The Andy Thomas Space Foundation and Makers Empire are delighted to announce that Kids in Space, the pioneering national space education program, will be even bigger in 2024.
Kids in Space is an Australia-first program from The Andy Thomas Space Foundation and partner, Makers Empire, that engages students in exciting, space-themed STEM learning and design thinking. Kids in Space introduces students to space technology and promotes awareness of job opportunities in the space industry.
2023’s inaugural national program sponsored by The Australian Space Agency impacted around 10,000 primary and middle school students, hundreds of teachers and 70+ schools in every state and territory. Starting with state/territory professional development days with guest speakers from the space industry during February, followed by state/territory finals in June/July, Kids in Space culminated in the national finals at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in October, with the winning state/territory finalists flown in.
In 2024, the Kids in Space program is planned to be around 40% bigger, with an estimated 100 schools across Australia participating, thanks to new sponsors and partners including iLAuNCH Trailblazer, the Milner Road Foundation, and the Northern Territory’s Department of Education.
2024 Kids in Space Schools for NSW, QLD, NT & SA
NSW
8 schools: St Paul’s Primary School, Belmont Christian College, St Philip’s Christian College Newcastle, Branxton Public School, Ourimbah Public School, Charlestown Public School, Rutherford Public School, and Woolomin Public School.
NT
12 schools: Anula Primary, Humpty Doo Primary School, Rosebery Primary, Angurugu School, Borroloola School, Newcastle Waters School, Haileybury Rendall School, Alpurrurulam School, Jingili Primary School, Middle Point School, Wagaman Primary School, and Malak Primary School.
QLD
12 schools: Chinchilla State School, Dalby South State School, St Mary’s College, St Patrick’s School, Allora, St Stephen’s Catholic Primary School, Vale View State School, Rangeville State School, Tara Shire State College, Moffatdale State School, Warwick West State School, Meringandan State School & Kulpi State School.
SA
13 schools: Coomandook Area School, Elizabeth Downs Primary School, Riverdale Primary School, Kaurna Plains School, Melaleuca Park Primary School, Virginia Primary School, St Francis Lockleys IQRA College, St Joseph’s Ottoway, St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School, Uraidla Primary School, Westport Primary School & Eudunda Area School.
The above schools comprise government, independent and Catholic schools in metropolitan, regional and remote areas. 62% of these schools are schools with a value below 1000 on the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA).*
Each participating school will receive a package worth $6,500 including professional development and training, Makers Empire 3D design tools and resources, access to a custom, space-themed Challenge Course delivered via the Makers Empire 3D app, 3D printing credits and a 3D printer so students’ 3D designs can be printed out and tested.
“We’re delighted to announce the first cohort of schools for Kids in Space 2024,” said Peter Nikoloff, Executive Director (Acting), Andy Thomas Space Foundation.
“We received close to 700 expressions of interest from teachers across Australia keen to take part in Kids in Space 2024. We’re excited to continue encouraging more students and teachers to develop an interest in space.”
Jon Soong, CEO of Makers Empire, said “We’re happy to partner with the Andy Thomas Space Foundation and the Australian Space Agency again, as well as new sponsors, iLaunch, the Milner Road Foundation and the NT education department.”
“We love engaging students in STEM learning with industry links and real-world applications, and helping them develop vital skills in problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, communication and citizenship,” he added.
The schools selected for VIC, TAS, ACT and WA will be announced soon.
*ICSEA is the level of a school’s educational advantage. It indicates the socio-educational backgrounds of students at a school and is not a rating of the school, staff, school facilities or teaching programs. ICSEA is set at an average of 1000.
