Most conferences currently being offered on STEM, STEAM and Entrepreneurship tend to be targeted towards teachers and involve a series of speakers and the occasional mini-workshops. This conference is designed to be different. This conference is designed by students and teachers for students and teachers.
The intent of the It Takes a Spark STEM Conference is to bring together Students (Year 4 to 10) and Teachers to connect with inspiring industry role models, share their current school based activities and projects using an authentic sharing and experiential model, create networks of teachers and student teams, and solve social justice design challenges.
The participation of the students is as important as teachers as our intent is to ignite, empower and nurture both to be leaders of STEM and Entrepreneurship within their schools. This is a conference designed and led by students and teachers for students and teachers.
Teachers will have both formal and informal opportunities to speak to other teachers who have enacted programs and activities in their schools and get their questions answered.
The Problem Solver design challenges are all hands-on so students and teachers will experience first-hand what it is like to be part of great STEM and entrepreneurial learning. This will spark new ideas about curriculum and pedagogy.
Who the conference is for…
- Year 4 to 10 students: those who are already (or aspire to be) STEM Leaders in your school OR students’ schools wish to spark an interest in, and engagement in STEM
- Teachers: those who have little experience and those who have a lot, looking to be inspired, participate in hands-on professional learning and network with peers
- Heads of Learning Areas / Curriculum: who wish to connect and elevate their STEM discipline
- Principals and Deputy Principals: to witness what is possible by embedding STEM authentically in your school
- …and the event is a 3.5 hour Professional Learning day for teachers – certificate provided.
Teacher Professional Development Stream
“Many teachers and schools are challenged by HOW to create STEM learning that develops students across the years to be the independent critical thinkers and problem solvers the world needs.
We will bring together some of Australia’s leading practitioners in the fields of design, technology, curriculum planning, student engagement and STEM learning to develop a special Teacher Professional Development stream at this year’s Mini-It Takes a Spark STEM Conference.
Every session is designed to provide teachers with the insight, practical guidance and resources they need to improve their planning and practice upon return to their schools. The professional learning will support teachers no matter their prior background, confidence, or capability.”
TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES
Sustainopreneurship – Entrepreneurship and innovation for sustainability
Facilitator
Young Change Agents
60 minute session
Creating Impactful STEM Programs with a Digital Technologies Approach
Facilitator
Australian Computer Society
60 minute session
Building Global AI Literacy: Preparing Teachers for the Future of AI-Driven Classrooms
Facilitator
Days of AI Australia
60 minute session
Sustainability Innovation Challenge
Facilitator
STEM Punks
70 minute session
Integrating Enterprise Skills in the Classroom
Facilitator
Academy for Enterprising Girls
70 minute session
STEAM EXPO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES - STUDENT AND TEACHER
Batteryless Wearable Health and Fitness Monitoring
CSIRO
Unleash Your Sustainability Superpowers!
Academy for Enterprising Girls
Explore Electronics!
Integrated STEM
Mars AI Rover and AI SMART Home Demonstrations
STEM Punks
Highly autonomous robots assisting humans
CSIRO Data 61
Epic Garden
Epic Card Games
Golden Ratio in Nature
Grace Lutheran College
Artist Challenge
BotBuilders
Insect Pest Management for Australian Cotton
Bayer Crop Science
Cyber Guardians: Crack the Code to Online Safety!
EdTech Group
The Tower Triumph Challenge
Students from Islamic College of Brisbane
Blast Off to the Virtual Universe!
OzGrav (ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery)
Future You – Where is the STEM in that?
Future You Australia
Can we actually defy Gravity?
Students from Islamic College of Brisbane
SPOT the Robot Dog!
University of Southern Queensland
Paper Plane Launcher
BotBuilders
Build your own habitat with Augmented Reality
Islamic College of Brisbane
Test your tastebuds, win a prize!
