Free short course for teaching phonics in the classroom

Teachers will be able to upskill for free with a new microcredential course focused on teaching phonics, launched by the University of Adelaide.

The Teaching Phonics microcredential will help primary and secondary teachers learn how to teach synthetic phonics in a systematic and explicit way using contemporary, evidence-based practices. 

The evidence shows explicit instruction is a very efficient strategy for helping students learn by breaking down new information into smaller learning outcomes and modelling each step.

Students are more likely to progress in their reading skills from the explicit teaching of phonics, especially for children at risk of reading difficulties.

It is a focus of many reforms, including the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and changes being made to strengthen initial teacher education.

The Albanese Government is investing more than $3 million in funding to the University of Adelaide to design and deliver microcredentials courses for teachers.

The Teaching Phonics microcredential is the third free course for teachers funded by the Albanese Government and developed by the University of Adelaide. 

It adds to the Explicit Teaching microcredential and Classroom Management microcredential released in 2024. 

As of January 2025:

• More than 1,800 educators have enrolled in the classroom management microcredential (5 months after launch)
• More than 900 educators have enrolled in the explicit teaching microcredential (1.5 months after launch)
• More than 750 educators have begun one of the four-module courses and completed at least one assessment task, and
• 95 educators have completed an entire microcredential – a total of 48 hours of learning.

More than 4,300 teachers across the country have registered interest in the phonics microcredential program.

The free courses will provide vital professional development opportunities for teachers, school leaders and other school staff.

The qualifications will offer teachers a potential credit pathway towards post-graduate study with the School of Education at the University of Adelaide.

This investment is part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and builds on the Government’s Engaged Classrooms initiative, which is developing free classroom management resources for teachers.

The self-paced online course can be completed in the teacher’s own time, at their own pace, to fit in around their other commitments.

For more information visit Microcredentials for Classroom Confidence on the University of Adelaide website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“The reading wars are over. We know evidence-based teaching methods work and this free short course will help teachers in the classroom.

“This will support teachers and help to improve how students learn how to read and write.”