Schools Program 2026

500 students. 4 authors. 1 exciting week!

Our Schools Program is back in 2026 from May 11-18 and we're thrilled to be welcoming the following authors and poets to town to present to students from every childcare, kindergarten, and primary school in the Borough of Queenscliffe.

• Dr. Mark Carthew
  Mark is an award winning Australian children’s author, poet, musician and educator whose work celebrates language, humour, and wordplay. Dr Mark’s book, The Thing That Goes Ping, was the 2021 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year.
  
  
• Dr. Shona Innes
  Dr Shona is a nationally recognised forensic and clinical psychologist, consultant, peer supervisor, speaker and workshop presenter, author and media commentator on mental health issues. Dr Shona will present her Big Hug Books.
  
  
• Claire Saxby
  Claire writes award-winning fiction, non-fiction and poetry for young people. Her work is published in Australia and internationally. Recent books include Tree and Secrets of the Saltmarsh.
  
  
• Emilie Zoey Baker
  Emilie is an award-winning Australian poet, educator, slam nerd and spoken-word performer. She is also a co-founder of Out Loud, Victoria’s first-ever teen team slam, as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Dr Shona Innes is also hosting a session for parents. Little Moments, Mighty Conversations explores how children communicate through behaviour and emotion, and how adults can safeguard through building shared understanding and boundaries in developmentally appropriate ways.

This session happens on Tuesday 12 May from 7-8pm at Point Lonsdale Primary School, and tickets are just $5.

Buy your ticket here.

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