Virtual Excursions Australia (VEA) is a pioneering non-profit network dedicated to providing access to high-quality STEM education across Australia. By connecting over 40 major cultural institutions, museums, and educational organisations, VEA delivers interactive, curriculum-aligned virtual programs that transcend geographical barriers, ensuring that every student, regardless of location, can engage with crucial STEM content and cultural experiences.
Founded in 2012 by Ben Newsome, Karen Player, and Stephen Bancroft, VEA was born from a shared vision to harness video conferencing technology to bridge educational inequities. Today, VEA stands as a vital conduit for innovative and engaging STEM learning, empowering learners nationwide to explore and understand the scientific and technological world around them.
Ben Newsome is a visionary leader and influential advocate for equitable access to STEM learning in Australia. As co-founder and Director of VEA, he has fundamentally reshaped how students across the country connect with science and culture through sophisticated digital platforms. In 2013, Ben’s Churchill Fellowship provided invaluable insights into global best practices in virtual science education. This international research directly informed the development of VEA’s innovative virtual learning strategies, enhancing their efficacy and reach.
His leadership further extends globally as the co-founder of the Pinnacle Education Collaborative (2015), a robust network of over 30 cultural organisations in North America delivering virtual excursions to diverse audiences. Ben’s profound contributions have garnered significant recognition, including the AMP Tomorrow Maker grant in 2020. This crucial funding directly supported the development of comprehensive training packages, empowering Australian educators to confidently deliver impactful, immersive virtual STEM learning experiences.
Karen Player is a highly respected STEM educator and digital learning innovator, celebrated for her transformative leadership in making STEM education universally accessible through technology. As Director and co-founder of VEA, she has been instrumental in expanding the reach of environmental and scientific content to students, educators, and communities nationwide.
Karen’s leadership extends to organising and hosting significant national events such as SciFest and Earth Science Week, which facilitate vital connections between thousands of students and leading STEM content experts. These regular Virtual Excursions Conferences further serves as a critical platform, uniting educators and institutions to share best practices in digital STEM learning.
Stephen Bancroft is an accomplished Australian technologist and educator, renowned for his significant contributions to cloud engineering and digital learning infrastructure. As a Senior Cloud Engineer at Mantel Group and the Director and Technical Advisor at VEA, Stephen is the architect of the network’s robust digital backbone, ensuring the seamless delivery of interactive educational programs nationwide.
Beyond infrastructure development, Stephen’s commitment to education is evident in his prolific authorship of technical articles for VEA. These publications provide invaluable guidance on best practices for virtual learning environments, covering essential topics such as video conferencing setup, troubleshooting, and the strategic integration of multimedia tools to enhance engagement. Through these vital contributions, Stephen empowers educators to effectively leverage technology in their teaching methodologies, ensuring the continued success and expansion of virtual STEM education.
Find out more with the Why Distance Learning? Podcast
In this exciting episode of “Why Distance Learning,” we delve into the fascinating world of Virtual Excursions Australia with co-founders Karen Player and Ben Newsome. Karen and Ben share the origin story of Virtual Excursions Australia, born from a casual conversation at a tech conference and fuelled by a shared passion for enhancing educational outreach through technology. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of their journey, emphasising the critical role of technology in facilitating impactful learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the mechanics of running successful virtual programs, including the importance of interactive content, technical reliability, and engaging presentation skills. The episode also delves into the specific strategies for enhancing participant engagement and ensuring educational content is both accessible and impactful.
Join the Virtual Excursions Australia network group.
