The Kids STEM Festival returned to Kalgoorlie for two incredible days of inspiring discovery on 20 and 21 May, and the impact was felt right across the community.
Our team of dedicated researchers, professional staff and partners ran back‑to‑back school sessions, offering local students the chance to dive into hands‑on STEM experiences. From racing VEX robots to exploring bacteriophage and even creating their own virus models, the students were fully immersed, curious, and eager to learn.
In the evenings, the festival opened to the whole community, with interactive and unique STEM activities such as Antibody Detectives, Hand-washing and Infection Control (parents loved this one!) and Bacteriophage Hunters, with free food and music enjoyed by all.
The Kids STEM Festival continues to be one of the most powerful ways The Kids builds connection, sparks interest and shows young people that STEM is for everyone, no matter where they live.
With more than 670 students from nine remote and regional schools attending the school sessions, and more than 500 people participating in the two community sessions, the festival has expanded its reach and strengthened its connection with the Goldfields community since last year’s inaugural event.
The event was full of energy and excitement as children explored their own STEM adventures. Nine-year-old Ben shared, “I don’t really like school very much, but this festival made me realise I really love science,” while Maeve, an enthusiastic five-year-old declared, “I want to be a scientist when I grow up.”
The Kids STEM Festival Kalgoorlie would not have been possible without the generous support of Lynas Rare Earths, Curtin University, Engineers Australia, CFC Group Foundation, Scitech, the Department of Energy and Environmental Diversification, and Inspiring Western Australia.
First published Friday 22 May 2026.
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