Literacy is not a matter of luck, postcode or chance; it’s a matter of equity, access and social justice.

In this episode of Magnify Matters, Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, one of Australia’s leading voices in literacy, language and the science of learning, joins Tim Edwards (Catholic Education Sandhurst Assistant Director: Learning and Teaching) for a conversation about what it takes to ensure every child learns to read well.

Pam reflects on the personal, professional and research journey that has shaped her national leadership in literacy, from speech pathology and brain injury rehabilitation to her advocacy for evidence-informed reading instruction and the establishment of La Trobe University’s SOLAR Lab.

As a trusted contributor to early Magnify Sandhurst conversations, Pam helps connect decades of research to the lived realities of classrooms, teachers and systems working to lift learning outcomes for every student.

In this episode, Tim and Pam explore:

1. Why learning to read is a social justice issue, not an individual outcome.
2. What cognitive science tells us about how children learn to read and why the debate went on for so long.
3. Why the first three years of school matter more than any later intervention.
4. How strong Tier 1 instruction supports both learning and wellbeing.
5. The role of speech pathologists and interdisciplinary collaboration in schools.
6. Why lifting teacher expertise lifts the profession itself.

Whether you’re teaching in the early years, leading a school, shaping system-wide improvement or supporting learning at home, this episode offers clear principles, grounded insight and a strong case for doing fewer things — better — for every learner.

Now stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.

Mentioned in this episode

1. Professor Pamela Snow
2. The Snow Report
3. The Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab
4. Magnify Sandhurst
5. Catholic Education Sandhurst

Catholic Education Sandhurst rolled out Magnify Sandhurst, an evidence-informed, science of learning school improvement initiative, to its 51 Catholic schools across the Sandhurst Diocese at the beginning of 2025. Magnify Sandhurst focuses on how the brain learns, how literacy is effectively taught, uses a low variance, knowledge-rich curriculum and the creation of positive classrooms. Our practice is calm, predictable, and repeatable to maximise learning time in all classrooms. Magnify Sandhurst is deliberately bold and wide-ranging, generating whole-of-system improvement....

Catholic Education Sandhurst Executive Director Kate Fogarty is joined by Tom Sexton, Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Executive Director, to discuss the recent enterprise bargaining wage offer from the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) and Catholic school employers.

Drawing on their front-row view, Kate and Tom reflect on taking an unprecedented step of putting a best-offer directly to employees, the realities of cost-of-living pressures, and why unity and portability across Catholic employers still matter.

It’s a candid, good-faith conversation about leadership under pressure, communicating through noise, and keeping students, staff, and mission at the centre of decision-making.

Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode of Catholic Education Matters, host Ashley Marsh is joined by speech pathologists Lauren Cook and Lauren Naish from Catholic Education Sandhurst for a practical conversation timed with Developmental Language Disorder Day.

DLD - a language difficulty you often can’t see - affects about 1 in 14 children. Lauren Cook and Lauren Naish unpack what DLD is, what it can look and sound like in classrooms, and how teachers and families can spot early signs and support students with simple, high-impact strategies.

In this episode, we explore:

• What DLD is and why the theme 'You can’t see DLD' matters for classrooms and families
• Early indicators across Foundation to Year 6
• Practical strategies teachers can use ie slower teacher talk, facing the class, concise instructions and visuals, and adjusting video playback
• Why oral language is foundational to literacy and how gaps in language can undermine even strong reading programs
• How system-wide OxEd screening and intervention will work in our schools

Whether you’re a teacher, school leader or parent, this episode offers clarity, encouragement and next steps for supporting students with DLD, because when we make language visible, we open doors to learning for every child.

Now join us as we explore what truly matters in education.

Websites mentioned in this podcast:

Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (international site)

8 classroom tips

The DLD Project (Australian Site)

Speech Pathology Australia

Communication milestones

Catholic Education Sandhurst is home to 51 Catholic schools across regional and rural Victoria, educating 15,490 students. We partner with schools, students and families to provide innovation and excellence in education, inspired by the Catholic story.

Visit www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and