Our Story
About us
Dr Tessa Daffern is an education researcher, consultant, and academic with over 25 years’ experience across teaching and higher education. She is the Director of Literacy Education Solutions and specialises in evidence-based approaches to spelling and literacy instruction, with a strong focus on translating research into practical classroom practice.
Adjunct Associate Professor
La Trobe University
(SOLAR Lab)
Over 25 Years Experience
Teaching, leadership, and higher education
PhD Spelling Research
1,400 students across 17 schools
Internationally Recognized
ALEA Doctoral Thesis Award
UKLA Literacy Education Award
From classroom practice to research-informed literacy leadership
Dr Tessa Daffern’s work in education has developed through a career spanning classroom teaching, literacy leadership, and academic research. With a consistent focus on improving the teaching of spelling and written language, her work bridges the gap between research evidence and classroom practice in meaningful and practical ways.
Her doctoral research investigated the teaching and learning of spelling and writing in Australian school contexts, involving approximately 1,400 students across 17 schools. This work has contributed to a deeper understanding of how spelling develops and how instruction can be improved through evidence-informed approaches.
A sustained focus on spelling and literacy research
Dr Daffern’s research has been widely published in national and international peer-reviewed journals and academic books, and presented at conferences in Australia and internationally.
Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to improving English language education and supporting teachers to develop contemporary, research-informed understandings of literacy.
Translating research into classroom practice
Through Literacy Education Solutions, Dr Daffern designs and delivers professional learning that supports educators to strengthen their understanding and teaching of spelling and written language.
Her work focuses on the components of spelling: Phonology, Orthography and Morphology and how these interact to support reading and writing development.
Our Mission
Literacy Education Solutions exists to translate contemporary research in literacy and spelling into clear, practical, and evidence-based professional learning for educators. Our mission is to support teachers and schools to strengthen classroom practice through accessible, structured, and research-informed approaches to teaching spelling and written language.
Core Values
Our work is grounded in contemporary research in linguistics, spelling development, and classroom instruction.
Evidence-based professional learning in spelling and literacy instruction
Literacy Education Solutions provides structured, research-informed professional learning designed to support educators in strengthening classroom practice and improving student outcomes in spelling and written language.