The Flinders Ranges Ediacara Foundation in conjunction with SASTA, will be offering 9 teacher scholarships to the Flinders Ranges to explore the Nilpena Ediacara National Park and surrounding areas with experts in the field to increase student engagement and learning about Ediacara in the classroom.
This unique professional development experience will take place in the July school holidays, from 6-9 July 2026.
Objectives
- Educate teachers about South Australia's geological heritage
- Promote understanding of geological time scales
- Inspire the incorporation of Ediacara into teaching and learning programs
- Inspire and build confidence in teachers to be scientific role models for their students
Itinerary and inclusions
The itinerary includes a travel day on Monday 6 July and a return trip on Thursday 9 July.
Onsite professional learning will include:
- Welcome to Country at Wilpena Pound Resort
- Extended Nilpena Ediacara National Park fossil tour including
- The Blacksmith's Shop interactive experience
- A visit to the active fossil research site
- Spend the afternoon with Dr. Mary Droser and two Ph.D. researchers learning about research happening at NENP, making moulds of fossils for you to bring to the classroom and maybe even helping with the research!
- Tour through Brachina Gorge - the Corridors Through Time Geological Trail
- Lunch at the Prairie Hotel
- Group planning session with ideas / units to take back to your classroom
- The trip will be supported by a lead teacher to support the group and facilitate PD sessions.
Spending time with Dr Mary Droser, Heather, Phil and the ranger was amazing, inspiring and energising. Being able to learn directly from researchers, on site, completely changed my understanding of the Ediacaran fossils and their significance. - 2025 participant
Accommodation, travel* and tour fees will be covered by the scholarship.
Participants will be responsible for covering their own food costs.
*leaving from Adelaide
The learning didn’t stop when we got home. I’ve already shared ideas with colleagues and started conversations about how we can embed this content across year levels and learning areas. - 2025 participant
Eligibility
- You must be a South Australian science teacher or primary classroom teacher with an interest in science, currently teaching Reception - Year 10.
- Participants will be expected to contribute their knowledge and resources gained from this experience to the broader science community through SASTA publications, events or other opportunities.
- Some sites will contain limited facilities so it is important that you are comfortable with:
- Travelling as a passenger for long distances including in a 4WD over bumpy terrain
- Physically fit to be out in the fossil fields
Selection will be based on your responses to the three main questions at the end of the application form. The final selection of teacher participants will be at the discretion of the selection panel.
I now have a complete lesson plan mapped out for Year 10 and I’ve already started using it. The trip gave me practical ideas and the confidence to teach this content properly, not just skim over it. - 2025 participant