2 Day Pre-recorded online event with Trade Fair and Bookshop
Open to delegates from March 30 to May 31, 2021 Bookings open until May 24, 2021
Print Full Program here. Print Presenters at a Glance here.
NEW PRICES
CBCA Member - Two days $440 Inc GST or $110 Inc GST per Session
Non-Member - Two days $550 Inc GST or $137.50 Inc GST per Session
Please email cbcansw@bigpond.com for group booking prices.
Book online here Manual Booking form here Group Booking Form here

About the Conference
This global conference has been created in the spirit of exploring the inner worlds of Poetry. The conference will be an online experience for those who love poetry, wish to discover its power and empower others, students, teacher and the broader community, with a love of poetry. We will discover how poetry connects us; how we can build a community which celebrates diversity and inclusiveness. Whatever our poetic starting point, the amazing line-up of Australian and International speakers will educate and inform delegates. The many diverse workshops will enable delegate participation and be available on line for teachers to utilise with their students.
Clarification from NESA states
For teachers completing their maintenance period in 2021 or 2022, the hours you participate can be registered as Elective PD.
‘Under the transition arrangements for maintenance of teacher accreditation, for teachers completing their maintenance period in 2021 or 2022, which is the majority of teachers, Elective PD and Registered/Accredited PD count equally.’ (NESA, 16 February 2021)
POETRY IN THE CURRICULUM
We have heard from some teachers that a conference with poetry as its focus may not match their schools’ priorities, such as improving students’ comprehension, writing or grammar. Here is our response. Poetry is an ideal medium for addressing the 4 main objectives of the NSW English Curriculum, to enable students to:
Communicate through speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing & representing
Use language to shape & make meaning according to purpose, audience & subject matter
Think in ways that are imaginative, creative, interpretive & critical
Express themselves &their relationships with others & their world
Selection of poetic texts meets the criteria of:
Quality texts
Intercultural experiences
Insights into indigenous experiences
Differing viewpoints
Using an excellent anthology, poems can be easily incorporated into any unit of work. The compact & precise use of language means they are perfect model texts for both reading and writing. At the micro level of learning, poems and lyrical picture books are as valuable as any scheme book, passage or worksheet text to develop many skills, including:
Interpreting language
Finding the main idea
Inferencing
Developing vocabulary
Writing using language devices
Reading for close study of language devices
Grammar in use
Poetry writing workshops by some of our presenters will provide teachers with the knowledge, skill and confidence to enhance student learning. They can be used in classrooms with students for the duration the conference is online. Additional Resources for Conference Delegates In addition, practical written resources to support teachers will be available for download by attendees in conjunction with each session. Session 1: KEYNOTE & FOUNDATIONAL The Poetry-Friendly Classroom: immersion is the key! Responding to Poetry in the primary classroom through talk General Poetry Resources Poster: A-Z of Poets Annotated List of Anthologies Session 2: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds Resources and Teaching ideas to Celebrate Book Week in 2021 The Best Books of 2020 Poster: A-Z of Poets Annotated List of Anthologies Session 3: Lyrical Language Lyrical Language in Picture Books - Mentor Texts Sophie Masson: School Magazine worksheets Poster: A-Z of Poets Annotated List of Anthologies Session 4: Verse Novels Poster: Middle Grade Verse Novels Poster: Young Adult Poster: A-Z of Poets Annotated List of Anthologies Session 5: Performance Poetry Give Voice to Poetry - performance suggestion Poster of A-Z of Poets Annotated List of Anthologies So, Poetry can help your school improve literacy outcomes… Whilst engaging students! CBCA NSW Branch can provide assistance with a Staff Development Day Package suited to your school’s requirements. Contact Felicity here or at cbcansw@bigpond.com
CONFERENCE GUIDE
Day One

Keynote Session 1: Total time: 100 minutes
In Love Again: Poetry
Acclaimed author and poet, Libby Hathorn, will inspire you about the power of Poetry – reading and writing. This foundational session will give you the knowledge to unpack poetry and inspire you and your students to read and write poetry in many forms. The power of language in poetry and especially Indigenous language will be explored by Kirli Saunders. Studying how poets use language – what words and phrases they choose and combine – can help us better understand ourselves and others.
Presenters
Libby Hathorn - Addressing the Curriculum to inspire the teaching of Poetry - 20 mins
The Making of a Picture Book ‘We Children and The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ by Libby Hathorn and Illustrated by Sadami Konchi - 20 mins
Sadami Konchi - The Illustrator Embraces Poetry - 20 mins
Libby Hathorn - Poetry Workshop - 20 mins
Kirli Saunders - An Indigenous Perspective of poetry - thanks to Magabala Books - 20 mins

Session 2: Total time: 120 minutes
CBCA Quality Literature: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
How up to date are you about the titles published in 2020? Celebrate with us as we explore the worlds created in quality children’s publishing in 2020. Get the inside scoop. Experts in the field will present their informed choices on the books that could appear on our CBCA Notable list, the Shortlist and the ultimate Winners and Honours. Ursula Dubosarsky, the esteemed Australian Children’s Laureate, will unpack the CBCA 2021 Book week theme – motivating you and your communities to celebrate throughout the year!
The CBCA Shortlist announcement will be live streamed on March 30, 2021 at 12.00pm Midday on the CBCA Website and available from our conference.
Presenters
Quality Books Published in 2020 - Short Listed Categories
Victoria Roberts - Early Childhood - 20 mins
Better Read Kids Bookshop - Younger Readers - 20 mins
Julie Swane - Older Readers - 20 mins
Jasmine Seymour - Picture Book Category - 20 mins