DATTA Qld Newsletter
February 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back to a new school year, and to what promises to be an exciting and energising start to 2026 for Design and Technology teachers across Queensland. As classrooms, workshops and maker spaces come back to life, DATTA Qld is looking forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead with connection, collaboration and practical inspiration.
This year welcomes our renewed committee bringing fresh perspectives, strong advocacy and a shared commitment to serving our members. We are also eagerly preparing for our annual conference, which will once again provide opportunities to engage with innovative practice, emerging technologies and the evolving demands of Design and Technology education.
As our field continues to grow and adapt, DATTA Qld remains committed to promoting innovation in teaching and learning, celebrating the expertise of our teachers, and strengthening professional networks across the state. We look forward to working alongside you in 2026 and sharing a year of ideas, learning and progress.
With best wishes,
Carol-Anne Durkin
President – Design And Technology Teachers’ Association QLD
2026 DATTA Qld Conference - Registration is now open!
Registration is now open for the DATTA Qld Conference, taking place on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June 2026 at our new venue, Kedron-Wavell.
Submit your PD forms and register early to take advantage of early bird rates.
We can’t wait to see you in June!
Week 5 PD - Term 1
Topic: Sharing good practice in 2026 – Prototyping Approaches
Description: An opportunity to connect with colleagues across the State to share your experience and use of prototyping in the classroom/workshop.
Audience: Teachers from all areas of Design and Technologies.
What you need to bring: ideas, examples of classroom experiences and learning sequences, questions, and examples of how you use prototyping so your students can iterate and improve their design work
When: 25/02/2025 5:00-6:30
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Register by emailing teachmeet@dattaqld.org.au
Bridge Building Podcast
The latest podcast was published on 3 December 2025.
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen chats with Emil Zankov, President of DATTA South Australia and a driving force behind the explosive growth of VEX Robotics competitions across the state.
Emil shares his journey from an early-career teacher discovering the power of robotics to leading a statewide movement that now involves more than 20 schools and over 100 teams. He discusses how robotics competitions provide belonging, motivation, and purpose for students who might otherwise disengage – often transforming attendance, confidence, and learning habits.
We also look at what makes VEX both accessible and scalable, why teachers shouldn’t fear starting small, and how associations like DATTA SA help isolated tech teachers find their people.
Key Topics:
- The real value of competitive robotics
- How collaboration flourishes even in a competitive environment
- Strategies for getting school leadership on board
- Ways robotics connects students across schools, sectors, and backgrounds
- Advice for teachers considering starting a team
Flashback to our beginnings!
Thanks to Keith Holledge, we have access to all of the original DATTA Qld (previously QMATA and INTAD) Magazines and Journals that have been released since 1983! Keith is now on a mission to scan and digitise all of these journals for us and we will be adding them to newsletters moving forward as a point of nostalgia and interest! There would be many teachers out there who would know or who may have been taught by teachers mentioned in these chronicles, and it is amazing that we can share them!
Thanks Keith!
In this edition, we have the QMATA Volume 3, August 1983.
Reminders
Membership!
Membership renewals have been issued. Please check your email for your renewal notice and take a moment to confirm your DATTA Qld school and or personal membership details.
Membership provides benefits throughout the year and supports the work of your professional association. We also encourage you to talk with colleagues about their membership – who can you remind or encourage to renew or join DATTA Qld in 2026?
Any questions – email membership@dattaqld.org.au
Free classroom resources
DATTA Qld have been delighted to collaborate with Forest Learning and support them to develop a fantastic range of free units of work for Design & Technologies.
Each resource provides unique insights into how forests play a vital role in the provision of forest and wood products and environmental services for society.
Topics include the sustainable seating project, going green in your school canteen, the nesting box project, forest VR and the phone stand project.
To access all the D&T resources, click here to set up your free website login and then browse the resources library.
Designing the Future
This blog explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping product design, from early concepts through to development, and what this shift could mean for designers and organisations alike.
Member spotlight
We want to celebrate our amazing members. There are so many inspiring, hard-working Design and Technology teachers working in our State. We want to recognise your contributions to high-quality Design and Technologies Education. Nominate a colleague, or yourself, to feature in one of the DATTA QLD Member Spotlights.
Email Expressions of Interest to socials@dattaqld.org.au.
Contribute to our monthly newsletter
We encourage our members to contribute to our monthly newsletter! Please contact us if you have any articles or information that you think could be included in future newsletters.
Email on: socials@dattaqld.org.au
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