University of Queensland / Sustainable Minerals Institute
Design + Build a Wooden Pull-String Spinner
Make+Meld
Queensland Minerals
University of Queensland / Sustainable Minerals Institute
PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE - STUDENT AND TEACHER
Sustainable Sparks: Dream, design, do for global goals impact
Young Change Agents
Digital Frontier: Design Thinking for Innovative Solutions
Living Faith Lutheran Primary School
Bridging the Gap
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Being Real World Problem Solvers with Citizen Science
Australian Citizen Science Association
Gen AI – saviour or scam?
University of Southern Queensland
Becoming a Game Designer and Entrepreneur
Epic Card Games
Code Red: Design a Flood-Rescue Drone Prototype
Beenleigh State High School
Emergency Water Filtration Challenge
Grace Lutheran College
Moving and Grooving with Granny: Creating digital solutions to help our elderly exercise
Australian Computer Society
Scribbly Gum STEAM
Megan Forward
Creating a healthy food future
Professor Lindsay Brown, Griffith University
Autonomous Vehicles Challenge
STEM Punks
Teacher Networking and STEM Pathways session
Is someone out there?
Griffith University
QUEENSLAND MINI-SPARK
WEDNESDAY, 25 JUNE 2025
AGENDA
10.00 AM
REGISTRATION
10.25 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping
10.35 AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
11.10 AM
TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Mini-Masterclass
60 minutes
- Hands-on masterclass on STEM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
11.10 AM
STEM Expo
60 minute session
- Hands-on STEM activities for Year 4 to 10 students and teachers
- Opportunity to engage in multiple STEM experiences
- Presented by students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
- 10-15 min activity, moving between activities during the 60 minute session
Expo Space
Pre-registration required
12.10 PM
LUNCH
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore EXPO
12.35 PM
PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE
70 minutes – parallel sessions
- Aimed at Year 4 to 10 students and teachers
- This session involves real life design challenges where attendees are led through the design process to ideate and present possible solutions
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
12.35 PM
TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Masterclass
70 minute session
- Hands-on masterclass on a STEM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school
Teacher Networking
- An opportunity to connect with other teachers and presenters to share ideas, possibilities and practices
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
1.50 PM
WHERE TO NEXT, FEEDBACK AND CLOSE OF QLD MINI-CONFERENCE
- Completion of feedback form
- Invitation to be on the 2026 Steering Committee
2.00 PM
END OF CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
VENUE
Grace Lutheran College, Rothwell Campus
Anzac Ave & Mewes Rd
Rothwell QLD 4022
DATE Wednesday, 25 June 2025
TIME / AGENDA 10.10am open
10.25am start – 2.00pm finish
Read School FAQ’s – suggestions on who should attend, answers about what stage you are at and if the conference will suit, registration T&C’s, and more…
Teachers are able to attend without students
We recommend max 25 students per school with minimum teacher ratio of 1T:10S
CONFERENCE RATES
Educator / Teacher: $165.00
Teacher presenter: complimentary*
Student: $25.00
Student presenter: $18.50*
Pre-service, Aide/Support staff, Homeschool educator: $65.00
Includes Lunch for Educators and Students
Upon registration you will receive a confirmation email and invoice, payment is via direct deposit or credit card. For full details click on the register button alternatively call Rachel on +61 (0) 411 270 277 to coordinate your registration or ask any questions. Workshop selection will open 3 to 4 weeks prior to the conference, we will email the registered teachers and contact person.
Queensland It Takes a Spark STEM Conference
Sponsors and Partners
Thank you to our sponsors and partners
CREATE SPARKS IN LEARNING FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS! BECOME A SPONSOR…
To discuss sponsorship contact Dr Adrian Bertolini – Conference coordinator
Email: adrian@spark-educonferences.com.au or Call +61 0 413 036 382
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Rachel Manneke-Jones
Registration & Bookings
Ph: 0411 270 277
E: rachel@spark-educonferences.com.au
Dr Adrian Bertolini
Conference Co-Ordinator
Ph: 0413 036 382
E: adrian@spark-educonferences.com.au
Stay Connected
Facebook: @SparkSTEMConference
Instagram: Spark.in.STEAM
LinkedIn: spark-educonferences
© 2025 Intuyu Consulting Pty Ltd