School of Education

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

More than 160 Children’s University (CU) students and their families took part in ECU’s September school holiday workshops, exploring new ideas, developing practical skills and experiencing university life across ECU’s Joondalup and South West campuses.

Featuring seven innovative workshops, the program encouraged curiosity, creativity and problem-solving while introducing young learners to a diverse range of academic disciplines and potential career pathways.

Delivered by academics, professional staff and student ambassadors from ECU’s School of Education, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Medical and Health Sciences, and University Department of Rural Health – South West, the workshops provided engaging, hands-on opportunities for students to discover new interests and experience learning in a university environment.

From Creative Expression to Clinical Experiences at Joondalup

Drama, Media Arts & Stop Motion Magic – Students unleashed their creativity through drama games, character role-play and storytelling before bringing their ideas to life through stop-motion animation.

Oral Health and Nutrition Detectives – Young detectives tackled interactive challenges and experiments to uncover hidden sugars, investigate healthy habits and discover how to keep teeth strong and healthy.

Nursing Ninjas Academy – Participants stepped into the world of healthcare, exploring medical equipment, practising nursing skills and taking part in hands-on health challenges.

Maths Patterns: The Secret Language of the World! – Students discovered patterns in nature, art, numbers and space through puzzles, games, investigations and creative problem-solving activities.

Build a Bridge (& Get Over It!) – Budding engineers designed, built and tested their own bridge prototypes, combining simulation software with hands-on construction to discover which designs could support the greatest weight.

Discovering Digestion and Exploring Optometry in the South West

Gut Health: Blue Poo Challenge – Students investigated the digestive system, explored the fascinating world of gut microbes and discovered how different foods contribute to a healthy gut.

Eye Spy: The Science of Seeing – Participants tested their visual perception, explored optometry equipment and constructed their own camera obscura to discover how the eyes and brain work together to make sense of the world.

Learning, Discovery and Enjoyment

Feedback from participating students and their families highlighted the value of practical, engaging learning experiences and the opportunity to explore university life.

One CU guardian praised the workshops for combining “positive learning, fun and practical exercises”, while another highlighted the opportunity for children to discover future career pathways:

“Great to learn about different careers and how people are trained.” – CU Guardian

For students, the workshops sparked new interests and a desire to continue learning:

“I loved doing it and now I want to do more Children’s University.” – CU Child

The practical activities also left a lasting impression. One student reflected on a nutrition experiment:

“I got to use litmus paper. I learnt how much sugar is in Gatorade.” – CU Child

Another enjoyed the opportunity to experience specialist equipment:

“(I liked) that we got to go on the retinal camera.” – CU Child

For families, the university environment was an important part of the experience. One guardian commented:

“It’s amazing having this program … it helps my child feel comfortable with what she is learning and how she is learning.” – CU Guardian

Thank You to Our Partners

ECU’s Children’s University program relies on the generosity, expertise and collaboration of staff, academics and student ambassadors across the University. Their contributions help create meaningful learning experiences that broaden horizons and inspire young learners.

Special thanks go to the Australian Government’s Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) and the University Department of Rural Health – South West for their funding and continued support.

To learn more about ECU’s Children’s University program or find out how to get involved, visit the Children’s University website or contact childrensuniversity@ecu.edu.au.