Hills Grammar’s 2025 series explores the powerful link between wellbeing and learning for teachers and students
Hills Grammar is kicking off its highly anticipated 2025 professional learning series, titled Living and Learning.
This initiative, spearheaded by the school’s Learning Centre, isn’t just about improving education within the school’s walls. It’s a global call for educators, parents, psychologists, and other professionals to explore the profound connections between wellbeing and learning.
Dr Christine Furner PhD, Hills Grammar’s Director of Professional Learning, is passionate about this year’s theme, which emphasises the holistic relationship between physical, mental, and social wellbeing and the capacity to learn.
“There’s been increasing worldwide discussion about teacher wellbeing,” Dr Furner explains.
“In schools, we live in communities that are vital to supporting student growth and resilience – and the teacher is key in those relationships. This year, we’ve decided to title our series ‘Living and Learning,’ to reflect that.”
The 2025 series will feature six thought-provoking sessions, each led by prominent educators, psychologists, and researchers. Participants can attend a single event or sign up for the entire journey.
Among the highlights are Professor Rebecca Collie’s session on boosting teacher wellbeing, Collette Smart’s presentation on supporting flourishing teenagers, and Professor Penny Van Bergen’s exploration of how student-teacher relationships shape both wellbeing and learning. The series will conclude with Professor John Fischetti, who will challenge attendees to imagine future schools designed to optimise wellbeing and learning.
One of the core motivators for this year’s series is the rising concern over teacher retention.
“We see a lot of teachers leaving the profession worldwide,” Dr Furner observes.
“Research is starting to emerge on the undeniable link between teacher and student wellbeing. For future education to be successful, we need school communities where the wellbeing of all contributors – both staff and students – is taken into account.”
A different kind of learning experience
The Learning Centre, which functions as the professional development hub of Hills Grammar, has spent years refining its offerings based on global research and best practices in education.
The school’s new Learning Hub features innovative technologies designed to ensure a highly interactive experience for both in-person and virtual attendees. Large screens, interconnected microphones, and cameras create a space where online participants can engage in real-time discussions alongside those in the room.
This element was particularly well received during the 2024 series, where attendees reported a unique level of interactivity compared to other virtual experiences.
“The feedback really highlighted that it wasn’t just a one-way communication,” Dr Furner comments. “The virtual guests really felt like they were contributing positively to each other’s learning.”
The Learning Centre’s emphasis on professional learning extends well beyond its annual signature Series. Through The Learning Centre, a variety of Personalised Professional Practice (PPP) services are offered to the broader educational community. These services are designed to empower professionals to reflect, learn, connect, collaborate, and thrive in their roles. Educators, leaders and schools have the flexibility to build their own packages tailored to their unique needs, desired learning outcomes, and school contexts.
“The Learning Centre’s Professional Services is very unique and could only be done in a school where professional learning is positive and flourishing,” Dr Furner notes.
Meanwhile, The Learning Centre continues to inspire a sense of belonging and further enriches the school’s vibrant learning community through generating the school’s internal professional learning program. The Learning Centre Staff Program aims to support educators throughout their careers, offering leadership development, mentoring, and action research opportunities. Teachers are encouraged in their endeavour to share, reflect, and learn from each other.
Dr Furner notes: “Our teachers love to present to each other and share their expertise every year, and we have 30-35 sessions this year!”
The significance of the annual Learning Centre Series isn’t lost on those who benefit from it. Over the past two years, attendees, whether parents or educators, have walked away with a deeper understanding of teaching practice, school communities, student and adult learning and wellbeing.
Dr Furner concludes: “It could be said that living well is when you are well enough to not only learn, but to learn creatively, with purpose and passion, and to thrive both personally and collectively with others around you.”
With its innovative approach and commitment to professional growth, The Learning Centre’s 2025 Living and Learning Series promises to resonate far beyond its own community. “I’m really excited for this series,” Dr Furner says, “I really hope that the topics will resonate globally.”
To find out more about The Learning Centre’s Living and Learning series, click here.