Around the School Table

In this episode of Around the School Table  (xuno.com.au/podcast), host Steve Davis welcomes Danni Mattiazzo , assistant principal at Larrakeyah Primary School (larrakeyahprimary.com.au) in Darwin. Recently recognised with the Australian Education Award for Best Use of Technology , Danni Mattiazzo shares how her leadership has guided the development of IntelliLearn, a locally built platform t...

In this episode of Around the School Table ( xuno.com.au/podcasts ), host Steve Davis is joined by Ryan Ma , assistant principal of Saltwater P–9 College , one of Australia’s fastest-growing schools. Since opening its gates in 2019 with 490 students, Saltwater has expanded to more than 2,200 learners in just six years. With families representing over 29 nationalities and 81 languages,...

In this episode of Around the School Table   ( https://xuno.com.au/podcasts/ ), host Steve Davis is joined by Darcy Nolan , lower secondary subschool leader at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School ’s Bullengerook campus ( https://wordpress.smrss.vic.edu.au/ ). The school is the setting for the acclaimed ABC documentary This is Going to Be Big, ( https://iview.abc.net.au/show/thi...

In this episode of Around the School Table , host Steve Davis is joined by Jason Mustin , assistant principal at Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Palmerston, Northern Territory. Drawing from 17 years in education and an early career in medical science, Jason Mustin brings a unique blend of analytical insight and heartfelt leadership to the table. From navigating national education policy through...

In this episode of Around the School Table , Ben Sacco offers a fresh perspective on classroom behaviour. Drawing from his book ‘ Disruption in Schools: Understand me before you mark me! ’ , he challenges traditional approaches to student discipline and reframes disruption as a signal, not simply a setback. With a decade of experience in education, policy, and innovation, he blends res...

Cameron Peverett may have stumbled into special education, but his leadership journey has been anything but accidental. In this episode of Around the School Table , host Steve Davis is joined by Cameron Peverett , principal at Lake Colac School and current president of the Principal Association of Specialist Schools (PASS) . From humble beginnings and unexpected opportunities to pioneering best-pr...

In this episode, Kristy Miller and Suzanne Litchfield share their journey founding Turrun Primary School on a greenfield site. In this episode of Around the School Table , host Steve Davis explores how they built a school identity rooted in local Indigenous language and meaning. From day one, Principal Kristy Miller and Assistant Principal Suzanne Litchfield focused on core values—respect, c...

In this episode of Around the School Table , host Steve Davis speaks with Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza from North Mandurah Primary School in Western Australia. Kendall Lange, the principal, and Wendy Tregenza, leader of the school’s Specialised Learning Programs for Autism (SLP-A), share real-world strategies for supporting autistic students and fostering inclusive school communities. Ke...

In this episode of Around the School Table , host Steve Davis talks with Paul James, ICT Manager at St Ignatius College in Geelong—a school where technology is no longer confined to the IT office but woven through every aspect of school life. From cybersecurity to AI-driven classroom tools, James is helping reshape how schools operate, protect, and innovate. As the person responsible for all...

In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks with Anthony Rowe, principal of Huntingdale Primary School in Melbourne — a pioneering bilingual school where students navigate their learning in both English and Japanese from their very first day. With half the curriculum delivered in Japanese, including subjects like mathematics—the school challenges traditional edu...

In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis talks with Craig Ainsworth from Westport Public School about how a modest chess program in a low socio-economic school achieved elite educational outcomes over 18 years. Far from just a lunchtime club, Craig’s program developed students’ physical control, emotional intelligence, intellectual stamina, and creative thinking&mda...

In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks with Nikki Bonus, founder of Life Skills Group and the digital platform Life Skills Go. The conversation dives deep into the intersection of emotional intelligence, student well-being, and readiness to learn—arguing that emotional regulation is foundational to academic success. Bonus explains how Life Skills Go serves as a &...

In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis visits Leigh Johnson, principal of Harkaway Primary School—a small, 150-year-old school nestled in Victoria’s scenic hills. Despite its modest size and absence from the national spotlight, Harkaway has gained international recognition for its innovative, student-centred approach to education, especially around resilience and...