MELBOURNE, Fla.
The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) hosted its inaugural international Space Curriculum Collaborative™ (SCC) as a four-day program during the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia. Thirty-five educators and pre-service teachers participated in the Australian Space Curriculum Collaborative (ASCC) to co-design open-access, curriculum-aligned resources that strengthen STEM and space science across Australia. The collaborative expanded AFF’s educator professional development program beyond the United States and introduced AFF’s Australian Ambassador Program, officially titled the Aldrin/Andy Thomas Ambassador Program. This new program is a partnership between AFF, Andy Thomas Space Foundation and New South Wales Department of Education.
The Aldrin Family Foundation has operated the SCC as its signature initiative for U.S. K-12 educators for the past three years. Teachers attend curriculum development workshops at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, tour the space center and exchange ideas with colleagues. The July 2025 SCC reached full capacity, demonstrating the growing demand for the program.
“Bringing the Space Curriculum Collaborative™ to Australia represents a major milestone for AFF,” said Dr. Andy Aldrin, president and CEO of the Aldrin Family Foundation. “This program gives educators immersive experiences and practical tools that will inspire students and expanding it internationally allows us to reach even more classrooms around the world.”
The ASCC took place at the University of Sydney and the Sydney International Convention Centre. Participants attended curriculum innovation workshops led by AFF and the NSW Department of Education, built CubeSats with Robinson Aerospace and participated in STEM workshops with Fizzics Education, VEX Robotics and SOLIDWORKS.
Key speakers included Dr. Andy Aldrin and Dr. Kristina Otero of the Aldrin Family Foundation; Dr. Kirsten Banks of Swinburne University of Technology; Dominique Higgins and Matthew Alterator of the New South Wales Department of Education; and Dr. Scott Sleap of the New South Wales Department of Education.
Participants also joined the Young Space Explorers event during the IAC Public Day at ICC Sydney, which featured activities they developed during the ASCC session, a private Q&A session with astronauts and a tour of the new CSIRO mobile Mission Operations Centre (MOC).
Building on the success of the ASCC, AFF will plan to name the first group of the Aldrin/Andy Thomas Ambassadors in early 2026. The initiative will be modeled from the U.S. Ambassador Program launched in 2025 and support K-12 educators who advance AFF’s mission and demonstrate outstanding commitment to space education in their schools and communities. Ambassadors will connect classrooms to space-focused learning and foster a network of teachers dedicated to inspiring the next generation.
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation supported the program with $1,000 travel scholarships for educators from outside New South Wales to ensure national participation.
For more information about the Aldrin Family Foundation, visit aldrinfoundation.org.
About the Aldrin Family Foundation
The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) develops immersive, standards-aligned STEAM learning experiences that bring space exploration to life in classrooms worldwide. From satellite missions to Giant Moon and Mars Map™ programs, AFF’s hands-on curriculum engage K-12 students and help build the global space workforce of the future. AFF has reached over 500,000 students across 47 U.S. states and 17 countries – and continues to expand through partnerships with districts, nonprofits and space industry leaders.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Griffin Communications Group (representing AFF)
Rena Anderson; rena@griffincg.com