and Education and co-created the Educate to Self-Regulate podcast.
Dr Nathaniel Swain is a teacher, instructional coach and writer. He is also a Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences at La Trobe University's School of Education and SOLAR Lab. Nathaniel founded Think Forward Educators, a community of over 23,000 teachers committed to the science of learning, and writes the blog Dr Swain's Cognitorium. His latest book is titled Harnessing the Science of Learning.
Emina McLean is a trusted literacy policy and implementation advisor with nearly two decades of experience across primary, secondary and tertiary education. Specialising in system-wide literacy improvement, she partners with state, Catholic and independent sectors on major reform initiatives, designing rigorous English and literacy approaches. Emina is also Head of English at Docklands Primary School and is completing her PhD at La Trobe University.
Dr Mark Dowley is co-author of the Amazon best-selling Classroom Management Handbook and a teacher with 20 years' experience. He has held multiple school leadership positions and is currently Chair of Mastery Schools Victoria, which opened its first specialist school for disengaged students in 2025. Mark consults internationally on culture, belonging and behaviour, and completed his Doctor of Education at the University of Melbourne.
Bronwyn Ryrie is a teacher educator, instructional coach and professional learning designer. With a background in classroom teaching and graduate education (University of Melbourne), Bron is renowned for her deep and practical expertise in high-quality instruction. Bron has worked directly with over 30,000 teachers in Australia and abroad, developing explicit and responsive teaching practices on the ground.
Phil Slade is a psychologist, behavioural economist, author and co-founder of Switch4Schools, an award-winning platform helping schools build emotional intelligence and wellbeing. His work centres on Emotional Agency: the capacity to recognise, understand and intentionally influence our emotional responses under pressure. For over 20 years, Phil has delivered keynotes worldwide, including for the World Bank, Rotary International and Suncorp Group.
Caiti Wade is a mathematics teacher, Head of Pedagogy and Professional Practice at St Laurence's College, a cognitive science researcher and an education consultant. As the writer of The Disruptive Educator, Caiti focuses on translating educational research into practical approaches that recognise the complexities of real classrooms, with particular interest in schoolwide pedagogical improvement and professional learning.
Brendan Lee is an experienced primary school leader and educational consultant from NSW dedicated to bridging the gap between research and classroom practice. He has collaborated with AERO, the Grattan Institute, the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, and Think Forward Educators. Through his blog, Learn with Lee, and the podcast, The Knowledge for Teachers, he shares practical, evidence-informed strategies.
Cate Whiting, Deputy Director Education Services at ISQ, is an experienced school leader and teaching and learning specialist whose expertise spans leadership, staff development, curriculum, pedagogy, inclusion and engagement. As Principal Teaching and Learning Specialist at the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), she developed practical guidance and tools to help teachers and school leaders implement evidence-based practices.
Louise Brauer is an experienced teacher and senior leader who holds the position of Teaching and Learning Manager at ISQ. She is responsible for the delivery of curriculum and pedagogy programs and provides advice to member schools on NSSAB education program compliance, curriculum, teaching and learning. Louise also has tertiary sector experience as a Teaching and Learning Consultant, with a focus on curriculum alignment and pedagogy.
Dr Louise McCuaig is Head of the Flinders Discovery Institute at Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Her leadership draws on 20 years at The University of Queensland, where she built an international reputation for translating research into school health policy, curriculum and assessment, serving as advisor and expert writer for ACARA and the QCAA. At Flinders, her research informs the Inspiring Futures youth leadership programs and the Flinders Framework for Teaching.
