Simon Haines at the 2025 Adelaide Classical Education Conference

Classical/Liberal Education Revival in Australia

Australia has a growing movement to revive classical and liberal education. Education commentator Dr Kevin Donnelly has convened annual forums since 2022, bringing together educators and parents committed to an education that is “intellectually rigorous, morally grounded and spiritually enlightening”. The fourth forum, held 3 October 2025 in Adelaide, drew over 100 attendees – up from 25 in 2022 [1]. Donnelly opened by urging a return to the pursuit of truth and wisdom in education to counter relativist ideologies [1] He also noted the challenge of broadening its reach across diverse communities.

Themes and Highlights of the Adelaide Conference

The 2025 Adelaide Classical/Liberal Schools Conference showcased ways classical education addresses contemporary challenges. Dr Bella d’Abrera critiqued “indoctrination” in today’s curricula – arguing that decolonisation agendas crowd out basics – and urged a return to classical learning rooted in natural law to “save Western civilisation” [2]. Other talks examined virtue formation, the use of great books, and practical steps to start new classical schools. Dr Paul Morrissey of Campion College observed rising interest in liberal arts even as mainstream curricula remain mired in “socio-political fads”, and said classical education can restore “truth, wisdom, wonder and awe” [1]

Simon Haines’ Contributions as Master of Ceremonies

As master of ceremonies, Simon Haines guided the proceedings with an informed tone. Haines – a former humanities professor and inaugural CEO of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation – brought deep experience to the role. His record of championing liberal arts education aligned seamlessly with the conference’s mission. He introduced each speaker and tied their themes together for a cohesive narrative. His stewardship lent gravitas and highlighted unity between classical schooling efforts and broader humanities initiatives.

Sources:

1. Jonathan Hili, “In Leaps and Bounds”: A Report on the Australian Liberal Arts Forum 2025, Australian Classical Education Society (ACES) Blog, Oct 6, 2025classicaleducation.org.auclassicaleducation.org.au. (Event details and speaker highlights)
2. Jonathan Hili, Beacons Lighting the Way to Education Reform, ACES Blog, Oct 9, 2025classicaleducation.org.au. (Quote on “truth, wisdom, wonder and awe”)