What is the STEM Academy?
STEM is part of everyday life and an increasing part of every workplace. STEM education enables students to develop solutions
to complex problems and provides them with literacies and capabilities that will help them succeed in a world of technological
change. As future innovators, educators, researchers and leaders, it is important that students develop 21st century skills
required to compete on a global scale.
The aim of the STEM Academy is to develop the foundational knowledge of STEM literacy and the ways of thinking skills
associated with STEM Capabilities. This is achieved through cross-curricular enrichment activities and extended projects that
will inspire learners to invent our future.
Who is Eligible?
Eligibility
The STEM Academy is for aspirational and inquiring
students in Year 7 to 10 who have demonstrated strong
academic achievement in Mathematics, Science and
Design and Technologies. Participation in this academy is
by application.
STEM Incursions
Year 1
Term 1
Block by Block: Engineering the Future
Students use Minecraft Education to design and construct sustainable
cities, automated farms, or disaster-resilient structures. They apply concepts
of geometry, resource management, coding and systems thinking to solve
real-world design challenges.
Term 2
M1 Racer: Mousetrap Momentum
Students use Minecraft Education to design and construct sustainable cities, automated farms, or disaster-resilient structures. They apply concepts of geometry, resource management, coding and systems thinking to solve real-world design challenges.
Term 3
Eggstravaganza
Students participate in a multi-format event that combines the most
fine-tuned engineering, collaboration and communication skills to protect
precious “egg” cargo against all odds.
Term 4
Kirwan Fly School
Students design and test flying devices for controlled take-off and
landing. They apply aerodynamic principles, forces, and design thinking to
optimise flight performance.
Year 2
Term 1
Siege the Castle
Students design and construct a working catapult to launch projectiles
with maximum distance and accuracy. They apply principles of force, stored
energy, angles, and projectile motion to optimise range and precision.
Term 2
Defying Gravity
Students design and build a device that keeps an object suspended for as
long as possible. They apply forces, gravity, air resistance and
problem-solving strategies to test and refine their solution.
Term 3
Toxic Temptations – a recipe for disaster
Students act as forensic investigators to solve a culinary crime. They
analyse evidence, apply forensic testing techniques and use logical reasoning
to identify the culprit.
Term 4
STEM Olympics
Students rotate through fast-paced STEM challenges focused on design,
construction, accuracy, and teamwork. They apply problem-solving, critical
thinking and collaboration skills to earn points across multiple events.
Year 3
Term 1
Rockets Blast Off!
Students design, construct and launch bottle rockets to investigate how pressure, chemical ratios, launch angle and aerodynamics influence flight performance. They test and refine their designs to maximise height and distance through systematic experimentation and data analysis.
Term 2
Just Desserts
Students create desserts while exploring ratios, scaling recipes, managing
time and controlling temperature. They investigate how heat transfer, states of
matter and precise measurement impact final product quality.
Term 3
Ethics Olympiad
Students debate real-world STEM dilemmas such as AI decision-making,
environmental trade-offs, and medical technologies. They develop structured
argumentation, critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills using
evidence-based discussion frameworks.
Term 4
RoboQuest
Students build and program robots to complete engineering challenges.
They apply coding logic, problem-solving and systems design to optimise
performance in timed tasks or obstacle courses.
Year 4
Term 1
Get Over It!
Students design and construct load-bearing bridges using limited
materials. They apply principles of forces, tension, compression and structural
geometry to maximise strength while minimising material use.
Term 2
Pitch Perfect
Students design and build simple musical instruments while investigating
pitch, frequency, wavelength, and mathematical ratios. They explore how string
length, air column length and tension influence sound production.
Term 3
Disaster Detectives: Surviving Natural Disasters
Students model earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones or bushfires and design
mitigation strategies. They analyse patterns in natural hazard data and apply
engineering solutions to reduce risk and improve resilience.
Term 4
STEM Showdown: The Ultimate Showdown
A fast-paced, team-based challenge featuring problem-solving rounds in
science, maths, digital technology, engineering, and critical thinking.
Students compete in collaborative mini challenges that test both knowledge and
creativity under time pressure.