Primary School Outreach

Our Primary School Outreach program introduce Victorian Government primary school high-ability Year 5 and 6 students to a range of advanced STEM topics. Across four exciting sessions, participants engage in interactive learning experiences guided and mentored by JMSS students and alumni, who support and lead them through each session.

an illustration of a boy and a girl enjoying some science learning

Part of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series

Our primary school outreach program is part of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series.

Program overview

Victorian government primary schools can enroll eligible students in the following learning programs:

  • Little Scientists, Big Science
  • Mini Mathematicians
  • LEGO Spike Prime‑ARY

These programs not only spark curiosity and passion for science, maths, and engineering among primary students but also help our JMSS mentors develop confidence, leadership, and responsibility through real teaching experience.

Important: each school must have at least one teacher or ES staff member in attendance per session. Schools with multiple groups attending a session can send additional school staff or parent helpers (must have valid WWCCs) to supervise additional groups.

Learning program

  • Little Scientists, Big Science: students explore topics such as flight physics, pH testing, anatomy and adaptation, robotics, and engineering.
  • Mini Mathematicians: a fun, hands‑on approach to mathematics using games, puzzles, and problem‑solving challenges.
  • Spike Prime‑ARY: a robotics program using the LEGO Spike Prime platform to introduce coding, engineering, and creative problem‑solving.

This program opens only to Victorian State Schools.

Primary School Outreach Handbook 2026
a illustration of 2026 timetable

Program structure & timtable

Eligible primary schools can enroll students in one or all learning streams based on students' interests. Each stream runs for four weeks and follows the same engaging learning model, on Wednesday afternoon from 1:30pm to 3:00 pm.

Primary school liaison teacher

Each primary school will be required to nominate a teacher as the primary school liaison for the program and be responsible for:

  • program application and students enrollments
  • liaison with JMSS on acceptance of offer, change of program dates, attendance
  • parents/carers consent for program participation and program photography & filming
  • transportation of school students
  • coordinate parent helpers (with valid WWCC) for your group on program days
  • Supervising students onsite or coordinating a school staff member to accompany students for active supervision during each session at JMSS
  • liaise with JMSS on attendence of JMSS Science Expo and JMSS Australian Science Fair

Provided by JMSS

JMSS will supply the following for participants of the primary school outreach program:

  • training and support for JMSS students, teaching the program
  • our laboratories for the program
  • all materials used in the experiments, activities, practical components, and challenges
  • class facilitator and laboratory technician staff from JMSS present during the workshops
  • support for Primary School students to complete their research projects and display them at one of JMSS’s Science Fairs;
  • opportunities for primary teachers to observe lessons and engage with our students and teachers regarding the content and processes.

Applications for 2026 program have now closed

2026 applications have now closed.

We look forward to delivering more exciting primary STEM learning opportunities in 2027, subject to the receipt of government funding.

If you have any questions, please direct your inquiries to: outreach@jmss.vic.edu.au