Episode Overview
In Episode 81 of the Bridge Building Podcast, host Stephen Anderson previews two inspiring sessions from the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference.
Margaret O’Brien, CEO and co-founder of Young Change Agents, is our Friday morning keynote. She shares how design and technologies education can be a springboard for young people to solve real-world problems and create social impact. Margaret offers a powerful call to action for teachers as mentors, changemakers, and facilitators of “FLARN”—failing and learning.
Natasha Ratajczek from the Queensland State Library joins us to discuss their free, state-wide programs that bring research skills, cultural artefacts, and design thinking into the classroom—no matter your school’s location. She previews her Live at the Library demo and Friday tours, connecting educators with resources designed for creative problem solving and empathetic learning.
This episode will spark ideas, elevate your teaching, and get you excited for the upcoming conference.
🔑 Key Topics Discussed
Margaret O’Brien (Young Change Agents)
- Design thinking for social innovation
- Empowering students with agency and confidence
- Real school case studies & free classroom resources
- Bridging schools with industry and social enterprise
- The mentor role of design and tech educators
Natasha Ratajczek (Queensland State Library)
- Live at the Library: free online workshops for QLD schools
- Promoting information literacy, research skills & empathy
- Connecting students with real design stories and artefacts (e.g., the Queen’s Baton)
- State-wide outreach to regional and rural classrooms
- Guided tours & professional learning at the Library
🗓 Conference Details
Date: June 19–20, 2025
Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
🔗 Register Here
🏆 Awards Nominations
Deadline: May 31, 2025
🔗 Submit Nominations
🎧 Listen & Subscribe
About the Bridge Building Podcast
“This is the place where we dissect and then discover the many ways ITD teachers all over this country are using their passion to create passionate students. We talk of measuring and manipulating a multitude of materials of design and divergent thought, of creation with our minds and with our hands. And most of all, we talk of growing great young people because of course that is what we do.”
So what does that mean other than I like to show off my alliteration skills? Since coming back to teaching a few years ago the thing that strikes me most, and frankly scared me most is how lonely this job is. How little we know about what is happening in our subject area. The classroom next door, a class in the next school, let alone the next town are a mystery to me. I know there are teachers out there doing incredible things and this (the podcast) is a way for me to find out and be inspired. I would like to invite you along to listen and learn, to be inspired by some of the sensational teachers I speak to on the “Bridge Building Podcast – from technology to the trades”
About the Podcast Host
Stephen Anderson is a Design Technology, Trade Training and accidental Science teacher at a small high school 2 hours North West of Brisbane.
Over To You
If you know someone who is doing something spectacular or just great fun in design and tech or in trade training, I would love to know about them.
Contact me through my email osaerial@gmail.com
Music by:
Viola Pink
My favourite busker from the Nanango markets.