2026 CONFERENCE TOPIC:
What constitutes a knowledge-rich curriculum and what a classical / liberal perspective has to offer.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Opening comments
Prof. Simon Haines & Phoebe Lawrence
Haines: Ramsay Centre for Western Civ, Sydney; Lawrence: MaiTri Foundation
A knowledge-rich curriculum with a liberal perspective
Dallas McInerney
CEO, Catholic Schools NSW
What constitutes a knowledge-rich curriculum and why is it needed?
Dr Kevin Donnelly AM
Organiser
Young Advocates
Young Classical Education Advocates
Various
A knowledge-rich curriculum within a classical perspective
Prof. Robert Carver
Director of the Ramsay Program in Western Civilisation, Australian Catholic University
Religious freedom: navigating the future for faith-based schools
Monica Doumit
University of Notre Dame
2025 CONFERENCE TOPIC:
Schools committed to a classical / liberal education.
Adelaide, South Australia
Introduction
Dr Kevin Donnelly AM
Organiser
Lost lessons: how best to structure a classical classroom
Conor Ross
English teacher and writer
Reclaiming the future: why a classical education renaissance can't wait
Dr Bella d'Abrera
Foundations of Western Civilisation Program, IPA
Young advocates of a classical/liberal education
Panel
Various
Giving form to mind and character
Dr Michael Casey
Director, PM Glynn Institute
Managing a school: challenges and opportunities
Fernando Farrugia
Principal, St Benedict's School, Adelaide
2024 CONFERENCE TOPIC:
What constitutes a worthwhile education?
Brisbane, Queensland
Opening comments
Dr Kevin Donnelly AM
Organiser
Memory and the West's patrimony
Anna Krohn
Executive Director, Thomas More Centre
What constitutes a worthwhile education? A liberal perspective
Colin Black
Former Headmaster, Camberwell Grammar School
Reality, freedom and the ends of life
Prof. Simon Haines
Inaugural CEO: Ramsay Centre for Western Civ
What constitutes a worthwhile education? A classical perspective
Prof. Robert Carver
Director of the Ramsay Program in Western Civilisation
An update from the USA
Sean Elgut
Headmaster, Superintendent
2023 CONFERENCE TOPIC:
What is the purpose of education?
Sydney, New South Wales
The purpose of education
Dr Kevin Donnelly AM
Organiser; Senior Fellow, ACU
The place of literature in the school curriculum
Barry Spurr
Australia's first professor of poetry
What is a classical education?
Tracey Rowland
University of Notre Dame Australia
Religious freedom and faith-based schools
Monica Doumit
Lawyer, University of Notre Dame
The place of universal ethics in faith-based schools
Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen
Founder, Institute for Judaism and Civilisation
The place of history in the school curriculum
Simon Kennedy
Senior Research Fellow, T. C. Beirne School of Law, UQ
