In 2025, Makers Empire is partnering once again with The Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF) to deliver the third year of the ATSF’s Kids in Space, a national space education program for primary schools. This pioneering program delivers education and awareness of the opportunities in space careers to Australian primary school-aged children. Each year, Australian schools are invited to register their interest in participating via a national callout.
Thanks to our amazing 2025 Kids in Space partners below, schools selected for Kids in Space receive space-themed professional development days for teachers, a custom space-themed challenge course for students, Makers Empire for a year, a Makers Empire 3D Printer Package, showcase days in each state for students and teachers to celebrate and share their learning, and an opportunity for one school from each state to win a trip to a a national showcase event at the Australian Space Discovery Centre.
The 2025 Kids in Space program began as usual with professional development and training for teachers. So, throughout February, the Makers Empire team is travelling throughout Australia delivering Kids in Space professional development days to groups of teachers from selected schools.
Professional development (PD) days included an introduction to Makers Empire and the Kids in Space Challenge Course, maker pedagogies and Design Thinking in the Australian curriculum from our learning experts, live video calls with guest speakers from the Australian Space Agency who relayed their insights and experiences of working in the space industry, sharing of potential project ideas and an introduction to 3D printing. In some states and territories PD days also included additional guest speakers from the space industry, visits to local space museums and training facilities, and tours of working satellite facilities.