Let me explain…

I’m Dr Susan Galletly, an Australian literacy-development and learning-difficulties specialist and researcher, who is also a speech language pathologist and teacher.

In the discussion of this book, I’m building strongly from both research and practice.

In my research work, I’ve explored education here and internationally, observing education in schools and speaking with teachers and researchers in many nations, including England, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, USA and Wales.

In my private-practice work across the past four decades, I’ve worked with many hundreds of struggling learners and their families.

I’ve also worked extensively with teachers – in research projects, in professional development I’ve presented, and in working together supporting struggling readers.

Across my career, I’ve pondered and theorised, exploring theory and practice in education here and elsewhere. I’m persistent in taking theory through into practice.

I’m a huge admirer of Australian teachers, the hard work they do and the results they achieve, particularly given we overwork them so badly in our inadequately-resourced schools. Our teachers are among the world’s hardest working and best professionals.

I’m also careful, cautious, and sensibly strategic. It’s not “Make these changes now!!!” It’s “There’s huge value in us exploring and researching these important issues, given their potential to create massive improvement here.”

If we’re to achieve exponentially-improved education and child development in Australia, it’s vital we ease reading and literacy development for all our cute koala kids, particularly our lower-third – our at-risk and struggling readers.

That’s why I’ve written Bunyips and the Aussie Reading Woes trilogy, to start the conversations that Australians need to be having, considering our overlooked Bunyip issues and the 10 Changes: they’re quite likely pivotal to our progress.