FREE Questacon Engineering is Elementary Workshops

Build your confidence in teaching STEM with Questacon's free Engineering is Elementary professional learning workshops. Explore the Now You're Cooking: Designing Solar Ovens unit, gain hands-on experience with integrated STEM activities, and develop practical strategies to support student learning through the engineering design process. Participants will receive a classroom resource kit, a complete unit of work, and access to a national community of practice. Workshops are available across South Australia during Term 3. Find out more here.

Professional Learning at Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Get outdoors these school holidays with two professional learning opportunities from the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium.

Nature Connected to Classroom Practice, Tuesday 29 September, explores the relationship between nature, wellbeing and learning with Botanic Gardens staff and psychologists from Connected Self.

From Garden to Classroom, Thursday 1 October, explores how Adelaide Botanic Garden can become an outdoor classroom and help you connect nature with the curriculum.

Both sessions run from 9.00 am–1.00 pm at Adelaide Botanic Garden and are open to teachers, educators, pre-service teachers and staff.

New Fossil Rock episodes now available!

Episodes 4 - 6 of Fossil Rock are now available! Journey back more than 550 million years to the strange and wonderful world of the Ediacaran.

Created in collaboration with palaeontologists, the series uses original songs, science experiments, animation and plenty of fossil facts to make some seriously big science fun and accessible for young audiences.

Catch up on the series and watch the new episodes on YouTube.

What’s in My Bag? Watch on demand

Take your students behind the scenes with scientists working in places including Antarctica, Kakadu and Ningaloo Reef. What’s in My Bag? explores the tools scientists use to study Australia’s unique plants, animals and ecosystems, while showcasing the diverse careers available in science.

The 20-minute video is suitable for school students, educators and families and can be watched on demand, making it easy to incorporate into the classroom.

Available to watch on YouTube until 30 September.

Planting the seeds of ocean literacy

Wednesday 7 October, 10.00–11.30 am
Marine Discovery Centre

Bring South Australia’s incredible marine environment to life in your classroom with this free professional learning session from the Marine Discovery Centre and National Parks and Wildlife Service SA.

Explore the new Porci Explores Marine Parks animated short film and curriculum-aligned teacher resource, discover practical marine science activities and resources, and build your confidence in incorporating ocean literacy across the curriculum. The session also includes an exclusive tour of the Marine Discovery Centre.

Register now to secure your place.

Adelaide University Public Lecture: Feed, facts and fakes: Making sense of online information

Wednesday 9 September, 5.30–6.30 pm
Bragg Lecture Theatre, Adelaide University

How do we decide what to believe, ignore or share in a world of endless online information? Join Adelaide University for a free public lecture exploring the psychology behind our social media feeds and what research can tell us about navigating facts, fakes and mixed messages more wisely.

Hear from researchers Dr Rachel Stephens, Dr Toby Prike and Dr Natasha Van Antwerpen as they explore how psychological research can help us better understand everyday life.

Light refreshments will be provided. Register now.

School’s in on the Great Barrier Reef

Could the Great Barrier Reef be your next classroom? The Australian Government’s $6 million Kids for the Reef program is helping more Year 4–12 students experience the Reef by providing rebates for eligible school excursions.

Students can take part in activities including snorkel surveys, marine science and conservation experiences, with rebates generally ranging from $20 to $400 per student, and higher support available for some remote schools.

The program is open to schools and registered home educators across Australia and runs until June 2028, with applications assessed in order of receipt. Find out more.

Department for Education STEM Scholarships

Applications are now open for the Department for Education’s STEM Scholarships, supporting high school students from under-represented groups to pursue advanced SACE science, technology and mathematics subjects.

Eligible students attending South Australian government schools can receive up to $10,000 to support their STEM learning, including costs such as tutoring, laptops and excursions. Students must be planning to study at least one eligible subject, including Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Chemistry, Physics or Digital Technologies.

Applications close 26 September 2026.

ConASTA 74: Call for Abstracts

Have a great science teaching idea, classroom story or approach to share with educators from across Australia? ConASTA 74 is calling for abstracts for its 2027 conference in Darwin.

Under the theme Gather Knowledge, the three-day conference will bring together science teachers, laboratory technicians, scientists and resource developers to share ideas, practice and approaches to science education.

Abstract submissions close 15 February 2027.

From the screen to the field: Threatened species PD series

Discover some of our region’s remarkable wildlife with a series of bite-sized online PD sessions from the SA Landscape Board. Learn about local conservation projects, access threatened species resources for your classroom, and find out about opportunities to take part in real monitoring surveys during spring and summer.

Upcoming sessions include Malleefowl Mysteries on 7 September, Regent Parrots Revealed on 17 September and Python Patrol on 19 October.

Open to all teachers and educators. Register for one or more sessions.