Curious Minds is open to young Australian women who:

• Are in Year 8 or 9 in 2025, and enrolled in an Australian school in the program period
• Attend a school with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage value of less than 1000 and/or resides in a rural, regional or remote area of Australia and/or identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• Have demonstrated potential in one or more scientific subjects, including biology, chemistry, computer science/programming, earth science, engineering, mathematics or physics.
• Are able to commit to full participation in the program, including a 6-day residential camp in December and a virtual camp in July the following year, and the STEM coaching program.
• Are highly capable, hard-working and apply themselves
• Are curious – they have a love of learning
• Are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident

Attendance is by invitation and only 120 places are available Australia-wide.

In this exciting, dynamic STEM education and exploration program, students will be given amazing opportunities and in turn must commit to:

• Attending a six-day face to face residential Summer Camp in December.
• Attending a four-day online Winter Camp in the following July.
• Connecting with their STEM Coach every 2-3 weeks in between camps.
• Exploring a STEM idea with your STEM Coach, with the aim of telling your STEM story at Winter Camp.

The program runs for eight months, from December to July.

Note, students will be matched with a STEM Coach as part of the program.

For the 2025-26 Curious Minds Program:

Summer Camps – in person, residential camps

Canberra ‘East Camp’ (for students from ACT, NSW, VIC, TAS): 1 – 6 December 2025

Adelaide ‘West Camp’ (for students from SA, WA, NT, QLD): 8 – 13 December 2025

Winter camp – held online

Virtual Camp (for all participants): 6 – 10 July 2026

The Curious Minds Program is delivered using a hybrid model. The Summer Camps will be held in person, and the Winter Camp and other program sessions will be online.

Summer Camp ‘East’ held in Canberra (for students from ACT, NSW, VIC, TAS)

Dates: 1 – 6 December 2025
Accommodation: Eagle Hawk Student Accommodation
Teaching Program: The Australian National University

Summer Camp ‘West’ held in Adelaide (for students from SA, WA, NT, QLD)

Dates: 8 – 13 December 2025
Accommodation: Nunyara Conference Centre
Teaching Program: The University of Adelaide

All travel and accommodation is organised and covered by the Curious Minds Program.

Participation is by invitation only, with invitations sent to students who performed strongly in one or more of the following:

• The Australian Mathematics Competition
• The Big Science Competition
• The Computational and Algorithmic Thinking Competition
• The Junior Science Olympiad Exam

Invitations are sent to students via their school.

If you didn’t participate in one of these competitions or haven’t received an invitation, you may still be eligible to apply. If you’re interested, check the eligibility criteria and submit an EOI form if you’re keen to participate.

The cost to attend Curious Minds in $200.

We arrange and pay for all your travel, meals and accommodation, as well as teaching materials, excursions, lab tours, and a party!

If the cost means you can’t come, tell us. We can help.

Curious Minds is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education under the Women’s Economic Security Package 2018.

Australian Science Innovations (ASI) and Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) jointly deliver the Curious Minds program, which is supported by the Australian National University.