2026 Eminent Researcher Award
Professor Sharon Vaughn
The Eminent Researcher Award is sponsored for LDA by Routledge – Taylor and Francis, publishers of the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties. The Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties Eminent Researcher Award is designed to recognise significant contributions by eminent researchers in the field of learning difficulties and is awarded by invitation. The recipient of the 2026 Eminent Researcher Award is Professor Sharon Vaughn.
Dr. Sharon Vaughn is the Manuel J. Justiz Endowed Chair in Education and executive director of The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin. Sharon Vaughn was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Learning Disabilities and the co-editor of Learning Disabilities Research and Practice. She is the recipient of the AERA SIG distinguished researcher award and The University of Texas Distinguished Faculty Award. She is the 2025 Recipient of the University of Texas Presidential Impact Award. She is the author of numerous books and research articles that address the reading and social outcomes of students with learning difficulties.
She is currently the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on several Institute for Education Sciences, National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, and U.S. Department of Education research grants investigating effective interventions for students with reading difficulties and students who are English language learners.
She is the author of more than 35 books, 250 peer-reviewed research articles and 65 chapters that address issues related to research and practice with learning problems. She has worked nationally and internationally with educators from Japan, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Australia and Singapore.
Congratulations to Professor Sharon Vaughn!
For further information about the AJLD Eminent Researcher Award and list of previous recipients, click here.
2026 The AJLD Early Career Researcher Award
There is no recipient for this award in 2026.
For further information about the AJLD Early Career Researcher Award and list of previous recipients, click here.
2026 The Mona Tobias Award
Professor Lorraine Graham
The LDA Mona Tobias Award is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian education of people with learning difficulties, in the areas of leadership, research, practice, teacher and community education.
It is with great pleasure that LDA announces that in 2026 the recipient of the Mona Tobias award is Professor Lorraine Graham.
As Foundation Professor of Learning Intervention at The University of Melbourne, Lorraine has a track record of internationally recognised scholarship in inclusive education and intervention research for students who experience learning differences. Over the last 30 years she has worked nationally and internationally with schools and systems to support students with disabilities and to deliver professional learning to teachers. In 2023, Lorraine was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to education, particularly in the field of inclusive learning. Lorraine has authored more than 100 published academic works as well as extensive educational resource materials. Her current projects centre on professional learning about inclusive education through sustainable learning, designing inclusive learning spaces, and teachers’ promotion of self-regulated learning.
Congratulations, Lorraine
For further information about Mona Tobias and list of previous recipients of the Mona Tobias Award click here.
2026 The Tertiary Student Award (Joint Winners)
Karina Stocker
The LDA Tertiary Student Award recognises academic excellence and significant research that advances the understanding of theoretical and practical issues in the field of learning difficulties, carried out by a student in the course of their tertiary level studies.
The joint recipient of the 2026 Tertiary Student Award is Karina Stocker.
Karina Stocker is an educator, researcher and school leader specialising in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), evidence-based instruction, implementation science and intensive academic intervention. Karina is an Assistant Principal at Bayswater Primary School and Academic Lead for Intervention Research and MTSS Translation at Monash University. Her doctoral research investigated the organisational and system-level conditions that enable Victorian primary schools to implement and sustain MTSS for reading.
Previously, Karina led the implementation of an integrated MTSS framework across literacy, mathematics, behaviour and wellbeing at Docklands Primary School, which received the 2024 Victorian Education Excellence Award for Outstanding Inclusive Education. Karina works with schools and education systems to translate research into sustainable practice. Her current research at Monash focuses on developing and evaluating intensive literacy intervention using Direct Instruction, Precision Teaching and data-based individualisation.
Driven by both her professional experience and her personal experiences as a parent of children with learning difficulties, Karina is passionate about ensuring every child has access to effective instruction and timely intervention.
Congratulations, Karina.
For further information about the Tertiary Student Award and list of previous recipients, click here.
Melanie Henry
The LDA Tertiary Student Award recognises academic excellence and significant research that advances the understanding of theoretical and practical issues in the field of learning difficulties, carried out by a student in the course of their tertiary level studies.
The joint recipient of the 2026 Tertiary Student Award is Melanie Henry.
Melanie Henry is a current PhD candidate in the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) lab in the School of Education at La Trobe University, supervised by Distinguished Professor Pamela Snow, Professor Tanya Serry, Professor Lorraine Hammond Hammond CF AM and Professor Charlotte Forwood. She was enrolled in 2021 (confirmed February 2023) and is due to complete her studies in 2027.
She is also a lecturer in the School of Education at La Trobe University, working mainly in primary initial teacher education subjects, where she coordinates several English and literacy subjects.
She was a secondary teacher and instructional leader, with experience in both mainstream and alternative schools. She is interested in teacher and school level decision-making around how best to support adolescent students who struggle with literacy, and how best to prepare future teachers to meet their students’ needs.
Congratulations, Melanie.
For further information about the Tertiary Student Award and list of previous recipients, click here.
2026 The Bruce Wicking Award
Kathryn Thorburn
The Bruce Wicking award recognises an individual or organisation for innovative programs or practices relating to the teaching of children with learning difficulties. Bruce Wicking established the Currajong school in 1974 and was committed to the provision of programs which catered for the individual needs of children with learning difficulties. The funds for this award are provided through the generosity of the Wicking family and their friends in commemoration of Bruce’s life and work.
It is my pleasure to present the Bruce Wicking Award to Julie Scali, an exceptional educator and leader whose work has transformed literacy teaching and learning for students with diverse learning needs.
For over 20 years, Kathryn has maintained dual qualifications and certifications in both Speech Pathology and Education, working in both professions simultaneously. This has provided opportunities to contribute to the 2021 NSW K-2 and 3 – 6 English Syllabus and support partnerships between education and speech pathology through the Hunter NELI Project, a AISNSW School Based Research Project.
Establishing her private practice, Language and Learning in 2014, Kathryn has been providing online training and professional support for Speech Pathologists and Specialist Tutors since 2017. This training and support model has been adapted to become the Tier 3 Toolkit for Language, Learning & Literacy Membership, an online library of professional development and ongoing professional support for Australian Speech Pathologists and Specialist Literacy Tutors.
Kathryn has become a leading voice in translating research into practical classroom and clinical practice. Through her business, Language and Learning, she has built a substantial national following, reaching more than 17,000 educators and clinicians through her social media platforms. Kathryn has been a previous consultant member of LDA, have also presented webinars for LDA and contributed to the Bulletin.
Congratulations, Kathryn.
For further information about the Bruce Wicking Award and a list of previous recipients, click here.
2026 The Rosemary Carter Award
Juanita Lee
The Rosemary Carter Award was established in 2019 to recognise an outstanding Consultant Member who has contributed to the field of learning difficulties through work with students, their advocacy for students and their families, and through education of the wider community.
This year the worthy recipient of the award is Juanita Lee.
Juanita Lee is an LDA Consultant Teacher with postgraduate qualifications in learning support and many years of teaching experience assisting students with learning difficulties. She is passionate about teaching students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia.
Congratulations, Juanita
For further information about the Rosemary Carter Award, click here.