02/09/2026
Vale Professor Peter Freebody - Australia has lost a giant in the field of Education.
Peter Freebody's gift to Australian Education cannot be underestimated. He was a powerhouse of intellectual thought. Peter led the advisory group for what was the National English Curriculum: Framing Paper (see:https://docs.acara.edu.au/resources/FramingEnglishFINAL_300109.pdf ). His work with Allan Luke on the Four Resources Model that described the roles that readers (viewers) and writers (designers/creators) assume when engaged in acts of multiple literacies is still used to guide literacy/literacies instruction.
We also commend Peter for his introductory video for the Australian Curriculum: English that provided clarity around the three strands of the English Curriculum - Language, Literature, and Literacy - as well as the guiding principles that underpinned the English Curriculum. One guiding principle of the English Curriculum - 'Equity' was described by Peter (in his words) as educators needing to "clarify and be confident and sure-footed about how it is that English plays a key part in equity. When you look at the diversity of schools across this country, the differences, the cultural and language differences that kids bring to their first day of schooling across the whole of this nation, (sic) are just staggering compared to most other countries. And English has a particular part to play in coping with that and in working with that richness and in building on it in all sorts of different ways." (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y31oLP2JqC8 OR https://v8.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/english/rationale/ )
* Many of us will remember Peter Freebody's gracious acceptance of the ALEA Citation of Merit Award for Research in 2013, when he reflected on literacy not simply as a school subject, but as a matter of participation, equity and social possibility. Peter's scholarship transformed how educators understand literacy, challenging narrow skills-based approaches and illuminating the social, cultural and critical dimensions of reading, writing and meaning-making. Equally remembered for his generosity, intellectual curiosity and mentorship, Peter enriched our field through both his ideas and his relationships with others. ( *Professor Beryl Exley, Griffith University and Past National President of ALEA)
A quote from Peter opens his ALEA Citation of Merit Award for Research document. It exemplifies his respect for teachers/educators. He said: “‘For me, however, the opportunity to work with these teachers reminded me again of the extraordinary and unpredictable diversity of the settings in which teachers must work, and of the doggedness, innovativeness and optimism that must, now more than ever, characterise the professional educator. These are heartening and important reminders as we contemplate the place of research in teaching and the place of teachers in research.’ Freebody (2011)”. Peter's ALEA Citation of Merit Award for Research can be found athttps://www.alea.edu.au/public/116/files/Awards%26Grants/Peter%20Freebody%20Citation.pdf
Watch Peter's recorded acceptance of this award at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WacNBJ7FC0c
