Scitech Discovery Centre

Early Childhood Outreach in the Kimberley

Early Childhood Outreach in the Kimberley

Supported by neuroscience research, our Early Childhood Outreach tours see two Science Communicators travelling to regional towns where they deliver one hour, age-appropriate science workshops to children aged 0-4. In the Kimberley, multiple workshops are held each day at the Broome Library and Derby Civic Centre over the course of 12 days. Scitech works with ...

GOAL

$29,403

Australia > WA > Regional
07/01/2025 > 28/11/2025

Field of Interest

  • Education/training and employment
  • Health/wellbeing and medical research

Target Population

  • Early years (0-5)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Scitech Discovery Centre Scitech Discovery Centre

Scitech is WA's preeminent science museum and offers unique educational experiences aimed at inspiring all Western Australians to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

For over three decades our passionate team has brought interactive and entertaining STEM experiences to the WA community, igniting a lifelong curiosity in the process. This has led to 1 in 3 WA STEM workers crediting Scitech as positively influencing their choice of career.

At Scitech, we believe that science is for everyone! We also know that people learn best when they're engaged and as such, we aim to make our exhibits, theatre shows, and outreach programs fun, accessible and memorable.

As well as increasing knowledge, we aim to equip the next generation with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to inspire imaginations and innovation!

Project Summary

Supported by neuroscience research, our Early Childhood Outreach tours see two Science Communicators travelling to regional towns where they deliver one hour, age-appropriate science workshops to children aged 0-4.

In the Kimberley, multiple workshops are held each day at the Broome Library and Derby Civic Centre over the course of 12 days. Scitech works with a variety of playgroups, mother’s groups, kindergartens and community service providers to ensure awareness and uptake of the program is high.

Each session is divided into four key learning areas, Light, Push & Pull, Living Things, and Sound. With the support and encouragement of adults, children explore the world around them through interactive activities that help them find answers to the questions ‘why?’, ‘how?’ and ‘what if?’. Activities include playing with shadows and light, creating sounds, identifying smells, investigating invertebrates and more. Each session includes time for hands-on, self-directed play as well as storytime and a puppet show (QuokkaVision).

An important byproduct of the sessions is parental involvement and our team modelling how carers can engage their children in learning. For example, stressing the value of allowing children to develop and test a hypothesis rather than immediately providing an answer to their questions. To further encourage scientific discovery beyond the one-hour session, parents and educators are provided with ideas and resources to take home.

Encouragingly, results from an independent Curtin University study found that 4-year-old children could clearly recall what components of the workshop they played with, even six weeks later.

Project Outcomes

Scitech’s Early Childhood Outreach program aims to help combat inequity in the WA STEM landscape by giving children in regional areas access to the same learning experiences as their metro counterparts.

In addition to providing an opportunity for fun and family bonding, it is anticipated that education sessions will achieve the following outcomes:
- Children enjoy learning basic science concepts.
- Children learn new science knowledge and skills.
- Children are excited to learn science thanks to a positive hands-on experience.
- Adults understand the important role they play in encouraging children to be explorers.
- Adults feel empowered to teach their child basic science concepts through play.
- Adults are more likely to do science activities at home with their family.
- Adults believe anyone can participate in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Scitech uses a Program Logic Model framework and continually evaluates services to ensure they remain effective and responsive to community needs and changes in STEM. The Early Childhood Outreach Program's impact will be evaluated through post-event surveys capturing quantitative and qualitative data, which is then analysed by our Customer Insights Manager.

Budget Breakdown

TOTAL BUDGET: $34,351
FUNDING
Funding source Amount
Broome Library (in-kind) (confirmed) $365
Scitech (confirmed) $4,583
Funding gap (unconfirmed) $29,403
EXPENSES
Expense item Amount
Venue hire $2,048
Travel (Flights) $2,600
Freight $10,000
Travel (Fuel) $300
Resources $1,200
Staffing (delivery) $10,320
Project management $4,583
Accommodation $3,300

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Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Australian Communities Foundation is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of LGBTQIA+ communities and the movement toward equality.