Minnis Journals

For Education Leaders

Trauma-informed Education for War-affected and Refugee Students - A Moment on the School Playground

When trauma-informed approaches are embedded across school communities, classrooms can become places not only of learning but also of healing, stability, and belonging. In an increasingly interconnected and displaced world it is becoming an urgent educational priority. Read more

Relationship based Education Model Keeps Kids in School

Australia spent $1.1 billion on youth detention in 2024-25, at a cost of $1.3 million per child per year. Around 85 per cent return to sentenced supervision within 12 months. Dr Chirs Sarra's Stronger Smarter Institute has spent 21 years demonstrating a different trajectory to truancy, criminality and jail is possible: at Cherbourg State School in rural Qld, under his leadership, attendance rose from 62 per cent to 94 per cent.
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Australian Graduates are Still Getting Hired

Australian employer demand for graduates eased last year - the third consecutive annual decline - but has rebounded modestly in early 2026 says data from employment site Indeed. Hiring in occupations highly exposed to artificial intelligence fell more sharply than in other occupations, though the timing is too early for artificial intelligence to be the primary culprit. Data also shows no signs that jobseekers are finding it more difficult to find graduate work. Read more

Sleep-Deprived Schools: Why the Best Leaders Join the Anti-5AM Club

How did you sleep last night?
   If you are a teacher or school leader, the honest answer might sound familiar.
   You stayed up late finishing planning or replying to emails.
   You woke once or twice during the night.
   And when the alarm went off, you felt like you could easily sleep for another hour.
   If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many professionals are operating on far less sleep than they need. Read more

Millions of Digital Books Borrowed

Amid growing concerns about screen time, social media, and declining attention spans, new data show students across Australia and New Zealand borrowed 4.8 million digital books in 2025, highlighting the changing nature of screen time and the growing role of digital reading in schools.
Ebooks remain the most popular format, accounting for the majority of borrowing, while audiobooks continue to grow.
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Teachers with ADHD

When it comes to ADHD, the label isn’t definitive and finding ways of working and support that allows employees to thrive and aligns with the work environment they are most comfortable with should be focussed on.
Working in a school often means managing loud classrooms and dealing with interruptions. Teachers are expected to balance interacting with students with repetitive administrative tasks with set deadlines. Read more