Term 1 has been a busy and exciting period for the DeadlyScience STEM in Schools team, connecting with learners and communities through hands-on learning that brings together First Nations knowledge and Western science. Across regional and remote Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, the program delivered 105 Bush Soaps, Fish Traps, Sand & Ochre, and Petroglyphs sessions, reaching 2,029 students from Kindergarten to Year 11.

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM

In New South Wales, programs were delivered across a diverse range of regional and remote communities, supporting strong engagement with First Nations learners and schools.

Delivery locations included Port Macquarie, the South Coast, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill, Albury, Nowra, Brewarrina, Walgett, Gunnedah, and the Central Coast. These sessions enabled learners from Kindergarten to Year 11 to participate in hands-on learning experiences grounded in both First Nations knowledge and Western science.

Across these engagements, learners explored concepts through Bush Soaps, Fish Traps, Sand & Ochre, and Petroglyphs sessions. Each session provided opportunities for learners to connect with culture, Country, and scientific principles in an interactive and meaningful way.

The program supported both classroom and community-based learning, with a strong emphasis on engagement, curiosity, and connection to place. Teachers and learners consistently demonstrated high levels of participation, with many schools expressing interest in continuing and expanding their engagement with DeadlyScience programs.

QUEENSLAND TEAM

In Queensland, programs were delivered across Townsville, Brisbane, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, and the Whitsunday region.

Key highlights included a partnership with SPARQ-ed and the Translational Research Institute (TRI) in Brisbane, a meaningful session with Capricornia School of Distance Education where learners from remote communities came together in person, and strong engagement across all regional delivery sites.

The term concluded at the Koori Big Day Out in Melbourne, where DeadlyScience showcased Bush Soaps and Fish Traps sessions, sharing knowledge and engaging with the broader community.

LOOKING AHEAD

DeadlyScience continues to expand its reach and impact, delivering culturally grounded STEM education to support and inspire the next generation of First Nations scientists across Australia.