Conor Duffy
Conor Duffy is the ABC's national education and parenting reporter. He was previously the ABC's North America correspondent, environment reporter, Andrew Olle scholar, and has worked at Lateline, 7.30 and AM. Conor has reported from Canberra, Hobart, Brisbane and Townsville, and has been assigned to report for the ABC from Thailand, Cambodia, New Zealand and Chile.
Latest by Conor Duffy
Experts looked at 10,000 pieces of research to find the best way to learn to read – we've distilled it down for you
While there's no substitute for a qualified teacher, we've asked experts for their best tips for parents who want to help teach their kids to read at home.
Soaring private school enrolments hint at growing 'segregation' in education, expert says
Private school enrolments have soared for the third straight year as parents leave the public system in record numbers in favour of independent or Catholic schools.
As the 'reading wars' raged, this school made a teaching change. The results were profound
A reading revolution at a small, disadvantaged public school in regional Victoria could provide the blueprint for turning around alarming literacy rates in Australia's 10,000 primary schools.
Popular teaching style 'contrary to science' costing Australia $40 billion, report finds
One-third of Australian students are failing to learn to read proficiently, at an estimated cost to the economy of $40 billion, according to a new study.
Emma never planned on becoming a 'gaming mum'. It turns out that joining her son's games could have benefits beyond fun
New research shows more than half of young children who play online games wish their parents would game with them — and that joining in can help keep kids safe online.
First data on school refusal trend suggests 'shocking' problem is much bigger than first thought
With her son missing weeks of school at a time, Georgina Ker followed the "tough love" prescription she was told would remedy her son's "behaviour problem". A new survey has found more than one-in-three parents have reported school refusal with their children in the past year.
Sacked principal from Brisbane private school reveals $6.5m row over funding abuse victims
A sacked Brisbane principal whose ouster prompted weeks of protests from parents at St Paul's School has revealed a years-long dispute over $6.5 million in payments to abuse victims preceded his departure.
'Nervous rants' and crying at school: Teachers say poor mental health is the biggest issue facing Australia's youth
Poor mental health and excessive screen time are the biggest problems facing young people, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 Australian teachers. New resources will be made available to teachers in the hope of creating more conversations around mental wellbeing.
This school is defying the NAPLAN struggles at other schools. Here's how they did it
The results from a brand new NAPLAN system show one in three students are not meeting minimum numeracy and literacy expectations. Experts say one solution lies with the teaching methods.
Results from a brand new NAPLAN system are in — but the report card shows some familiar trends
One in three school students throughout Australia are not meeting minimum numeracy and literacy expectations, and one in 10 are so far behind they need additional support, new NAPLAN data shows.
We still don't know the true scale of school refusal — but there are solutions we can look at right now
After a 10-month Senate inquiry handed down recommendations this week, families experiencing school refusal are hopeful their voices are being heard at last.
Analysis
analysis:The 'spiky' ideas that could change how universities operate for the next 30 years
The university sector reforms announced this week have been warmly received, but much tougher decisions lie ahead, and it's almost guaranteed some will be left bitterly disappointed, national education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy writes.
All Indigenous students guaranteed a funded university place as part of major education reforms
All Indigenous students will be guaranteed a Commonwealth-supported place at the university of their choice, provided they meet entry criteria, as part of a set of reforms designed to make higher education more accessible for all Australians.
Universities will have to improve their teaching degrees or face consequences. The reactions have been mixed
Universities will be given two years to overhaul their education degrees or risk losing their accreditation as part of a national bid to fix Australia's teacher shortage.
'A minefield': Why the childcare subsidy policy means some parents will get more than others
The federal government is spending $5.4 billion to reduce the childcare costs of about 1.2 million families. But with high inflation and quirks in the system, there's concerns some parents won't see much savings.
'It's still a bit taboo': Rory's song challenges views about manhood he says need to change
At just 16, songwriter Rory Phillips is challenging the centuries-old view that the strong, silent bloke is the epitome of Australian manhood.
ChatGPT's class divide: Are public school bans on the AI tool giving private school kids an unfair edge?
ChatGPT is currently banned in many schools. But where it's not, students — and their teachers — say they are using it to prepare for a future in which artificial intelligence is likely to be a big part of work and life.
'Anger and discontent' on campus 'the worst in decades' as university staff walk off the job over casualisation
University tutors who say they cannot plan for their futures are among the thousands of university staff to walk off the job as part of a national week of action against insecure work and wage theft.
Families forced to make 'impossible' decisions amid fears inflation crisis hitting kids
Nearly three-quarters of Australians expect child poverty to worsen this year and say cost-of-living pressures are having a greater impact than the pandemic, according to a long-running survey released exclusively to ABC News.
Daniel Ricciardo, in Melbourne for the F1 grand prix, makes a pit stop at school to support disengaged learners
Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo is one of Australia’s highest-profile athletes, but he could've fallen through the cracks at school. He wants to make sure that doesn't happen to the next generation.
The common pram mistake that saw Xanthe's baby start 'screaming blue murder'
Heat researchers from Sydney University are calling for Australia's pram safety guidelines to be updated after releasing a world-first study.
Day care noticed something about Anne Aly's young son. His life could’ve turned out very differently
The federal government will hold a national Early Years Summit in Canberra today with the goal of bringing together experts and departments to design a strategy to better serve the youngest Australians.
Demand at this school is so high, its waitlist includes students that haven't been born yet
The latest national schools data shows enrolments in public schools are dropping, as parents increasingly opt for faith-based independent schools.
Analysis
analysis:Will universal childcare prove a mirage for parents desperate to cut their childcare costs?
The federal government has announced a Productivity Commission review which could be the first step towards introducing universal, affordable care. But there's no guarantee it will come to fruition, writes Conor Duffy.
Analysis
analysis:As tertiary staff negotiate industrial agreements, one university may have found a solution to the sector's 'dirty secret'
After years of revelations about the university sector's "dirty secret" — casualisation rates as high as two-thirds of all staff and the wage theft that goes with it — there could be a solution, writes Conor Duffy.