Buraligim Weiber project wins national award
The Buraligim Weiber (Place of Learning) project is an immersive 20-week interdisciplinary program engaging Year 4 students from two Gladstone primary schools, where they learn about place, sustainability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and language.
Delivered at CQUniversity’s STEM Central and across local community sites, the program is funded by Australia Pacific LNG, operated downstream by ConocoPhillips.
Developed during COVID in 2020, the program was co-designed by educators, citizen science groups, industry, the university and local First Nations people, launching in 2021 initially for Years 3 and 4 First Nations students before growing into a fully embedded Year 4 program for all students.
The program is a collaboration between CQUniversity Gladstone and Gladstone West State School, embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the Australian Curriculum through a strong local context.
The program has now been recognised on a national stage, with CQUniversity receiving the 2026 Australian Energy Producers' Excellence Award for Community and Social Investment.
Project lead, Assoc Prof Linda Pfeiffer said the award recognised the collective effort behind the program.
“This award recognises the combined efforts of the team and the support of the community. It truly takes a village,” she said.
Since its inception, the program has brought together close to 1000 participants, including students, community organisations, educators, industry partners and volunteers, reflecting a true collective effort.
Its impact extends beyond the classroom, with students experiencing hands-on science learning on Country while building strong connections to culture and community.
Assoc Prof Pfeiffer said the reach of STEM Central and its programs continued to grow.
“STEM Central has brought science to life for tens of thousands of participants, not just on campus in Gladstone, but through greater outreach through regional Queensland, and into primary schools across our region,” she said.
Ongoing evaluation and CQUniversity research capture these outcomes, with findings shared at major national and international conferences and through academic publications such as International Perspectives on School-University Partnerships and STEM Education in Primary Classrooms.
The partnership with Australia Pacific LNG has been central to the program’s success, supporting STEM Central for the past seven years and recently extending alongside Santos and Shell QGC through to 2028, marking a decade of collaboration.
Assoc Prof Pfeiffer said the longevity of the partnership had been key to the program’s success.
“The impacts of STEM Central and the associated programs in the local regional community are immeasurable. This long-term partnership has been sustained through consistent effort and from ongoing trust,” she said.
This continued investment ensures the program can grow, innovate and deliver long-term benefits for students and the Gladstone community.
The program has also received significant recognition locally, including a 2023 Education Queensland Showcase Award and support from the Queensland Chief Scientist.
However, many of its most meaningful outcomes are seen in personal stories, such as a grandmother volunteer who, after participating in the program, was inspired to learn to read.
Assoc Prof Pfeiffer said those moments highlighted the program’s impact.
“I am proud to have been able to work collaboratively with local community and industry partners and to see the excitement on the students faces when participating in this program,” she said.
Annual visits to Quoin Island Retreat and the turtle rehabilitation centre remain a highlight, offering hands-on learning experiences and reinforcing the strength of Gladstone’s community partnerships — connections that continue to shape and enrich the program.
