Teachers across Australia will now be able to upskill for free with a new course focused on teaching phonics.
The Teaching Phonics microcredential, launched by the University of Adelaide, will help primary and secondary teachers learn how to teach synthetic phonics in a systematic and explicit way using contemporary, evidence-based practices.
A report by the Grattan Institute found one third of Australian children cannot read proficiently, calling for an overhaul in reading instruction and the need for “a systematic, evidence-based curriculum”.
A growing body of evidence shows explicit instruction is a very efficient strategy for helping students learn by breaking down new information into smaller learning outcomes and modelling each step.
To help design and deliver the microcredential, The Albanese Government is investing more than $3m in funding to the University of Adelaide.
The Teaching Phonics microcredential is the third free course for teachers funded by the Albanese Government and developed by the University of Adelaide and adds to the Explicit Teaching microcredential and Classroom Management microcredential released in 2024.
So far, more than 4,300 teachers across the country have registered interest in the phonics microcredential program.
In a statement this week, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the free courses will provide vital professional development opportunities for teachers, school leaders and other school staff.
Minister Clare said the qualifications will also offer teachers a potential credit pathway towards post-graduate study with the School of Education at the University of Adelaide.
“The reading wars are over. We know evidence-based teaching methods work and this free short course will help teachers in the classroom,” he said. “This will support teachers and help to improve how students learn how to read and write.”