The Foundation for Learning and Literacy is concerned with the role literacy plays in ensuring our children become compassionate, confident, competent and creative citizens in an increasingly complex world.
Our aim is to support teachers, early childhood educators, parents and caregivers with tools that empower them to work with kids to build joy and confidence in reading and writing.
Our resources are also useful to the broader community, including educational policymakers, politicians, business leaders, and the media.
Vale Peter Freebody
Members of the Foundation for Learning and Literacy Committee were very sad to learn that Peter Freebody had passed away on 30th August, 2026. We extend our deepest condolences to the Freebody family and Peter’s many friends and colleagues. The education community has benefitted so much from Peter’s research, writing and teaching.
What's New
October 2026 Newsletter
News and updates from the Foundation for Learning and Literacy and our Partners.
This month we focus briefly on some of the important legacies of P. David Pearson and Peter Freebody and the benefits of their research and scholarship for teachers. We also offer some new resources and share a new partner video in our 2026 Symposium - #We all like a good story: School Libraries are places to discover stories.
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and our Partners for the
2026 Symposium
Discover the Learning and Literacy Touchstones
The Foundation has developed 12 Touchstones that underpin our work and advocacy. They are our key principles, and are supported by rigorous research and evidence drawn from classrooms across Australia.
If you agree with our Touchstones, you can become a Friend of the Foundation.
Explore Our Resources
Check out the following pages to discover our research and resources:
Learning and Literacy News
Read the latest news on learning and literacy, compiled by the Foundation team:
The Many Benefits of Writing by Hand
Edutopia October 31, 2026 The simple act of writing by hand activates the brain in ways that can strengthen memory, literacy, and learning. Read here
A Plea for Messy Writing
ISTE+ASCD November 1, 2026 by Missy Springsteen-Haupt The chaotic ideas, the jumbled words, the misspellings—as teachers, we must embrace it all in our students’ first drafts, because that’s where...
The student journalists building media literacy skills one story at a time
The Educator November 4, 2026 by Jhoanna Hines When Media Literacy Week arrives this year, NSW student journalists will be doing something most of their peers are not — making real news. ...
VOLUME National Reading Symposium
VOLUME is a free, online national symposium which brings together the broader Australian books and social change sectors to discuss effective approaches for building reading engagement. Reading is...
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Meet Our Partners
The Foundation for Learning and Literacy regularly partners with other professional associations to advocate for the importance of literature in our lives and in literacy learning.
The Foundation for Learning and Literature acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.