In September 2026, Canberra hosted Polish community educators from across Australia attending the annual teaching methodology conference organised by the Australian Polish Education Committee. Nearly 60 educators from the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria enhanced their professional teaching competencies under the expert guidance of specialists from the United States and Poland.

Aneta Matyszczyk (trainer and co-coordinator of the Teacher Professional Development Centre at the Polish Supplementary Schools Headquarters in America) conducted workshops focusing on developing language proficiency through interactive play and linguistic inquiry. Sessions entitled “Opening the Door to Bilingualism”, “The Golden Key to Bilingualism”, “To Go, to Walk, or Perhaps to Cross? Traversing Poland in Seven-League Boots – An Active Linguistic Expedition”, and “Linguistic Scramble – Grammar and Orthography in One Basket” demonstrated to educators that grammar can be accessible and engaging for senior secondary students.

Workshop sessions conducted by Aneta Matyszczyk. (Photo: J.T.)

Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk (pedagogue, Level III trainer and supervisor with the KLANZA Association, and President of the KLANZA Branch in Poznań) led participants through music and movement activities during the workshops “Upside-Down Theatre – Poetry Dancing with the Classics” and “Learning Through Song: Integrating Songs into Polish Language Instruction”. The integration of music, movement, and structured choreography proved to be an effective methodology supporting learning and creative expression across both junior and senior student cohorts.

Workshop sessions conducted by Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk. (Photo: J.T.)

Bożena Iwanowski OAM (Vice-President of the Education Committee) presented an overview of historical education programs offered by Polish museum institutions and the Institute of National Remembrance, in addition to outlining grant opportunities available through the Institute for the Development of the Polish Language to support school operations. She also reported on the progress of the curriculum development team responsible for producing supplementary educational materials for Polish language instruction in community language schools across Australia—an initiative undertaken over recent months by a panel of eleven Australian-based Polish community educators and a curriculum specialist from the EduSEN Foundation in Poland.

Executive Committee of the Australian Polish Education Committee (from left): Małgorzata Wray (Treasurer), Elżbieta Cesarski (President), and Bożena Iwanowski OAM (Vice-President). (Photo: KOPA) 

Consistent with previous years, the conference was accompanied by official ancillary events. On Friday evening (25 September), delegates gathered at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra to commemorate the forthcoming National Education Day. 

Karolina Cemka, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Republic of Poland to Australia, officially welcomed the attendees, noting that precisely one decade prior, the Embassy had the honour of hosting the community of educators attending the methodology conference. In her formal address, the Chargé d’Affaires extended her best wishes to the teaching staff and Polish community education sector in Australia, acknowledging its pivotal role in preserving Polish language and culture among the Polish diaspora and Australians of Polish heritage.

The occasion also provided an opportunity to engage with representatives of the Parliamentary Committee for Liaison with Poles Abroad during their official delegation to Australia in September. Member of Parliament Marek Rząsa, Deputy Chair of the Committee, delivered an official address from Barbara Nowacka, Minister of National Education, directed to Polish community educators in Australia. Delegates subsequently participated in a panel discussion convened with members of the Committee for Liaison with Poles Abroad.

A distinguished highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony concluding the national youth competition “100 Years Connecting Poland – Railways Through the Eyes of Young Polish Diaspora”, administered by the Education Committee from April to August 2026. Awards and commendations were presented to state representatives on behalf of the laureates. Commemorative certificates of appreciation were conferred upon the honorary patrons, the Embassy and the Consulate-General.

During the proceedings, an official video message of appreciation was recorded for Polish State Railways (PKP), serving as the competition’s honorary patron and principal sponsor.

On Saturday evening (26 September), conference delegates assembled for the Second Polish Community Educators’ Gala Ball, held under the patronage of the Consul-General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney. Approximately 90 guests attended the function hosted at the White Eagle Club in Turner. The gathering was formally opened by Elżbieta Cesarski, President of the Education Committee, and Piotr Rakowski, Consul-General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney, who extended his gratitude to educators for their dedicated service in instructing the younger generation of Polish Australians, and offered his felicitations on the occasion of the upcoming National Education Day.

From left: Aneta Matyszczyk, Bożena Iwanowski OAM, Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk, Consul Piotr Rakowski, Elżbieta Cesarski, Małgorzata Wray, Justyna Tarnowska, and Marysia Nowak OAM. On stage (from left): Michał Macioch and Mirosław Boguszewicz. (Photo: M. K.-R.)

Distinguished guests attending the evening included Andrzej Alwast OAM, President of the Council of Polish Organisations in the ACT, accompanied by his wife Barbara; Adam Biziuk, President of the Polish Association in New South Wales; and Anna Waldon-Rodzoś, ACT Representative to the Polish Council of Australia.

From left: Marek Rząsa (Member of the Polish Parliament, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Liaison with Poles Abroad), Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk (KLANZA Association, Poznań), Elżbieta Cesarski (President, KOPA), Bożena Iwanowski OAM (Vice-President, KOPA), Małgorzata Wray (Treasurer, KOPA), Aneta Matyszczyk (Teacher Professional Development Centre, Polish Supplementary Schools Headquarters in America), Justyna Tarnowska (Education Division, Polish Community Council of Victoria), Piotr Rakowski (Consul-General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney), and Jarosław Rzepa (Member of the Polish Parliament, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Liaison with Poles Abroad). (Photo: KOPA)

Acknowledgements

The Education Committee wishes to express its sincere appreciation to: 

• Aneta Matyszczyk and Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk for sharing their pedagogical expertise and methodologies, and for inspiring delegates through expressive play, music, and dance;

• The Polish Community Council of Victoria for sponsoring the breakfast catering, as well as providing the entrée, dessert, and wine service for the Gala Ball;

• The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra and the Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney for their assistance in coordinating the conference and its official proceedings;

• Eva Buhaniec, President of the White Eagle Club in Turner, for hosting the delegates at the Gala Ball;

• The volunteer team for preparing breakfast catering, managing table appointments and floral decor, coordinating entrées and desserts, and assisting with main course service during the Gala Ball;

• The “Wielkopolska” Dance Ensemble, directed by Katarzyna, Marek, and Jakub Mikołajczak, for their ceremonial performance of Polish national dances at the Gala Ball;

• Michał Macioch and Mirosław Boguszewicz for delivering the evening's musical entertainment and dance programme;

• Mirosław Czajkowski for providing the barbecue luncheon during the inaugural day of the conference;

• The John Paul II Centre in Narrabundah and the Reverend Przemysław Karasiuk SChr for facilitating workshop facilities on the first day, accommodating delegates, and celebrating Sunday Holy Mass for conference attendees;

• Justyna Podolska, Marta Kozłowska-Rychlewicz, Karolina Jańczyk, and Agnieszka Żołek-Taskov for their documentation services supporting the compilation of official conference reports; and

• The volunteers for providing operational and logistical support.

The conference was delivered by the Australian Polish Education Committee in collaboration with local community partners and institutions supporting diaspora education. Official financial support for the event was granted by the Institute for the Development of the Polish Language from public funds of the Republic of Poland. The project was administered by the “Wspólnota Polska” Association. 

Polonia24 coverage of the Canberra conference – view broadcast (report commences at 2:08)