Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC)

Supporting disadvantaged schools to deliver the Digital Technologies curriculums

A school teacher who appears to be instructing two girls regarding a blue and white children’s robot in a classroom environment.

This immersive project addresses the need to support teachers in disadvantaged primary schools to deliver the Digital Technologies curriculum.

Schools receive hummingbird robotics kits to use beyond the scope of this project. These kits engage students in design, engineering and coding providing multiple entry points and extension possibilities.

Teachers embed new practices into their classroom delivery as they participate in ongoing professional learning and team-teach a series of workshops alongside GTAC staff.

Students develop STEM knowledge and skills as they apply computational thinking to solve problems. STEM mentors work alongside students as role models to increase their awareness of careers in STEM.

  • 300+ years 5 and 6 students

  • 6 primary schools

  • 4 student workshops and a visit to GTAC

  • 3 Professional Learning workshops for teachers



The GTAC logo. Each letter of GTAC is a different colour. G in blue, T in cerulean, A in aqua, and C in green. Below this, ‘GENE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS CENTRE’ in blue, and above to the top right, a series of hexagons symbolising molecular structures.

About GTAC

GTAC is a Science and Maths Specialist Centre established by the Victorian Department of Education and Training in 2000. We engage teachers and students in exploring contemporary life sciences as they apply research grade technologies guided by practicing scientists.