Aurora Inclusive Space Education Program & Exhibition at the Australian Space Discovery Centre

In 2024, Makers Empire partnered for the third time with The Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF) to deliver its inclusion initiative program, Aurora, to more South Australian (SA) schools. With support from the Australian Space Agency and the Maras Foundation, the ATSF’s Aurora program provides engaging and accessible space education opportunities designed specifically for students and young people living with a disability. 

The project included students and young people from 13-25 years recognised to be living with disabilities including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, mental health conditions, and other learning disabilities. Special schools, alternative education facilities, and schools with disability units were invited to participate and school groups with significant representation of students and young people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder were given priority.

SA schools selected for 2024 were Compass Catholic Community, Roma Mitchell Secondary College Disability Unit, Springbank Secondary College, Clare High School Disability Unit, Riverland Special School, Craigmore High School Disability Unit, and Woodville High School Disability Unit.

Between August and October, students from each of the schools visited the Australian Space Discovery Centre. The visits were held as private sessions for each school and adaptations were made to accommodate the needs of each group including access to wheelchair-accessible parking, rearrangement of exhibits to allow easier access, and lower volume levels for exhibits featuring sounds. The sessions were individualised for each group and included a Fact and Fiction session led by the centre’s Space Communicators, time to explore the galleries, and viewing of the Jarli film, which is about an Australian girl who is headed for the stars.