Contact us
- Junior Science Academy
- T: +61 (2) 9850 1118
- T: +61 448 172 163
- E: juniorscience@mq.edu.au
Mailing list
Be the first to know when bookings open
Join the mailing listHearing Hub Discovery Academy for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children
Discovery Academy (formally Junior Science Academy - JSA), in collaboration with the Australian Hearing Hub and Parents of Deaf Children, is proudly presenting this exciting and accessible science program for children with hearing loss.
The Hearing Hub Discovery Academy (JSA) for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children provides children the opportunity to have fun learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts, while making new friends who are deaf or hard of hearing too.
Discovery Academy classes teach these STEM concepts through experiments, art, drama, physical activity, craft, and other hands-on activities.
Winter Program Dates
- Tuesday 16 July 2024: Science is Real, Grades 1–3
- Wednesday 17 July 2024: SPIKE LEGO level 1 robotics, Grades 4–6
Register Your Interest
Register your interest in the program by 3 June 2024 to receive an email invitation with a booking link.
Places will first be offered to new families and then Parents of Deaf Children (PODC) Members from 5 June, with any remaining places offered to returning families from 6 June 2024. Places are limited and fill quickly, so please book as soon as possible.
Our school holiday programs for children in years 1 - 6 have been tailored to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) kids, including:
- Smaller class sizes to reduce noise (capped at 12 children per day)
- The use of assisted listening devices such as a Phonak Roger mic
- Auslan interpreters
- Additional volunteer support
- D/HH role models
- Modified lesson plans
This program is also supported by contributions from the Child Language Lab, Hearing Matters Australia and other Hearing Hub partners.
Cost
FREE. Tickets are generously subsidisedby the partners of Discovery Academy DHH. |
Location
Level 3, Australian Hearing Hub, 6 University Avenue, Macquarie University, 2109. |
Parent / Carer Morning Tea
We are excited to be able to welcome families with more opportunities to connect through our program. In collaboration with Parents of Deaf Children a morning tea for parents/ carers (and siblings) after sign in, from 9.30am-11.30am. Auslan interpreters will be provided.
How to support the Hearing Hub Discovery Academy DHH program |
Donate
The Hearing Hub Discovery Academy is made possible through sponsorship and generous donations. We hope to have your support in offering our DHH kids science camps long into the future.
Through your generosity, we will be able to extend our reach with Regional Scholarship Programs. We aim to offer remote families with DHH children the chance to participate and connect with other families sharing in their life experience.
To support us, please head to the Hearing Hub JSA for DHH kids donation page
Regional Travel Scholarships |
To find out more about our Regional Scholarship Program including eligibility and how you can apply, email the team at juniorscience@mq.edu.au |
Travelling from rural or regional Australia? Thanks to our generous sponsors, we have a limited number of regional and remote sponsorship places to offer to eligible attendees. This program provides up to $500 toward costs for accommodation, petrol and food. |
Our partners
About our Partners
1. Parents of Deaf Children (PODC) is a non-profit organisation, that empower parents in NSW and the ACT to support their deaf children in reaching their full potential through information, support networks and representation. If you would like to learn more about PODC visit the PODC website, or sign up for free to become a PODC member.
2. The Australian Hearing Hub (AHH) unites researchers, educators, clinicians and innovators with expertise in linguistics, audiology, speech pathology, cognitive and language sciences, psychology, nanofabrication and engineering sciences. The AHH mission is to optimise hearing health for all and transform life outcomes for people with hearing loss, by collaboration among a community of organisations dedicated to hearing research, innovation, education and practice. AHH has proudly sponsored the DHH program since it began in 2018. To find out more visit the AHH website.
3. Campus Life Macquarie University is the home of the Junior Science Academy (JSA), and they are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to educating primary school students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. JSA has sponsored and hosted the DHH program since it began in 2018. To find out more about JSA and its other educational programs, please head to the JSA website
What to bring
- lunch, morning tea, afternoon tea and a water bottle
- any necessary medication, learning or support aids
- comfortable clothes and closed-in shoes (mandatory for safety reasons)
- a hat for outdoor play and walking around campus
Please apply sunscreen to your child prior to their arrival to protect them during outdoor activities. Sunscreen is also available for use at sign in and for application throughout the day.
Daily Schedule
Classes start promptly at 9.30am.
Classes finish at 4pm.
Children have a 45 minute lunch break and short morning and afternoon tea breaks.
Children are supervised by our staff at all times.
Drop off / Pick up
| Activity | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning drop off | 8.30am | 9.30am |
| Afternoon pick up | 4pm | 5pm |
Late sign in / early sign out
- Please let us know if you will be arriving after the set drop off time – children must be signed in before they can join their class
- If you will be picking up your child early, or taking them off the premises for any reason, you must sign them out before collecting them from their class – see one of our admin staff onsite for assistance.
Classes start promptly at 9.30am.
Authorisation / ID
Authorised people other than the Parent/Guardian may be nominated to pick up your child.
- These can be submitted when booking or at drop off
- Parent/Guardian 1 and 2 are automatically considered Authorised People
Photo identification must be shown when picking up your child. The name on the identification must match that on our records.
- If someone other than yourself is picking up your child, please ensure their name has been spelt correctly and remind them to bring photo ID
Class descriptions
Science is Real, Grades 1-3
Learning experiences include:
- Coloured celery experiment - How do plants absorb water?
- An apple a day - Experiment to understand oxidisation in fruit
- Marble boat float - Play with physics to save your boat from sinking
- Where is my tree? - Test your other senses using a blindfold to explore
- Coke chemistry - Chemical reactions and explosions!
- Up up and away - How many balloons does it take to lift a bag?
SPIKE LEGO Level 1 robotics, Grades 4-6
Learning experiences include:
- This is the first class in the Spike Prime Series, developed with LEGO Education
- Build a foundation of robotics and coding skills as you begin the Spike Prime Series
- Unlock your creative potential and critical thinking skills as you design and build LEGO robots
- Bring your robot to life, connecting to your programmable hub
- Code using Scratch coding language
- Join the Invention squad with project-based learning activities