Positive Schools

"Small things. The hum of the aircon. The flicker of the lights. Context shapes behaviour. And context is something teachers can actually change." Dr Kristyn Sommer, 2026

2026 BEHAVING WELL

A very BIG and warm welcome to Kristyn Sommer. Feeling extremely lucky to have Kristyn on board for this years Positive Schools conferences!

Dr Kristyn Sommer is a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow and co-founder of Many Minds Institute, whose work asks a deceptively simple question: how do people actually learn? Her research spans children's social and observational learning, engagement with emerging technologies, and the adaptations that make support genuinely effective for neurodivergent people. Drawing on both her science and her own neurodivergent identity, Kristyn translates evidence into practical insight for educators, reframing difference as something to design with, not around.
Kristyn's Positive Schools 2026 Keynote:

When an autistic student stares out the window, rocks in their chair, or refuses to make eye contact, it is easy to read disengagement. But what if the science tells a different story? In this keynote, Dr Kristyn Sommer, Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow and autistic researcher, draws on her own work and lived experience to show that autistic behaviour is not the absence of engagement but a different expression of it. With practical, evidence-based strategies, Kristyn helps teachers see the small contextual shifts, a light adjusted here, a seating option there, that can transform a student's experience of the classroom. You will leave with a new lens for reading your students and the confidence that inclusive education is less about doing more, and more about seeing differently.

Join Kristyn and over 30 other amazing presenters for the Positive Schools 2026 conference series - "BEHAVING WELL

www.Positiveschools.com.au

WWW.POSITIVESCHOOLS.COM

.justin.roberts Dr Kristyn Sommer

A MASSIVE welcome to Dr Sue Roffey to Positive Schools 2026! Sue is coming all the way from the United Kingdom for the Positive Schools 2026 conference series.

How EXCITING!

MAIN DAY ONE - KEYNOTE

Aspiring to Positive Behaviour

Dr Sue Roffey

Children have an innate curiosity about the world – surely the role of education is to capture, maintain and grow that love of learning.

In 2025 the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Education published An Inquiry into the Loss of Love of Learning. In this they cited all the associated problems, including poor attendance, disengaged students, rising behaviour difficulties and teacher attrition. But good practice does exist, so this talk is about ten primary schools that are really engaging ALL children and where both teachers and learners can’t wait to get to school every day. What are the vision and values that underpin what these schools are doing every day, how does this align with the ASPIRE principles of Agency, Safety, Positivity, Inclusion, Respect and Equity and what difference is this making to learning, behaviour, attendance and academic outcomes? And how might all schools replicate this so every child loves learning?

BRISBANE BCEC (Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre)
- Main Days: 26 & 27 Oct plus post-conference 28 Oct
SYDNEY - Rydges World Square Hotel - Pre-conference 4 Nov, Main Days: 5 & 6 Nov
FREMANTLE, WA - Rydges Esplanade Hotel - Pre-conference 18 Nov plus Main Days: 19 & 20 Nov

More news coming soon. More presenters, more unique opportunities for educators to better plan their policy for both bullying prevention and management.

Early bird is live!

www.PositiveSchools.com.au

SAVE THE DATE..

BRISBANE BCEC (Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre)

- Main Days: Oct 26th & 27st plus Post-conference Oct 28th

SYDNEY - Rydges World Square Hotel - Pre-conference 4th Nov, Main Days: Nov 5th & 6th

FREMANTLE Rydges Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WA - Pre-conference Nov 18th plus Main Days: Nov 19th & 20th Nov.

Positive Schools 2025 is taking place in October through to November.We welcome Michael Carr-Gregg to the stage in three states.

AI in Schools - Friend or Foe

Child and Adolescent

Psychologist

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere—from homework helpers to chatbot counsellors—leaving educators to wonder: is AI a classroom friend or a digital foe? This keynote explores the double-edged sword of AI in schools, uncovering its power to personalise learning, spark creativity, and ease teacher workload, while keeping a sharp eye on pitfalls like bias, privacy, and digital distraction.

With stories, a dash of humour, and practical insights, we’ll cut through hype to uncover how we can make AI an ally for well-being and achievement—not a classroom robot with a mind of its own. Let’s future-proof our schools with wisdom, not just gadgets.

About Michael

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia’s leading adolescent and child

psychologists working in private practice in Melbourne and Brisbane. A highly sought-after speaker, author, and media commentator, he is renowned for making complex psychological concepts accessible, engaging, and practical. Michael has worked extensively in schools, corporate settings, and the media to promote youth mental health, resilience, and wellbeing. He is the author of numerous best-selling books on parenting and adolescent issues and is a regular voice on television, radio, and print. With warmth, wit, and evidence-based insights, Michael equips parents, educators, and young people with tools to navigate life’s challenges and hrive in a changing world.