VALBEC2026 Numeracy PD Day
Monday 7 December 2026
8:45am - 3:30pm
Numeracy PD Day Workshops and Presenters
Building Bridges and Creating Paths Tesa Leon Session 1: 9:15 - 10:00 Room TBA Workshop Summary “Math is everywhere!” and “When am I going to use this?” are two sides to mathematics. The chasm connecting these ideas feels impassable, the divide between numeracy and math. How can we, as educators, see maths differently so our learners discover maths? |
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Tesa is an adult educator motivated by a passion for the advancement of historically underrepresented communities. Her curriculum development integrates critical thinking, mathematics/numeracy, and problem solving education and training at the foundational, workforce, and post-secondary levels.
Workshop Details - Coming Soon! Kerri Ledingham Session 2: 10:00 - 10:45, Auditorium |
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Kerri is a specialist-trained teacher with lived experience and more than two decades of teaching, primarily supporting students with additional needs. As a 2024 International Specialised Skills Institute Fellow, her research focused on improving participation, retention and completion rates for students with dyscalculia in vocational education, leading to the implementation of two pilot projects aimed at improving educational outcomes for learners with mathematical learning difficulties.
Kerri is currently RMIT's Disability Transition Support Officer, supporting TAFE students aged 20 years and under. Prior to this role, she taught within VE's Social Care and Health cluster, preparing future teachers and teacher aides to effectively support learners with diverse learning needs. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Kerri is passionate about improving educator understanding of dyscalculia and promoting evidence-based approaches to mathematics inclusion.
The critical roles that literacy and language plays in teaching numeracy and mathematics Dave Tout Session 3: 11:10 - 11:55, Room TBA Workshop Summary Why do teachers of numeracy and mathematics also need to be language and literacy teachers? This presentation and hands-on workshop will look at issues related to the relationship between numeracy and mathematics, and the crucial role that language and literacy play in the teaching and learning of both mathematics and numeracy. Based on this analysis, Dave will share some of the key strategies and approaches you can use to teach numeracy successfully taking the language and literacy aspects on board. Suitable not only for numeracy teachers/trainers, but also for language and literacy teachers who want to address and incorporate numeracy aspects into the teaching. |
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Dave is a LLN educator with a strong passion for making mathematics relevant, engaging and enjoyable for all learners, and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading numeracy educators. He has over 50 years’ experience working across schools, TAFEs, ACE providers, universities, national education bodies and workplaces. Dave has authored numeracy/mathematics curriculum, including the CGEA, VCAL and the VCE, including the new VCE Vocational Major and VPC, is also an author of the ACSF. He written a wide range of teaching and PD resources. Dave has been involved in international numeracy assessments, including the OECD’s PIAAC and PISA programs.
More than just worksheets: Promoting language, discussion and understanding in Adult Numeracy classes Beth Marr Session 4: 11:10 - 11:55, Room TBA Workshop Summary This practical, interactive session will look at several examples of adult numeracy activity structures or 'models'. These activities are designed to encourage learners to use and understand the meanings of numeracy language and symbols. They will cover a range of levels and numeracy aspects including: number, measurement and space and shape. The examples used will be taken from the VALBEC online numeracy resource 'Building Strength with Numeracy'. However, discussion will also look at how these structures can be extended and/or adapted to suit the needs of different students and their particular vocational contexts. |
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Beth has worked in Adult Numeracy for many decades, as a teacher/coordinator, curriculum and resource developer, professional development leader and researcher. She was coordinator and lead writer of many popular Australian Adult Numeracy resources, such as "Mathematics: A New Beginning"; "Strength in Numbers"; "Breaking the Maths Barrier" and "Numeracy on the Line."
The most popular activities and practice exercises from these resources were combined and recently updated to create the VALBEC online resource, Building Strength with Numeracy, which is available on the VALBEC website.
Applying automaticity in your context Jessica Ivankovic Session 5: 11:10 - 11:55, Room TBA Workshop Summary What is automaticity in numeracy? Efficient retrieval of number facts and knowledge can help free up working memory for learners to engage in problem-solving and critical thinking. Jessica will draw on her post-graduate studies and mathematics teaching experience in secondary school and electrical trades, where participants will have an opportunity to share and discuss approaches to cultivate automaticity in their chosen context. There will be opportunity to design a resource to facilitate automaticity of a numeracy skill of their interest. |
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Jessica is a Literacy and Numeracy (LN) Specialist within vocational education at RMIT University. With an interest in supporting mathematics skills in electrical trades, Jessica draws on past maths secondary teaching experience and post-graduate studies to support mathematics fluency in VET contexts.
Workshop Details - Coming Soon!
Session 6 : 12:00 - 12:45, Room TBA Workshop Summary COMING SOON! |
Game On! Games and Gamification in Adult Numeracy Teaching Harriet Ngo Session 7: 12:00 - 12:45, Room TBA Workshop Summary A hands-on workshop that shows literacy, numeracy and English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers how games and simple game elements can make numeracy lessons less stressful and more engaging for adult learner. |  |
Harriet works at AMES Australia across quality teaching and learning, including professional development, learning resource design and quality assurance coordination. She has experience teaching adult migrant learners at a range of levels. Harriet holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language Studies and a Master's degree in TESOL. With nearly 10 years of teaching experience in Vietnam and Australia, including three years teaching migrants, she remains passionate about teaching and about helping her learners feel at ease while they learn.
Workshop Details - Coming Soon!
