Date: Thursday, 28 August 2025
Time: 3:30 PM (AEST)
Format: Online panel discussion
Duration: 60 minutes

About this session

Join the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) for an engaging webinar and panel discussion that explores findings from our recent research report, How long it takes to learn English while learning the curriculum.

Drawing on data from 110,000 English as additional language or dialect (EAL/D) students in New South Wales public schools over 9 years, this report examined how long it takes these students to engage with the curriculum on par with their English-speaking peers. With approximately 25% of students learning English while simultaneously learning through English, this session sheds light on the challenges they face and the timeframes involved in their language development.

We’ll unpack the report’s key findings and implications for educators and policymakers. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, researcher, or education stakeholder, this webinar will provide valuable insights to support equitable learning outcomes for all students.

Why attend?

Gain evidence-based insights: Discover new, Australian-specific research on how long EAL/D students take to develop English proficiency for curriculum learning, filling a critical gap in current understanding.

Understand the EAL/D learning progression: Explore how students move through the phases of the ACARA EAL/D Learning Progression and what this means for classroom practice and assessment.

Support equitable education: Learn how to better support the 25% of students learning English as an additional language or dialect, and understand the factors that influence their learning pathways.

Expert panel

Panel chair: Alex Nelson

Featured panellists:

Dr Lucy Lu, Senior Manager, AERO and lead author
Elizabeth Campbell, A/Leader EAL/D Education, NSW Department of Education
Dr Jennifer Hammond, Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney

Session format

The panel discussion will include:

scene setting and introduction to AERO's research
key findings from the research
a panel discussion drawing on submitted questions
an opportunity to take questions from the audience.

Register now

Registration is free and includes access to the live webinar session and an opportunity to submit questions for the panel.

Registration closes at 2:30 PM AEST on 28 August 2025.

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