An Australian Government-funded initiative is providing free lesson packs for teachers to support changing literacy curriculums for primary school students.
Phonics has been no stranger to national news in recent years.
The headline? There’s a rising tide of educators, education researchers, policymakers and leaders turning to systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) as their preferred method of teaching early years reading.
Now, education jurisdictions across the country are changing their instructional frameworks to include teaching using an SSP approach.
The aim is to lift student outcomes, boost literacy, and help struggling readers get the support they need early.
The phonics tide of change
Systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) teaching is taking centre stage in Australian schools – and it’s changing how kids learn to read.
From this year, all Victorian state schools will need to deliver at least 25 minutes of explicit SSP instruction daily to Foundation to Year 2 students – and similar reforms have rolled out across other Australian states in recent years.
SSP involves systematically introducing letter-sound correspondences and teaching students how to use these for reading and spelling.
Recent studies by the Grattan Institute, among others, show that SSP is a crucial component of effective literacy instruction. It’s the approach that gives all students the best chance of becoming skilled readers.
While not yet a national standard, the adoption of SSP as the preferred method for teaching reading is gradually taking place nationwide. The use of this evidence-based approach aims to make reading instruction more inclusive and to improve outcomes for all students.
For educators, especially those teaching Foundation to Year 2, that means more demand for SSP resources and lesson plans.
To help teachers implement an SSP approach in their classrooms, the Literacy Hub, an Australian Government-funded initiative, is publishing free, evidence-based phonics and morphology lesson packs throughout 2025.
These classroom-ready resources align with the Australian Curriculum v9 – and aim to reduce teacher workload, increase teacher capacity and make phonics instruction more effective for students.
Lesson packs to save time and simplify teaching
The Literacy Hub’s phonics and morphology lesson packs are designed with all teachers in mind. Whether you’re new to SSP or experienced but time poor, these resources have everything you need to deliver engaging, effective lessons.
Each pack has been written by literary specialists and is aligned with the Literacy Hub’s phonics progression, instructional model, and the Australian Curriculum v9. They include both instruction for new content and reviews to support retention of taught content and skills.
Inside, you’ll find:
- Classroom slides with clear teacher notes for consistent delivery
- Student sheets to check understanding and reinforce skills
- Decodable words and sentences for independent practice
- Upper-case letters mini lessons
- Progress monitoring tools to track growth over time
Best of all, the packs are adaptable. Teachers can tailor them to their classroom or students’ specific needs – down to customising fonts for school or jurisdictional requirements.
Year 1 Phonics Check: Using data to support targeted instruction and early intervention
As SSP gains prominence in Australian education, assessment approaches are following suit.
Many government schools now require Year 1 students to complete an assessment of their phonics skills. A quick and easy option for assessment is the Year 1 Phonics Check – a 7-minute check delivered online or on paper, which identifies children needing extra help with phonics.
The Phonics Check evaluates students’ ability to decode words – including pseudo words – to ensure they’re developing key reading skills. By providing clear, actionable data on where students are at, the Phonics Check can help teachers develop a roadmap for targeted support.
Teachers can access the Phonics Check and guides to analyse results and to plan for targeted instruction for free through the Literacy Hub. The goal isn’t just to make it easy to assess early reading – it’s to ensure no student falls through the cracks.
More resources to build strong early reading
The Literacy Hub goes beyond classroom resources. It’s designed to help Australian school leaders and teachers build strong early literacy foundations.
Packed with evidence-based resources, practical strategies, and professional learning, it’s your one-stop-shop for tools to help kids thrive in their first years of school.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Planning guides to help teachers navigate implementation
- Evidence-aligned professional learning to build confidence in phonics teaching
- Strategies for supporting students’ literacy development
- Resources for school leaders and families to foster community-wide engagement in early literacy development
With an SSP approach becoming central to early reading instruction, the focus is on giving teachers the knowledge and tools they need to make it work. The Literacy Hub’s free resources are a practical, high-quality way to learn about and implement an SSP approach in your school and ensure every child has a strong start in reading.
Download the lesson packs today via the Literacy Hub website, www.literacyhub.edu.au.
Contact the Literacy Hub at helpdesk@literacyhub.edu.au or phone 1300 108 485.
