Goal 4: Quality Education

The 2024 Festival of Digital Play at UOW's Early Start Discovery Space brought together cutting-edge research and accessible community engagement. The family-friendly event translated research findings through play to inform families about the changing digital space, what it means for children and the ways technology may be used to encourage positive interactions.

The festival was co-facilitated by Early Start Director of Research Professor Lisa Kervin, researchers from the Australia Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, and the Discovery Space team. It offered a range of digital play experiences, including robot rallies, mechanical marvels, coding in space, Lego trains, digital microscopes, and other pop-up play activities.

With all activities designed to showcase how digital technologies can enhance children's learning and development, the festival addressed families' growing needs for guidance on digital resources. The event demonstrated how research-informed approaches to technology integration can celebrate opportunities, while addressing challenges in children's digital experiences. 

^{Helping families navigate the digital world}

SDG 4 - Quality Education

Learn how UOW engages families through research and play

The University’s Vice-Chancellor's Leadership Scholarship program continued to identify and nurture exceptional young leaders from across regional NSW and beyond. In 2024, 15 first-year students were announced as the recipients of the prestigious scholarship, representing diverse academic pursuits from law and science to education, arts, mathematics, psychology and international studies. 

The annual scholarship program provides $30,000 per year for the length of an undergraduate degree, up to a maximum of four years, alongside leadership training, mentorship and global mobility opportunities. The program seeks to inspire young, passionate leaders and give them the knowledge, skills and worldviews to be future change makers, while ensuring diverse regional representation. 

^{2024 Vice-Chancellor recipients}

• SDG 4 – Quality Education 
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities 

Explore UOW scholarship opportunities

Recognising the increasing presence of fathers and male caregivers at Early Start Discovery Space, UOW researchers created The Dad Space program to acknowledge and support the unique contributions of fathers to child development and family wellbeing. 

Associate Professor Jane Herbert from the School of Psychology co-designed the 10-week program, alongside PhD candidate Amy Hofmeier, and Early Start specialists and staff. The unique program combined expert-led sessions with hands-on Discovery Space activities, allowing fathers to share parenting experiences, build community networks, and practice evidence-based play approaches with their children in a supportive environment.

By equipping fathers with research-informed strategies and celebrating their essential role in family structures, the initiative aimed to strengthen long-term family and community wellbeing and demonstrated the positive influence engaged fathers have on children's social-emotional development.  

Launched in late 2024, community response to The Dad Space was overwhelmingly positive. Across two terms, more than 85 father-child pairs attended the program, with many becoming regular participants and familiar faces in the Early Start community. 

^{Hands-on discovery at Early Start's The Dad Space}

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing
• SDG 4 – Quality Education
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

Discover the benefits of father-focused parenting programs