This is the place where we dissect and then discover the many ways ITD teachers all over this country are using their passion to create passionate students. We talk of measuring and manipulating a multitude of materials of design and divergent thought, of creation with our minds and with our hands. And most of all, we talk of growing great young people because of course that is what we do.
Bridge Building Podcast Episode 100: Datta Podcast: Six Years Later: Learning at Full Throttle
One hundred episodes. Six years. And one very familiar guest.
For Episode 100 of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen Anderson returns to where it all began.
Andrew Devoy was the podcast's very first guest in August 2020. Six years later, he's back to answer the same question Stephen asked him in that original conversation:
What's happening at Marist College Ashgrove?
The answer involves quite a lot of motorsport.
Andrew shares how the College's go-kart program has developed since its beginnings in 2014. What started as an extracurricular activity has grown into an annual multi-school event, with the 2025 challenge involving eight schools, around 22 karts and 125 students.
The conversation then moves into Formula High School and Marist's Certificate II Engineering Pathways program.
Here, students work within a simulated workplace rather than a traditional classroom structure. They sign in, receive job cards and manufacture real components required for the Formula High School vehicle. Their work must meet required standards and pass quality control before they move onto their next job.
The finished vehicle is then taken to Lakeside Park for a six-hour endurance event, where students experience the culmination of months of practical work, teamwork and preparation.
Andrew and Stephen also discuss the importance of industry partnerships, sponsorship, teacher leadership and providing students with authentic experiences that give practical learning genuine meaning.
For a milestone episode, it's a conversation that brings the Bridge Building Podcast back to its beginnings while demonstrating exactly why these stories are worth sharing.
14 Aug 2026
Bridge Building Podcast Episode 99: Datta Podcast: Build Your Own STEM Adventure: Taking Students to NASA
What if your next school STEM excursion involved New York, Washington, Disney and Kennedy Space Center?
In Episode 99 of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen Anderson speaks with Shaun Lane from Hale School in Perth about an extraordinary international STEM experience his Technology department has developed for students.
Every two years, the school takes a group of students to the United States for a bespoke STEM tour. The 2026 trip will see 32 students and four staff travel through New York, Washington, Orlando and Titusville over two weeks.
Along the way, students explore aviation and space museums, the Smithsonian institutions, STEM programs at Disney and Universal, universities and, finally, Kennedy Space Center, where they undertake an immersive international program including astronaut training and simulated space missions.
Shaun also shares some unforgettable moments from previous tours — including arriving in Orlando alongside a hurricane and, through some extraordinary timing, witnessing a SpaceX rocket launch and the boosters returning to Earth.
But this episode isn't simply about an incredible school trip.
Shaun explains how Hale moved away from an organised tour and began designing its own program. The teachers develop the itinerary themselves and then work with a travel company to manage flights, accommodation and other logistics.
The conversation explores costs, free and low-cost STEM opportunities, working with universities, accessing educational programs at major attractions and how schools could build a smaller or less expensive version of the experience.
For teachers who have ever wondered whether an ambitious international STEM experience is actually possible, this episode might have you asking a different question:
Why couldn't we do it?
28 Jul 2026
Bridge Building Podcast Episode 98: Datta Podcast: Is Your TAE Still Valid? The Truth About Teaching VET in Schools
If you've ever wondered whether your TAE is still current, whether you need to complete another Certificate IV, or what "industry currency" actually means, this episode is for you.
Stephen Anderson is joined by Sarah Pavy, Head of Education at ReadCloudVET, to unpack some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding VET teaching in Australian schools.
Sarah explains the recent changes to Australia's VET credential policy, clarifies which TAE qualifications remain valid, and discusses the difference between vocational competency, industry currency and VET currency. She also explains why maintaining current workplace knowledge is becoming increasingly important for teachers delivering vocational education.
The conversation then shifts to ReadCloudVET's approach to supporting schools through tailored VET programs designed around local industries, employment opportunities and student interests, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all packages. Sarah explains how flexible assessment design, teacher support and responsive program development help schools deliver meaningful vocational pathways for students.
Whether you're an experienced VET teacher, returning to the classroom, or considering delivering VET qualifications for the first time, this episode provides practical advice and valuable clarification on the latest requirements.
Who has been a guest on DattaQueensland's podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Margaret O’Brien
Natasha Ratajczek
Michael Mikhail
Jacqueline Niblett
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
64
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
27
Contact DattaQueensland's podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about DattaQueensland's podcast
Who hosts DattaQueensland's podcast?
Stephen Anderson host the show. Published by Stephen Anderson.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does DattaQueensland's podcast take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Host of DattaQueensland's podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
