Inspire – High potential and gifted education programs

World Town Planning Day Workshop

Calling all Year 9 & 10 Geography Teachers!

Are your students ready to move beyond the textbook and into Sydney's streets? To celebrate World Town Planning Day, we are hosting an exclusive, high-impact program designed for  High Potential and Gifted (HPGE)  students interested in urban design and town planning.

The Experience

Students will step into the shoes of professional planners for a day in the inner city. This immersive program includes:

• Expert Insights: Learn directly from industry professionals about the skills needed to shape our future cities.

• The City Model: A rare look at the strategic planning models that guide Sydney’s growth.

• Precinct Analysis: A hands-on "walk and talk" comparing world-class developments with underutilised inner-city sites.

• The Design Challenge: Working in teams, students will master-plan an underdeveloped precinct, applying their new knowledge to win prizes for the best vision.

  (Some experiences may change - please revisit this site often.)

Event Details

• Target: Small groups of five students per school (Years 9 & 10).
• Location: Barangaroo.
• Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
• Time: 09:00 - 15:00
• Cost & Booking: We've reached capacity.

Note: Spaces for this event are strictly limited to ensure an authentic, small-group mentoring environment.

Join the waitlist

We reached capacity almost immediately and booked out much faster than anyone expected.

Use the link below to join the waitlist and get notified if spaces become available.

Join here: WTPD Waitlist

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Environmental Leadership & Sustainability Expo

Calling all High School Change-Makers!

Are your students ready to lead the charge for a greener future? This two-day immersive experience is designed for High Potential and Gifted (HPGE) students who are passionate about the environment, social advocacy, and creative problem-solving. Moving across two iconic Sydney locations, students will evolve from learners into mentors.

The Experience

This program bridges scientific understanding and community leadership through the Creative, Social-Emotional, and Intellectual domains.

• Phase 1: The Leadership Intensive (Taronga Zoo): Students go behind the scenes at one of the world’s leading conservation hubs. Guided by specialist NSW Department of Education teachers and industry experts, they will dive deep into complex sustainability issues, honing their critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills.
• Phase 2: The Sustainability Expo (The Coal Loader): Knowledge meets action. Students take centre stage at the historic Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability to deliver their own environmentally themed workshops.
• The Mentorship Loop: By teaching local primary school students, high schoolers master knowledge transfer, public speaking, and community leadership.

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Event Details

• Target: HPGE Students (Years 7–10) with a passion for environmental advocacy.

• Locations:

  • Day 1: Taronga Zoo, Mosman.
  • Day 2: The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, Waverton.

• Dates: *

  • Leadership Workshop: Thursday, August 20, 2026.
  • Sustainability Expo: Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

• Cost and Booking: See PDF (linked below)

Note: This is a sequential two-day program. Students participate in the first session to develop the expertise required to lead the second.

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Sustainability Expo - Primary School Form

Sustainability Expo - Secondary School Form

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Science @ The Coal Loader: Stage 5

(Creative & Intellectual Domains)

Available Dates: Various sessions throughout the year.

Experience science beyond the textbook at the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability. Led by expert educators from the Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre, this program immerses students in the S5 Science modules of Energy and Environmental Sustainability.

Program Focus Areas:

• Thermal Dynamics: Conduct live experiments to test thermal comfort and building efficiency.
• The Urban Heat Island: Use infrared technology to investigate local microclimates and urban cooling strategies.
• Sustainable Infrastructure: Map and analyse the Centre’s world-class green engineering features.
• Renewable Energy Lab: Compare energy sources through the design, construction, and stress-testing of solar-powered vehicles.

This program serves as a high-octane springboard for school-based STEM projects and environmental initiatives.

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Book now

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Inspire Creative Writing Workshop: Chronicles of the Colony

Calling Stage 3 Teachers of Gifted Writers!

Are your most talented young authors ready to sail back in time? Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre invites Stage 3 High Potential and Gifted (HPGE) writers to an exclusive literary voyage. Leave the classroom behind and step onto the rugged shores of Sydney’s colonial past for a day of immersive storytelling and historical discovery.

The Experience

Students will trade their desks for the decks of a tall ship, embarking on a creative journey that bridges historical fact and narrative fiction. This program includes:

• The Tall Ship Passage: A cinematic start to the day, sailing for 90 minutes from Campbell’s Cove around the harbour.
• The Masterclass: An intensive creative writing workshop led by a Department of Education writing expert, focusing on sensory imagery, historical voice, and character development.
• The Legacy Project: Student works will be curated into a professional collection of short stories, to be published online for all participating schools as a lasting record of their vision.

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Event Details

• Target: Stage 3 HPGE students (Years 5 & 6) with a flair for creative writing.
• Location: Campbell’s Cove, Sydney Harbour and The Rocks
• Date: Friday, October 16, 2026.
• Time: 09:15 – 14:30.
• Cost & Booking: $50 per student (restricted to government schools only)

Note: Due to the unique nature of the tall ship transport and the restricted access on the boat student numbers are strictly capped to ensure an intimate, high-impact learning environment.

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To book

To register your interest and book, download, complete and return (via email) the form below.

Inspire Creative Writing Workshop: Chronicles of the Colony Booking Form

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