The It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference inspires and engages forward thinking Year 4 to 10 students, Teachers and Education Leaders in STEM.
The program is different to many conferences namely it is intended for both Teachers and Students to attend. This parallel learning experience facilitates shared knowledge and collaboration between Teachers and their Students.
How the Queensland event works…
The day begins with an outstanding keynote speaker to engage and inspire educators and students, followed by the engaging STEM Expo hands-on activity area. You will then move into preselected Digi-Design Mini Workshops, Problem Solvers Design Challenges with Teachers also having the option to attend Teacher only Mini-Master Classes.
The brightest educators and students who are passionate about STEM and key organisations will lead the action-packed sessions...
Why attend…
- Hear from experts in the STEM field
- Engage in innovative, hands-on STEM learning alongside your students
- Discover the latest developments, innovations, tips and tools in STEM from experts and practitioners.
- See live demonstrations and receive resources, tools and tips to implement back in the classroom
- Network and collaborate with other schools, educators and industry experts and get insight into their STEM activities and programs
- Earn professional development hours
Who the conference is for…
- Year 4 to 10 students: those who are already (or aspire to be) STEM Leaders in your school OR those you wish to spark an interest 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 elevate the teaching of future ready skills and disciplines
- Principals and Deputy Principals: to witness what is possible by embedding STEM authentically in your school.
- …and the event is a 4.5 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 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”.
Participation in the It Takes a Spark STEM Conference meets self-identified PD in the following AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers (certificate provided):
- Standard 2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
- Standard 2.2 Content selection and organisation
- Standard 3.3 Use teaching strategies
- Standard 3.4 Select and use resources
- Standard 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice
- Standard 7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities
The Programme so far...
TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES
Maths Made Meaningful
Facilitator
CSER STEM, University of Adelaide
Sustainability Innovation Challenge
Facilitator
STEM Punks
STEM EXPO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES - ALL ATTENDEES
UQ Mobile Makerspace
School of Education and Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology,
The University of Queensland
Stars, Planets & Black Holes: A VR Exploration
OzGrav (ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery)
Draw who you see in STEM
Future You
Mars AI Rover and AI SMART Home Demonstrations
STEM Punks
Melting Metal Mementos
Mark Baker,
Assumption College Warwick
DigiTech Tinker Lab
Discover and Do: How Maths is Made Meaningful
CSER STEM
University of Adelaide
Gravity Discovery Centre
Rayner Digital Labs
Powering Wearables with You: Battery-Free Health and Fitness Technology
CSIRO
Making Science Deadly!
Deadly Science
Test your tastebuds, win a prize!
University of Queensland / Sustainable Minerals Institute
Build your own habitat with Augmented Reality
Islamic College of Brisbane
Hidden Wonders: Science Under the Microscope
Ormiston State School
DIGIDESIGN HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS - STUDENT AND/OR TEACHER
Fire Dynamics STEM Lab
Rayner Digital Labs
Think, Create, Prevent: Melanoma Awareness
The University of Queensland’s Integrated Pathology Learning Centre
Black Holes and Gravitational Waves
OzGrav (ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery)
Bowling for Pythagoras
Tullawong State High School
Introduction to Sumo Robotics using mBot2
Corinda State High School
PROBLEM SOLVER DESIGN CHALLENGES - STUDENT AND/OR TEACHER
Autonomous Vehicles Challenge
STEM Punks
Inspired by Nature: Using Biomimicry to Design Bushfire-Resilient Communities
University of Southern Queensland
Stop Motion Animation
Digitech Tinker Lab
Think, Create, Prevent: Melanoma Awareness
The University of Queensland’s Integrated Pathology Learning Centre
Data to Action: Innovating Climate Solutions for a Safer Future
CSIRO
Creating a healthy food future
Professor Lindsay Brown, Griffith University
Run your own space tourism agency
Future You
First Nations Aquaculture
Deadly Science
Idea Sparks: Problem to Prototype
Living Faith Lutheran Primary School
Forces in Motion – Design + Build a Toy that moves!
Make+Meld
The Agenda
Thursday, 25th June 2026
9.15 AM
REGISTRATION
9.45 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping
9.55 AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr Naomi Paxton, MedTech Innovator, Propel Health AI
10.25 AM to 11.25 AM
ROTATION ONE – 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 STEM students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
- 10-15 min activity, moving between activities during the 60 minute session
Expo Space
11.25 AM to 11.45 AM
LUNCH
- A light lunch included for students, teachers and presenters.
- An opportunity to network with other teachers and students.
11.50 AM to 12.30 PM
ROTATION TWO – DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS
40 minute session
- Preselected parallel mini-workshop sessions on a specific STEM topic
- For Teachers and Students
- Hands-on STEM learning for Year 4 to 10 students
- Presented by STEM students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
11.50 AM to 12.30 PM
TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Mini-Master Class
40 minute session
- Preselected parallel sessions
- Hands-on masterclass on a STEM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school
- Presented by STEM educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
12.35 PM to 12.45 PM
BREAK
A quick break before moving to the next preselected workshops
12.50 PM to 2.00 PM
ROTATION THREE – PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE
70 minute session
- Preselected 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
- Presented by STEM students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
12.50 PM to 2.00 PM
TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Mini-Master Class
70 minute session
- Preselected parallel sessions
- Hands-on masterclass on a STEM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school
- Presented by STEM educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
2.00 PM
WHERE TO NEXT, FEEDBACK AND CLOSE OF QLD CONFERENCE
- Completion of feedback form
- Prize draw for Teacher STEM Passport
2.15 PM
END OF CONFERENCE
Registration information
VENUE
Grace Lutheran College, Rothwell Campus
Anzac Ave & Mewes Rd
Rothwell QLD 4022
DATE Thursday, 25 June 2026
TIME / AGENDA 9.15am open
9.45am start – 2.15pm 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
Travel arrangements available*
Request school pick up by Grace Lutheran College bus fleet
CONFERENCE RATES
Early Bird Educator / Teacher: $175.00
Regular fee: $215.00
Teacher Presenter: complimentary*
Early Bird Student: $25.00
Regular fee: $35.00
Student Presenter: $22*
Early Bird Pre-service, Aide/Support staff, Homeschool educator: $65.00
Regular fee: $85.00
Most schools register as a group! Enjoy a 5% discount when you register 8–15 students or 3–6 teachers, and a 10% discount when you bring 16+ students or 7+ teachers.
Includes Lunch for Educators and Students.
Early bird registration ends Wednesday 14th May
Queensland It Takes a Spark STEM Conference
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
© 2026 Intuyu Consulting Pty Ltd