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.
Join the Foundation
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:
Shine a Light on Teachers on World Teachers’ Day
aitsl October 2026 On Friday 30 October we are inviting everyone to Shine a light on Australia’s teachers who inspire, support, and empower our children and young people every single day. From...
Synthetic Phonics Issues for learners and teachers of English as an Additional Language/Dialect
The Position Paper Synthetic Phonics Issues for learners and teachers of English as an Additional Language/Dialect was launched at The Australian Council of TESOL Associations 2026 International...
Parent-Child Shared Book Reading With Preschoolers During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
JAMA Network August 31, 2026 by Kwanghee Jung, PhD; W. Steven Barnett, PhD Parent-child shared book reading supports early language, literacy, cognitive, and socioemotional development.1,2 The...
Why Swedish Schools Are Bringing Back Books
Undark 2026 by Joshua Cohen In 2023, the Swedish government announced that the country’s schools would be going back to basics, emphasizing skills such as reading and writing, particularly in early...
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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.