From bright idea to brilliant impact: reflecting on rise & shine’s kindergarten’s mobile planetarium

Three years ago, Rise & Shine Kindergarten introduced a bold and imaginative addition to its early learning program, Australia’s only childcare-operated mobile planetarium. What began as an ambitious extension of its Orbit, Centre of Imagination STEM program has since become one of the organisation’s most celebrated and impactful educational experiences.

Today, the planetarium stands not just as a resource, but as a symbol of how innovative thinking in early childhood education can transform the way children engage with the world around them.

When the planetarium was first introduced, the goal was simple yet powerful, to bring immersive, inquiry-based STEM learning to life. With the ability to host 20–30 children at a time, the travelling dome created an environment where children could step beyond the classroom and into the stars, exploring space, science, and storytelling in a way that felt real and immediate.

Three years on, its success has exceeded all expectations.

The planetarium has become a central feature of the Orbit program’s rotating experiences, travelling between centres across Queensland and New South Wales, as well as visiting schools and community events. Supported by one of the most comprehensive planetarium content libraries in the country, the experience continues to evolve, offering everything from guided tours of the solar system to interactive to curriculum-aligned explorations of Earth and beyond.

For the children, the impact is unmistakable.

“You get to go inside the stars, it’s like being an astronaut,” said Andee, a Rise & Shine child, echoing the sense of wonder that has defined the planetarium experience since day one.

Beyond the excitement, the planetarium has played a deeper role in shaping learning outcomes. As part of the Orbit program, it reinforces a hands-on, inquiry-driven approach that encourages children to ask questions, test ideas, and imagine possibilities, skills essential for navigating a future that is still unfolding.

The success of the planetarium is also a reflection of Rise & Shine’s long-standing commitment to STEM education. Managing Directors Edward and Marianne Zaki recall how that vision first took shape:

“When Rise & Shine first opened, we felt it was necessary to include a strong element of STEM learning. That’s why we created Smart Start, our dedicated STEM environments that are found in each centre. Over the past decade, we’ve continued to build on that foundation, and the planetarium has become one of the most loved and impactful resources we’ve introduced.”

In 2025, Rise & Shine Kindergarten and Orbit , Centre of Imagination expanded its reach even further with the launch of the Orbit, Mobile STEM Shuttle, ensuring that these engaging learning experiences could be shared with an even wider audience.

This year is particularly meaningful for the Rise & Shine community, marking five years of Orbit and ten years of Smart Start. As Jennifer Weston, Group Head of Crew and Culture explains:

“Celebrating these milestones makes this an incredibly special, science-focused year for us. It’s inspiring to reflect on how far we’ve come, and being part of so many young learners’ journeys into STEM is truly an honour.”

The Orbit Planetarium plays a powerful role in strengthening Rise & Shine Kindergarten’s Preschool & Kindy program by embedding authentic STEM learning into everyday experiences classrooms through intentional curriculum experiences and extension activities.

By replicating the nature of a real excursion within a safe and familiar environment, the planetarium builds children’s confidence, independence and readiness for the expectations of Primary School.

It complements our sector leading School Readiness pathway, equipping children not just with knowledge and curiosity, but real-world routines and skills essential for a successful transition to Primary School.

“The planetarium has helped us challenge perceptions of STEM. It’s not just screens or technology, it’s hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Whether children are building robots, observing life cycles, or exploring the universe, STEM is everywhere, and it should feel exciting,” says Petro Papazoglou, Head of Education at Rise & Shine Education.

Technologically, the planetarium continues to impress. Its advanced full dome projection system creates a fully immersive environment, allowing children to experience realistic night skies, planetary movement, and deep-space exploration. Combined with its portability, this technology has made high-quality science education more accessible than ever within the early years sector.

Perhaps most importantly, the planetarium is planting seeds for the future.

Rise & Shine Kindergarten and Orbit, Centre of Imagination STEM Ambassador, Dr Laura Driessen, reflects on how a similar experience shaped her own path:

“I was hooked on astronomy when I was four years old and visited a mobile planetarium at my local library. That was the moment that set me on the path to becoming an astronomer. It’s incredible to see Rise & Shine creating similar moments for children today.”

Three years on, the mobile planetarium has proven to be far more than an educational tool. It has become a catalyst for curiosity, a driver of innovation, and a reminder that when children are given the opportunity to explore, imagine, and discover, they don’t just learn about the world. They begin to see their place within it.