Rise & Shine science competition links children’s inquiry with educator learning

Haberfield and Kogarah services have been recognised for whole-service investigations, with representatives receiving funded places at a Reggio Emilia conference in Singapore.

Rise & Shine Haberfield and Rise & Shine Kogarah have won the provider’s inaugural Seeds of Science Competition. The recognition includes funded attendance at the REACH Reggio Emilia Conference in Singapore, connecting the services’ inquiry projects with further educator professional learning.

The winners were announced at Shine Fest on 12 September, following investigations developed throughout August. Each participating service was asked to involve every room, with children contributing in age-appropriate ways.

“Our services embraced the opportunity to look at science through the eyes of children and to create environments where curiosity could lead the learning,” Rise & Shine Education Head of Education Petro Papazoglou said.

“The level of inquiry, documentation and collaboration across our services demonstrated just how powerful STEM learning can be when children are given the opportunity to investigate, question and construct knowledge for themselves.”

Children’s questions shape investigations across rooms

The competition drew on National Science Week’s 2026 schools theme, Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All. It explored how science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning could develop through the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach.

Services were asked to develop an inquiry that evolved throughout the month, rather than produce a single display. Documentation captured children’s questions, discoveries and theories, showing how their thinking developed and influenced subsequent experiences.

Educators were encouraged to use loose parts, natural materials and environments that invited investigation. The competition also drew on the Hundred Languages, recognising the different ways children express ideas, communicate and explore their understanding.

External judges recognise sustained inquiry

Rise & Shine invited an external judging panel with expertise across early childhood education, science, sustainability and inquiry. Judges included Western Sydney University subject coordinator Lesley Gough, Dr Bronwen Wade-Leeuwen from Macquarie University and STEAM Ahead Australia, and Macquarie University Honorary Senior Research Fellow Dr Kathryn McLachlan.

Ms Gough, who presented the prizes at Shine Fest, highlighted the influence of children’s contributions. “Children’s questions were used to drive the next phase of learning and opportunities to connect this learning as a whole were observed.”

Dr McLachlan recognised the work involved in connecting investigations across a service. “All services should be proud of the work they are doing to go beyond individual room experiences into whole-service learning cultures,” she said.

Conference places extend the professional learning

Representatives from Haberfield and Kogarah will attend the REACH Reggio Emilia Conference in Singapore on 30 and 31 October, with attendance funded by Rise & Shine. The conference will explore children, democratic cultures and the role of childhood in shaping the future.

Group Head of Operations & Culture Jennifer Weston said the prize would provide opportunities to develop practice and share learning across the organisation. “What stood out to us was not simply what the children had created, but the way our educators had created the conditions for children to wonder, investigate, test ideas and make their thinking visible.”

The provider also recognised Sylvania, Summer Hill and Menai as runners-up, each receiving a $500 MTA voucher. The competition sits alongside Rise & Shine’s existing STEM activities, including its Smart Start program, centre-based STEM rooms and Orbit Centre of Imagination.