The It Takes a Spark! Alcoa Kwinana 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 STEM will share their ideas, programs, and innovations that demonstrate STEM learning in action and develop people to be thinkers and problem solvers.
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 6 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
Introducing the Keynote Speakers
The Programme so far...
TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES
AI Lift-Off: Teaching AI skills in the classroom
Facilitator
WA Data Science Innovation Hub
Pedagogical structures to equip students to be “Future Ready”
Facilitator
South Thornlie Primary and Southern River College
How to integrate Big Bang Cosmology and the Maths Behind It from Year 8
Facilitator
Einstein First, The University of Western Australia
Exploring the Moon with Australia’s Rover – Roover
Facilitator
Victorian Space Science Education Centre
Making STEM simple and special
Facilitator
Grandis Primary School
Sustainability Innovation Challenge
Facilitator
STEM Punks
Cosmic Crops: Plant Prototyping for Space
Facilitator
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space
How to create authentic real-world projects for students
Facilitator
Gwynne Park Primary School
The Blueprint Method – A practical guide to AI
Facilitator
John Curtin College of the Arts
DIGIDESIGN HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS
Sunspots and the Spectrum of Light
Perth Observatory
AI Lift-Off: Make a Model
WA Data Science Innovation Hub
Big Bang Cosmology and the Maths Behind It
Einstein First, The University of Western Australia
Designing safe and inclusive urban spaces
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia – WA
Mission to Mars – Secondary
Gilmore College
The Finch Spark!
Frederick Irwin Anglican School
AI Lift-Off: Code an AI
WA Data Science Innovation Hub
Moving from Lego League to Tech Challenge Robots
Peter Carnley Anglican Community School
Digital Escape Room
Peter Carnley Anglican Community School
Mission to Mars – Primary
Gilmore College
CSI Spark: Forensic science
Tangerine STEM
Can AI Teach You a Language?
Young Engineers Australia WA
The Ore-some Challenge
Hancock Iron Ore
Young Inventors: Designing Smart Home Solutions with Micro:bit
Students from Leda Primary School
Little Farms, Big Ideas: A Seed to a Harvest
Students from Northam SHS
Exploring Animal Adaptations – the STEM Way
Greenfields Primary School
From Fast Fashion to Fantastic Bags: Design for Sustainability
Peter Carnley Anglican Community School
Grid Grand Prix
Students from Northam SHS
Capillary action – Plants know how to do it!
South Metro TAFE
The Science of Bubbles
Grandis Primary School
Scitech’s Foley Challenge: Soundtrack the Scene
Scitech Discovery Centre
ALCOA KWINANA STEAM EXPO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
The Alcoa Exploration Lab
Alcoa
Girls+ in Engineering
Girls+ in Engineering, UWA
Ask, Explore, Grow: Plants for Space
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, UWA
SailLAB – Australian Sailing STEM Education
Australian Sailing
Explore, Question and Discover with Scitech
Scitech Discovery Centre
Mars AI Rover and AI SMART Home Demonstrations
STEM Punks
Plastic Recycling in Action: From Waste to Useful Products
Peter Carnley Anglican Community School
Becoming future ready with VEX Robotics!
Amaroo Primary School
VR Stellar Safari: Experience the Universe!
Perth Observatory
Bora Beetle Detective Agency
Perth College
Travelling Back in Time with WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre
WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre– Curtin University
STEM Marine and Racing
STEM WA
Be Digitally Future Ready!
South Metropolitan TAFE
Melting Metal Mementos
Mark Baker, Assumption College Warwick QLD
Throw, Track, Triumph: Exploring Chance with Micro:bit Motion Data
CSER STEM, Adelaide University
Being future ready with STEM Careers
South Metro TAFE
STEM in the Navy
Submarine Recruiting
Local to Global: Exploring our Environment
Murdoch University Environmental Science Association
Robots to the rescue: How robots assist during a chemical spill
Al-Ameen College
Smartphones and You
School of Psychological Science, UWA
PROBLEM SOLVER DESIGN CHALLENGES
Alcoa Sky Scouts: Drones for Forest Rehabilitation
Alcoa
Where Does CO₂ Go? Exploring Climate Change and Carbon Capture
CSIRO
Solving real-world industry challenges
The Chamber of Minerals & Energy of WA
Exploring the Moon with Australia’s Rover – Roover
Victorian Space Science Education Centre
Autonomous Vehicles Challenge
STEM Punks
Sculpting Solutions
South Metro Primary Extension and Challenge
AI Vibe Coding: Build a Game with ChatGPT
South Metropolitan TAFE
Design a Plant for a Moon Garden
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, UWA
Bees, Drones and the Future of Food
Al-Ameen College
Wind to Water
Students from Northam SHS
Where the wind blows!
Engineers Without Borders – Curtin Chapter
Using Lego to Prototype & Test a new Bridge
E2 Young Engineers Australia
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Dale Christian School
The STEM Energy Game
Woodside Energy Ltd
The Agenda
Thursday, 24th September 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 STEM topic that will make a difference for teachers to enact in their school
- Presented by STEM educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout rooms
Preselection required
9.40 to 10.25 AM
ROTATION ONE – DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + Alcoa Kwinana STEAM Expo
45 minute session
Preselected parallel sessions
- DigiDesign mini-workshops for Teachers and Year 4 to 10 students on a specific STEM topic
- or Alcoa Kwinana STEAM EXPO 5-15 min activity, moving between activities during the 40 minute session
- Opportunity to engage in multiple STEM experiences
- Presented by STEM students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout rooms
Preselection required
10.30 AM
MORNING TEA
- Morning tea included for students, teachers and presenters.
- An opportunity to network with other teachers and students.
11.05 AM to 12.15 PM
ROTATION TWO – 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
Preselection required
11.05 AM to 12.15 PM
ROTATION TWO – TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Masterclass
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
Preselection required
12.20 PM
LUNCH
- A light lunch included for students, teachers and presenters.
- An opportunity to network with other teachers and students.
12.55 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Breakout rooms
Preselection required
1.35 to 2.20 PM
ROTATION THREE – TEACHER ONLY PARALLEL SESSIONS
Teacher Masterclass
45 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
Preselection required
1.35 to 2.20 PM
ROTATION THREE – DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + Alcoa Kwinana STEAM Expo
45 minute session
Preselected parallel sessions
- DigiDesign mini-workshops for Teachers and Year 4 to 10 students on a specific STEM topic
- or Alcoa Kwinana STEAM EXPO 5-15 min activity, moving between activities during the 40 minute session
- Opportunity to engage in multiple STEM experiences
- Presented by STEM students / educators / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout rooms
Preselection required
2.30 PM
WHERE TO NEXT, FEEDBACK AND CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
- Completion of feedback form
- Invitation to be on the 2027 Steering Committee
2.45 PM
END OF CONFERENCE
Registration Infomation
VENUE
Frederick Irwin Anglican School
36-66 Gordon Rd
Mandurah WA 6210
DATE Thursday, 24 September 2026
TIME / AGENDA 8.15am open
8.45am start – 2.45pm 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…
CONFERENCE RATES
Early bird Educator / Teacher $205
Teacher presenter: complimentary*
Full fee Educator / Teacher $245
Early bird Student $30
Student presenter: $27.50*
Full fee Student: $37.50
Early bird Pre-service, Aide, Homeschool educator $79
Full fee Pre-service, Aide, Homeschool educator $99
Includes Morning tea and Lunch for Educators and Students
Early bird registration ends Friday 14/08/2026
Sponsors and Partners
Platinum Sponsor
Coordinator
Spark Scholarship
Silver Sponsor
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