Setting SMART Targets for Students with Learning Difficulties

All Members are invited to attend the 2023 Annual General Meeting of Learning Difficulties Australia (LDA). Attendance is free and can either be in person or online. For those attending in person, afternoon tea will be provided. In addition to general business, the day will include the presentation of Awards to the selected recipients and presentations by some award recipients. We will also be welcoming new life members and discussing the exciting future of LDA. Come along and take this opportunity to network with colleages, add to your PD hours and meet the LDA team. Date: Saturday, 14th October 2023 Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm Location: The Treacy Centre, 126 The Avenue, Parkville 3052 OR Online RSVP: Please register your attendance by Wednesday 11th October for in person attendance for catering purposes. Online attendance can be registered until the start of the event. *** Please note that all Standard and Consultant Members have voting rights and a quorum of 10% of the membership is required to attend in order to adhere to governance requirements. In Person Attendance Ticket Online Attendance Ticket

This online conference will run over 2 days (Saturday 28th October and Sunday 29th October). All presentations will be recorded and available for 1 month. The timing for the event is: Saturday 28th October: 9:30 am - 2 pm Sunday 29th October: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm On Saturday, our keynote speaker, Dr. Anita Archer, will discuss explicit instruction in her presentation ‘The Magic is in the Instruction’ and Julie Scali will present on the Fundamentals of Response to Intervention. Karina Stocker will provide examples of how a school in Melbourne has successfully used MTSS models and Julie Sonnemann will present on ‘What the research says: How to embed small group tuition in schools?’ On Sunday, screening assessments and setting targets will be discussed (Robyn Wheldall/Nicola Bell/Siobhan Merlo/Julie Scali). Louise Spear-Swerling will present on Identifying common types of reading difficulties and Alison Madelaine will present on designing Tier 3 interventions. Ticket Pricing Early Bird (This price will be available until 7th August) LDA Member $265 Non-Member $330 Student Member $185 Normal Price LDA Member $285 Non-Member $350 Student Member $205 Sponsors Gold

Join Stewart D'Silva, a Registered Psychologist, as he empowers participants with the knowledge and confidence to navigate dyslexia assessment seamlessly. In his engaging presentation, Stewart will shed light on the essential steps that precede a referral to a psychologist. These steps ensure that the necessary evidence is gathered through careful observation and screening assessments, all within the framework of Response to Intervention (RTI). His insights will also address the crucial questions educators should consider before initiating a diagnostic assessment. As this session is scheduled from 7 pm to 9 pm AEDT, Stewart invites you to bring your dinner and a beverage of your choice, creating an informal yet enriching atmosphere for an evening of dining, drinks, and dyslexia. **This webinar will be recorded and available for two weeks after the event** Date: Thursday 16th November Time: 7:00 pm - 9: 00 pm AEDT (Melbourne Time) Cost: LDA Member: $50 LDA Student Member - $40 Non-Member - $70 About Stewart D'Silva Across Australia and New Zealand, Stewart is passionate about psychological assessment, and working closely with young people (ages 6-16+), their families/carers, and their schools to come to a shared understanding of how to best support the struggling learner. ​ Stewart also loves working closely with schools to design and deliver Professional Learning for teachers and special educators who want to learn more about screening, assessing, and intervening for young people at risk. This process keeps the young person in the safe space of school as concerns and differences are explored by educators, encourages data-driven informed referrals to be built, and, importantly, reduces panic referrals to clinicians. ​ Areas of Interest:​ Conducting assessments for concerns around:​ academic achievement/specific learning disorders (reading, written expression, maths),​ intellectual ability/disability (verbal and nonverbal thinking and problem-solving, working memory, processing speed, adaptive behaviour), and​ attention and executive functions (activation, focus, effort, emotion, working memory, self-regulation).​ Designing and delivering professional learning for teachers and special educators.​