PRESS RELEASE: From the Classroom to Parliament House: Dr Tim McDonald Launches New Book
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Classroom Management: Driving Australia’s Evidence-Based Education Agenda
Canberra, ACT – 17 August 2026 – As governments across Australia invest in strategies to improve student behaviour, teacher wellbeing and educational outcomes, one of the nation’s leading voices in education, Dr Tim McDonald, will launch the third edition of Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning at Parliament House, Canberra.
The launch comes at a critical time for the teaching profession. With teacher stress and burnout reaching concerning levels, schools are increasingly seeking practical solutions that support both educators and students. Research has found that 90 per cent of teachers report moderate to extremely severe levels of stress, while the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) has identified managing student behaviour as a key area of professional learning need for teachers (1).
Published by Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand, Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning offers a clear, actionable framework for creating classrooms where students are engaged, expectations are understood and learning can flourish.
Blending contemporary research with real-world application, the book addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing schools today: establishing the conditions that enable effective teaching and meaningful learning.
At the heart of the book is Dr McDonald’s CORE Framework—a practical model for creating Calm, Orderly and Respectful Environments that foster positive behaviour, stronger relationships and improved student outcomes.
Unlike traditional classroom management texts that focus on theory alone, the book provides educators with structured approaches, routines and tools that can be implemented immediately, helping schools build consistency and confidence across classrooms.
Jeanette Breen, Acting CEO of Think Forward Educators, Head of Global Partnerships at No More Marking and Learning Specialist at Templestowe Heights Primary School, described the book as a significant contribution to the profession.
“My favourite aspect of Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning is its precision—the clear, measurable steps that replace the broad, ambiguous language we too often rely on and which students are then expected to interpret for themselves. In a landscape where guidance can remain well-intentioned but vague, this offers a coherent and practical model that schools can enact with confidence. It will support leaders and teachers at all stages of their journey.”
The launch will bring together policymakers, education leaders, teachers and researchers to explore how evidence-informed classroom practice can strengthen teacher capability, improve student engagement and create more effective learning environments across Australian schools.
Source 1. [Teachers face greater stress and burnout risk, Deakin research finds | Deakin Centre for Research for Educational Impact | Turning great ideas into impact.]
