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Conference Programme *update 27/05*

The conference theme celebrates how STEAM empowers us to imagine, design, and grow a better future.

The It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference is UNIQUE as teachers and students learn together. The day is an inspiring and engaging programme designed for Year 4 to 10 students, and Teachers and Education Leaders.

The brightest educators, students and key organisations who are passionate about STEAM will share their ideas, programs, and innovations that demonstrate STEAM learning in action, and empowers us to imagine, design, and grow a better future.

Why attend…

Hear from experts in the STEAM field
Engage in innovative, hands-on STEAM learning alongside your students
Discover the latest developments, innovations, tips and tools in STEAM 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 STEAM 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) STEAM Leaders in your school OR those you wish to spark an interest in STEaM
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 STEAM authentically in your school.
…and the event is a 6 hour Professional Learning day for teachers – certificate provided.

Teacher Professional Development Stream

“Many teachers and schools are challenged by HOW to create STEAM 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 STEAM 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

Introducing the Keynote Speakers

Have you thought about security risks involved while sharing your personal information with your smartphone or smartwatch? How can we confirm that the large amounts of data shared in various digital platforms is protected?

How can we improve people's trust as they access multiple AI-based applications every day?
With the aim of exploring the above questions, Dr. Fariha Tasmin Jaigirdar is serving as a Lecturer in Cybersecurity in the School of Information Technology at Deakin University Australia, where she works in developing innovative solutions that safeguard not only technological systems but also the people who rely on them.

Dr. Jaigirdar finished her PhD from the Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity, Faculty of IT, Monash University. Her PhD research made a significant contribution to the knowledge of cybersecurity of critical infrastructures and various applications of the Internet of Things (IoT). She pioneered an integrated method to monitor cybersecurity properties, enabling users to assess cybersecurity risks using real-time data. She is an expert in interdisciplinary research, which focuses on various domains of cybersecurity, including IoT, artificial intelligence, and recordkeeping. She loves presenting her insights to the public through interviews, news, print and social media. She is passionate about empowering women in computing.

DR FARIHA TASMIN JAIGIRDAR

CYBERSECURITY EXPERT AND SUPERSTAR OF STEM, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Dr Kirsten Banks is a passionate astrophysicist and Lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology, working with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) to connect cutting-edge research with the public. With a PhD in astrophysics and proud Wiradjuri heritage, Kirsten offers a unique perspective in her science communication. She captivates audiences worldwide with her infectious enthusiasm, sharing fun facts and leading workshops to inspire wonder in people of all ages.

Join Kirsten on a cosmic journey to explore the wonders of the universe like never before.

DR KIRSTEN BANKS

ASTROPHYSICIST AND SUPERSTAR OF STEM, SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

The Programme so far...

TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES

Make Sense of AI: Teach It Clearly, Use It Ethically, Apply It Confidently
CSER STEM, Adelaide University

Hands-on Cybersecurity Workshop
La Trobe University – School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

What If Students Could Go Where We Physically Can’t? From the Classroom to the Crater with VR
EdgedVR

DIGIDESIGN HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS

Speculative Design Sprint – Designing the Future of Learning
Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership

Tiny Tech, Big Brains: Building an AI-Powered Fitness Tracker with the micro:bit
Mazenod College

Solving social justice issues with technology
Keysborough Gardens Primary School

Science You Can Wear: A Jewellery Design Workshop
Oh Pluto

Detecting the Unseen: Dark Matter
ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics

Get ready to engineer with Robogals!
Robogals Melbourne

Zooming Bottle Rockets!
Monash High Powered Rocketry

You are our next CyberHero!
La Trobe University – School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

Hope Is a Thing with Feathers – Nature Writing Workshop Secondary
Naomi Woodward
(Author/Director/Producer)

Rolling into STEM – Empowering Future Innovators
McKinnon Primary School

Designed by Nature: Innovating with Biomimicry
Students from Victory Lutheran College

Hope Is a Thing with Feathers – Nature Writing Workshop Primary
Naomi Woodward
(Author/Director/Producer)

Race Like an Engineer
Monash Motorsport

Flight of the ping pong
G.A.T.E.W.A.Y.S.

Zombie Apocalypse
Students from Victory Lutheran College

Energy Careers – Building a better tomorrow
WhyMaker

STEAM EXPO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

Snowy STEM Academy – Thinking inside the box
Snowy Hydro – Snowy STEM Academy

SailLAB – Australian Sailing STEM Education
Australian Sailing

Throw, Track, Triumph: Exploring Chance with Micro:bit Motion Data
CSER STEM, Adelaide University

Stars, Planets & Black Holes: A VR Exploration
OzGrav

Fly, Build, Design!
Bentley Systems

Makers Empire: Learning by Design
Makers Empire

Engineering in Action!
Robogals Melbourne

Using Technology to Help Prevent Allergic Asthma
Deakin University

Inspire Robotics: Shaping Future Innovators
Inspire Robotics

Learning from Nature: STEM for a Sustainable Future
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

From Concept to Reality
Orchard Grove Primary School

Seeds of Change: Inside Our Eco Warriors Organisation
St Columba’s Primary School

AstroGarden
ARC Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space

PROBLEM SOLVER DESIGN CHALLENGES

Battle Bots & Mechanical Engineering
Inspire Robotics

Inspired by Nature: Discovering design secrets from the natural world
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Learn to Design Games: Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics
Monash University

A Better World Is Possible: Design Thinking & Futurism
Casey Tech School

Moonbase – Designing to Survive and Thrive
ARC Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space

Imagining a better transportation system
Scienceworks / Museums Victoria

Tinker Tales: Inventor’s Quest
Wonder Bitz

Become a disease detective!
R-Ladies+ Melbourne

Helix Basket Bot
Ai Cubed Academy

Design it. Fold it. Show it off.
Education Services Australia

Empowering everyone’s creativity
Yarra Ranges Tech School

Accessibility Challenge! 3D Printing for Good
Clifton Hill Primary School

Tiny homes for the homeless
Victory Lutheran College

Powered by Possibility (and a Mousetrap)
Casey Tech School

The Agenda
Thursday, 22nd October 2026

8.15 AM

SIGN-IN OPENS

8.45 AM

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping

9.00 AM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

9.40 to 10.25 AM

ROTATION ONE – TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS

Teacher Masterclass – 45 minute session

Preselected parallel sessions
Hands-on masterclass on a STEAM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school