Lexi Frydenberg

15/09/2026

Australian teenagers’ performance in reading is at an all-time low, according to the latest PISA data from the OECD.

Australia’s mean performance in reading declined with students being roughly two years behind where their peers were in 2000.

Australia’s performance is part of a worldwide decline in teenagers’ reading skills, with the report showing that teenagers were losing the skills that “matter most in the age of AI”, such as being able to critically evaluate information from different sources.

“In reading, increased digitalisation, longer screen time and falling rates of reading for enjoyment have coincided with weaker literacy outcomes,” says Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary-General.

“This trend is particularly concerning because reading skills underpin learning across the curriculum and are essential for finding, evaluating, interpreting and reflecting on information in an increasingly digital world.”

These latest results show the urgent need for support for reading in our schools.

To support educators as they create lifelong readers, we’re calling on the Government to:
📚 Mandate a library in every school, with qualified teacher-librarian staff and collection funds.

📚 Provide schools with tools and resources to help parents create positive home reading environments.

📚 Support schools to build a love of reading in students, alongside skills development in the classroom.

14/09/2026

When a child avoids reading, we often focus on the behaviour. But sometimes the more important question is : Why are they avoiding it ? For some children, reading requires enormous effort. They may read slowly, guess words, lose their place or struggle to remember what they’ve just read. They don’t necessarily need to “try harder”. They may need us to understand what is making reading hard- and give them the right support.

14/09/2026

International Literacy Day 2026
Literacy gives children access to so much more than books. It affects learning, independence, confidence and the opportunities available to them throughout life. But learning to read isn’t easy for every child. For children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, reading requires extraordinary effort. They aren’t lazy. They aren’t less intelligent. And they don’t simply need to “try harder”. They need adults who recognise when learning is hard, work to understand why, and know how to help.

14/09/2026

Eczema is very common.
It is something I see all the time in my clinic in all children- ranging from infants to primary school age and also in adolescents.

It is often itchy and uncomfortable for both the child, and frustrating for parents, as it will often improve and then come back again.Trying to get a young child to not scratch themselves to oblivion is equally arduous 🙄

So here is everything you will NEED TO KNOW plus some handy TIPS for prevention and treatment!

10/09/2026

R U OK? Day is a reminder to regularly check-in with family and friends to see how they are doing and help support them if they’re going through a tough time. 
 
It can feel scary to open up and ask for help, so by starting the conversation, you can help give people the chance to share how they’re feeling in a safe space. 
 
➡️ Swipe through to see what members of our Youth Collective do to help their friends and ways their friends help them to feel supported.  
 
To find out where you can seek mental health support, visit our ‘Mental Health Hub’ fact sheet via our bio ⬆️ 
 
R U OK?

08/09/2026

On International Literacy Day, remember to read with them, read to them, and help them learn to love books even when reading is hard.

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

An amazing few days in Gold Coast with friends and colleagues Creative Careers in Medicine conference. It is the conference that always leaves me inspired by the people I meet and the ideas they bring. Thank you Amandeep Amandeep Hansra and team for organising another brilliant event.

26/08/2026

Can’t wait to be inspired and catch up with friends and colleagues in Gold Coast next week - come say hi if you are there. Creative Careers in Medicine . We’re delighted to announce that Dr Lexi Frydenberg will be joining us on stage at CCIM 2026.

Lexi is a General Paediatrician who’s somehow collected a second career in media along the way, working as an educator, radio host, podcaster, TV presenter and speaker. With more than 25 years in paediatrics, she works between the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and the Victorian Children’s Clinic, which she co-founded, and is currently co-writing a book for parents on learning difficulties. Outside the clinic, Lexi is passionate about translating evidence into real-world advice for families, taking her regularly across media and social platforms talking about child health.

🗓️ Conference: September 4 & 5, 2026
🎟️ Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/ccim2026
🌐 More info: https://creativecareersinmedicine.com/conference/

See you on the Gold Coast ☀️

26/08/2026