Session 8 : 12:00 - 12:45, Room TBA Workshop Summary COMING SOON! |
New workplace numeracy resources: Moving Adult Numeracy Forward Dave Tout
Session 9: 1:35 - 2:20, Room TBA Workshop Summary Funded by ACFE, two new workplace numeracy resources have been developed for Learn Locals to support learners aiming to work in industries where maths demands are substantial and typically require ACSF Level 3 or above. The resources focus on Care and Support and the Manufacturing, Construction and Landscaping sectors, showing how maths is embedded in everyday workplace practices and what knowledge and skills underpin safe and effective work. Each resource includes a set of Snapshots illustrating the types of maths used across different roles and how these map to the ACSF. Building on these, the accompanying Teacher Guides analyse the underpinning concepts, problem solving processes, and the essential language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to enter these workforces. In this session, Dave will outline what he and Tina Berghella found in their analysis, share and explain the Snapshots, the Guides, highlight key messages, and demonstrate their use with learners. |
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Dave is a LLN educator with a strong passion for making mathematics relevant, engaging and enjoyable for all learners, and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading numeracy educators. He has over 50 years’ experience working across schools, TAFEs, ACE providers, universities, national education bodies and workplaces. Dave has authored numeracy/mathematics curriculum, including the CGEA, VCAL and the VCE, including the new VCE Vocational Major and VPC, is also an author of the ACSF. He written a wide range of teaching and PD resources. Dave has been involved in international numeracy assessments, including the OECD’s PIAAC and PISA programs.
Personal Financial Literacy Anne Vize Session 10: 1:35 - 2:20, Room TBA Workshop Summary Personal financial literacy is a vital topic for teen and young adult learners. We know that many young people lack the financial skills they need to succeed in the adult world. Learning about savings goals, budgets, spending habits as well as practical skills in balancing income and expenses and how to prioritise spending and work with money is an engaging, practical topic within adult numeracy teaching. In this hands-on, practical workshop we will explore financial literacy resources, discuss the skills and needs of teens and young adults in the future, and tackle tricky topics like gambling, online safety and asking for financial help. The focus will be on easy reading resources and activities which work for students who experience barriers to their learning, or who prefer accessible, short duration learning activities. |
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Anne is an Australian educator and writer. She is the author of the respected Maths Skills for Living and Maths Skills for Working titles, which will soon be re-released as new editions. She wrote the Inclusive Education series, with titles on Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism and Communication Needs, and the Skills for Work series. Writing for Australian and overseas teachers, Anne creates print and digital resources for teens and young adults on topics including real world maths, financial literacy, consumer maths and 'adulting'. She values creating practical, accessible and user friendly resources which focus on success.
Getting to the Table Tesa Leon Session 11: 1:35 - 2:20, Room TBA Numeracy requires not only maths and literacy skills but also the ability to find the numbers needed and to use them. In this workshop, participants will work with a table-based lesson that integrates maths, literacy, and numeracy skills. Teams will discuss ways to adapt the lesson to different skill levels and cultural backgrounds. |
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Tesa is an adult educator motivated by a passion for the advancement of historically underrepresented communities. Her curriculum development integrates critical thinking, mathematics/numeracy, and problem solving education and training at the foundational, workforce, and post-secondary levels.
Exploring Online Numeracy Resources and Hands-On Ideas Pam Mahlis Session 12: 2:25 - 3:20, Room TBA Workshop Summary Join us for an engaging, practical session all about bringing numeracy to life with online resources! Discover a wide range of free and interactive tools that can help you strengthen your students’ number skills and mathematical thinking. This workshop will be packed with hands-on activities, creative ideas, and ready-to-use resources you can take straight into your classroom. Whether you’re looking to support diverse learners, add variety to your lessons, or make numeracy more fun and accessible, this session will equip you with strategies to enhance numeracy learning through the power of digital tools. |
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Pam is a dedicated and experienced numeracy educator with a strong background in both secondary and adult education. Beginning her career as a mathematics teacher in the secondary school system, she developed a deep understanding of how to engage learners of all abilities and foster confidence in numeracy.
Building on this foundation, Pam transitioned into adult education, where she has continued to make a significant impact by supporting adults to develop essential numeracy skills for work, study, and everyday life. Her teaching approach is grounded in creating inclusive, supportive, and practical learning environments that empower learners to achieve their goals.
Currently, Pam continues to work in the Literacy and Numeracy (LN) space, contributing to resource development, and innovative approaches to adult numeracy education. With a commitment to lifelong learning and educational equity, Pam is dedicated in helping all learners build the skills and confidence.
What do we need this for? Ruth Patterson Session 13: 2:25 - 3:20, Room TBA Workshop Summary Teaching numeracy to adults can be easier than trying to educate youngsters who might cry “when are we ever going to use this?” The many applications of maths in measurement, statistics and percentages can be drawn out of adults who have relevant life experience, and can share their knowledge of where the numeracy is applied.
In this presentation I will outline the explicit numeracy which is taught in adult education such as CGEA, and how it can be relatable using hands-on materials. Area can be taught and investigated using a piece of material or a house tile; algebra and percentages can be investigated on a spreadsheet. The applications of numeracy can be drawn out of students and further explained with examples of numeracy in VET areas and trades. |
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Ruth is a Learning Skills teacher at Melbourne Polytechnic, working in various VET areas. She has taught numeracy in corrections education, in senior secondary, and other TAFE settings. She recently worked on the Building Strength with Numeracy resource to make it more current. She has 3 sons, enjoys travel and swimming, and spends free time doing jigsaw puzzles.
Workshop Details Coming Soon! Session 14: 2:25 - 3:20, Room TBA |