STEM 

Parliament House Excursion

On Friday 21st of February,  eight Year 10 and Year 11 girls attended an excursion to Parliament House in Melbourne to take part in a STEM discussion about "Solutions of the Future" thanks to the Wangaratta Tech School. 

The students that attended were:

Natasha Mitchell , ABC Science journalist, hosted a discussion at the Parliament of Victoria between three remarkable female leaders in the STEM fields, and enthusiastic STEM secondary school students from around Victoria.

We enjoyed honest, personal and inspirational stories from Dr Ruwini Cooray (neuro geneticist, Founder & CEO of Neurogen), Dr Kim Reid (climate scientist specialising in high impact weather and a passionate science communicator) and Dr Morley Muse (renewable energy engineer & equality ambassador, founder of the programs iSTEM Co. And DEIR.AI.). The floor was then opened to the students, who asked insightful questions of the experts.

Students continued the discussion informally with the specialists while enjoying little hors d'oeuvres and fancy drinks. The Wangaratta High School girls absolutely loved hearing first-hand from young women who are making ground-breaking progress in their fields, improving the quality of life for people around the world. 

It was evident that future solutions require collaboration between experts and non-experts alike, that using new technologies will shape our future, and that problems aren't necessarily problems, they are opportunities. Students learned that being a scientist is about asking questions and being curious. When you learn to do this, you can then apply the theoretical knowledge you have gained to work towards a solution.

This valuable and insightful event was convened in partnership with the Royal Society of Victoria and the Victorian Tech Schools and Specialist Science Centres (Department of Education), to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Sparks Engineering Camp

Are you a Year 10-12 student curious about where STEM could take you? Spark Engineering Camp 2025 is a fully subsidised, week-long program designed to help you explore real opportunities in engineering, technology, and beyond. Hosted at a University of Melbourne residential college during the winter holidays (7th–12th July), Spark is the perfect platform to ignite your potential. 

Across the week, you’ll dive into hands-on workshops, visit leading university campuses, and step inside top engineering firms. Whether you’re planning a STEM career or simply exploring your options, Spark gives you the experiences, knowledge, and industry connections to make confident decisions about your future.

Applications are open NOW until 18th April. 

Don’t miss your chance to join this life-changing experience.

Ready to get started? Visit the Youth Without Borders website to apply. You will need to get a Wangaratta High School teacher to support your application.

Have questions or require an application form? Reach out to Mrs Herman (meryl.herman@education.vic.gov.au) or Mrs Lang (rheanna.lang@education.vic.gov.au) or speak to your Maths, Science or Technology teachers for more info.

Young Women in Aerospace & Defence Program

Our female students have an option to apply for the Young Women in Aerospace & Defence program, an exciting hands-on STEM opportunity for girls in Years 7 to 12. The program runs during the school holidays and gives students the chance to explore aerospace, drones, coding, and engineering, as well as visit industry professionals.

🚀 Next program: 7–10 April 2025 (first week of the April school holidays) at RMIT City campus

📅 Application deadline: 25 February 2025

Students must submit a short 2-minute video to apply, and all details are included in the updated poster attached.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mrs Lang

rheanna.lang@education.vic.gov.au

DTAC - Future Ready Launch