The 2019 Carmichael Lecture on Education

A cocktail reception will follow the lecture, with the evening concluding at 9:00pm.

Dress: Lounge Suit/Cocktail Dress.

Delivered by Ms Jo Karaolis AM

What Are Schools For?
Drawing on a life time in education as teacher and school principal, Jo Karaolis suggests possible answers to a fundamental question she believes doesn’t get asked enough: “What are schools for?”

The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts is delighted to reinstitute the Carmichael Lecture, an annual lecture on education and related matters, in honour of one of our founders and first Vice President, the Reverend Henry Carmichael. Dr Carmichael was a passionate educator who first came to Australia in 1831 to be a Professor at the Australia College. Over the course of his career, he founded the Normal Institute in Elizabeth Street; remained deeply involved in the SMSA throughout his life; founded a school for local students on his property at Seaham (where he also became an internationally acclaimed wine maker); advocated for the introduction of a national school system; and was involved in educational policy. In 2016, Dr Carmichael was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.

Jo Karaolis AM has worked in education in a range of capacities for over forty years and is an advocate for children with disabilities. She served as Headmistress of St Catherine’s School for thirteen years, and as Principal of St Lucy’s School for Children with Disabilities, Wahroonga for ten years. Jo has also served on the UNSW Council and the NSW Board of Studies, and was inaugural Chair of the Curriculum Committee of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools, NSW. She has received a number of awards for her work including NSW Principal of the Year presented by the NSW Parents’ Council in 2012.