Award-Nominated VR STEM: Griffith University, Queensland Department of Education, and Mindflight7

At Mindflight7, we believe that you cannot be what you cannot see. That is why we are incredibly proud to announce that the collaborative partnership between Griffith University, the Queensland Department of Education, and Mindflight7 has been nominated for the 2026 Engagement Australia Excellence Awards in the Excellence in Indigenous Engagement category!

This nomination recognises our joint initiative, "Empowering First Nations Girls Through Co-designed Engagement: Building Confidence, Capability, and Opportunity." Originally launched as a pilot program in late 2023, this initiative combines behavioural science, LEGO® Serious Play®, and immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technology to build confidence and broaden career aspirations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.

Instead of just telling students about future pathways, we allow them to experience them. By stepping inside high-tech labs and exploring over 60 future-focused careers in VR, students are able to map their unique strengths to tangible education and employment opportunities.

A massive thank you to everyone driving the core partnership between Griffith University, the Queensland Department of Education, and Mindflight7, alongside our incredible collaborators at the GUMURRII Student Success Unit and Woodridge State High School, who have been instrumental in co-designing and refining this program to ensure it remains culturally responsive and impactful.

Following the success of the pilot, we are thrilled to be expanding this initiative - now known as PlaySTEM - to reach nearly 1,000 students across 10+ schools in the Logan region and beyond. Together, Griffith University, the Queensland Department of Education, and Mindflight7 are committed to rolling this out to many more Queensland schools this year, ensuring equity of access and capacity building for the next generation of innovators.