Australian Learning Lecture series

The Australian Learning Lecture (ALL) series is a joint project of the Koshland Innovation Fund and State Library Victoria. Seeking to bring big ideas in education to national attention, the decade-long project is designed to strengthen the importance of learning in Australia – not just in formal institutions, but as an everyday pursuit to improve quality of life.

Australia’s future wellbeing and prosperity depend on learning being highly valued across society. The founders of ALL believe our approach to learning must change if we are to develop broader capabilities and achieve a lively learning culture.

Already, there are many great initiatives taking place within Australian schools, cultural institutions, sporting codes, businesses, and community and family groups. Existing discussions about learning, however, are largely factional, financial and transactional. They fail to ignite the interest and commitment of the wider community. ALL aims to change this paradigm and provide a national vehicle to gather, communicate and discuss learning ideas.

Presented biennially, each lecture in the series will be a catalyst for a two-year program of events, bringing new thinking to public attention. The lecture series will feature the world’s leading knowledge shapers to discuss the biggest issues facing learning today.

ALL will put learning back on the agenda for Australia, from high-level thinking to practical applications, illustrated through case studies from national and international sources. It will change the way Australia thinks about itself as a learning society.

Inaugural lecture

The ALL series’ inaugural lecture was presented by renowned British educationalist Sir Michael Barber on the theme of 'joy and data', at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday 21 May 2015.