The Reading Crisis We Can Fix

The 2025 Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Lecture

Every child deserves the chance to learn to read. But that that expectation is too often unmet.

In 2023, close to 40% of Tasmanian students did not meet expected literacy levels, among the lowest results in the country. These children are not compromised by lack of ability, but by the failure of systems designed to support them.

We know how to teach reading. The evidence is clear: high-quality, explicit instruction works, especially for those most at risk. Yet too many children, especially those starting from behind, are being left behind by slow reform and muddled policy. This isn’t just an education problem. It’s a matter of social justice and a public health imperative.

This talk confronts the cost and history of Australia’s literacy failures, calling for evidence-based action to ensure every child learns to read. Because when we fail a child on literacy, we fail them for life.

Attend online

Prefer to attend online? Secure your tickets here.

The experts

• Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, La Trobe University Distinguished Professor (Cognitive Psychology) and Co-Director, Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab, La Trobe University

• Hosted by Leanne Mclean, Director, Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment, University of Tasmania, and former Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People

• Introduction by Marshall Roberts, literacy tutor and Chairperson, Code REaD Dyslexia Network

About the experts

Pamela Snow, PhD, is a registered psychologist, and a Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Psychology, having qualified originally in speech-language pathology.

In 2020, Pamela established The Science of Language and Reading Lab with her colleague, Professor Tanya Serry, at La Trobe University. This platform has been instrumental in effecting and supporting jurisdictional changes in early reading instruction in Australia.

She has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate education and health professionals. Her research concerns the role of language and literacy skills as academic and mental health protective factors in childhood and adolescence. She has undertaken research on the profiles and needs of high-risk groups such as youth offenders, children and adolescents in the state care system and flexible education systems, as well as research advancing evidence in the language-to-literacy transition in the early years of school.

In 2024, Pamela was named by the Australian Financial Review as one of the five most influential voices in education in Australia.

Leanne McLean, the Director of the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment at the University of Tasmania, is a prominent figure in education and social policy. Formerly Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, she has been instrumental in advancing educational and social reforms.

With a background in senior advisory roles within the Tasmanian government, Leanne's dedication to early intervention and education is deeply rooted in her personal journey from Tasmania's far south to her academic achievements at the University of Tasmania.

She brings a wealth of knowledge, a collaborative spirit, and a strong commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and educational outcomes for young Tasmanians.

The Sandy Duncanson Legacy
Each year, the University of Tasmania presents a public lecture in honour of Alexander (Sandy) Duncanson, to raise awareness of social justice issues among students, staff, legal professionals, and the broader Tasmanian community.

Sandy Duncanson was a Tasmanian lawyer deeply respected for his work in community legal services and housing advocacy. He died in June 2010, aged 37, after living with cancer for 16 years. As a law student in 2002, Sandy visited the Woomera Detention Centre to interview people seeking asylum—an experience that shaped his unwavering commitment to social justice and guided the course of his career.

Pre-event refreshments

Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.

Parking

Free parking, including accessible spaces, is available at the venue.

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Find out more

Want to learn more about the University of Tasmania's Island of Ideas public talks series? Catch-up on past events, register for upcoming talks or get in touch with us via our Island of Ideas webpage.