Geography Teachers' Association of Queensland

Presenter Spotlight: Kal Glanznig & Cooper Chapman (Workshop #2) hear from some of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions in this workshop! Teachers will leave with practical tools to address eco-anxiety in their classroom and insights backed by Orygen research data on what actually shifts when young people move from overwhelmed to capable. Ticket link: https://lnkd.in/g_bTmU_U

Presenter Spotlight: Marianne Mare (Workshop #1) How do we move beyond content to true geographical thinking? This session explores how to explicitly teach spatial thinking skills, helping students interpret the world through maps, models, and patterns. Perfect for teachers wanting to strengthen inquiry and higher-order thinking.

Be Inspired. Be Challenged. Be Illuminated. This year’s GTAQ Conference features two powerful keynote experiences designed to ignite your thinking and re-energise your practice.
Hear from leading voices at the intersection of Geography and STEM, bringing cutting-edge insights from science, research, and education. From innovation and sustainability to the future of geographical thinking in classrooms, these keynote sessions will challenge you to see your subject—and your impact—in a whole new light.
Expect big ideas, practical takeaways, and the inspiration to transform your teaching. Whether you’re looking to spark new ideas, connect with passionate educators, or reimagine what Geography can be, this is a conference you don’t want to miss! QUT Education Planning Institute of Australia

2026 Conference Day Highlights - get your tickets now!
- Inspiring Keynote Address by Dr Adam Liedloff (CSIRO) and Dr Lucas Holden (RMIT) focused on our 2026 theme, Geography - it's STEM!
- 11 curriculum aligned presentations or workshops across 2 breakout streams from leading Geography educators.
- A wide range of Partner & Trade Displays with extended opportunities for networking.
- Coffee and tea on arrival, morning tea plus a delicious lunch.
- Networking social hour to unwind and connect with peers!
See some great images from our fabulous 2025 conference!
Link: https://www.gtaq.com.au/event-6621374

Excited to share that the GTAQ 2026 Conference program is now live!
Built around this year’s theme, Geography – It’s STEM, the conference brings together a vibrant community of educators ready to deepen their practice, explore contemporary issues, and take away practical, classroom-ready ideas for Years 7–12.
We’re also proud to feature two outstanding keynote speakers who will challenge and inspire fresh thinking about geography and its place in our classrooms.
Whether you’re looking to spark new ideas, connect with colleagues, or re-energise your teaching, this program has something for you. Explore the program and start planning your conference experience: https://www.gtaq.com.au/event-6621374
Looking forward to seeing many of you there.

Happy World Environment Day - June 5, 2026! What are you doing in your Geography classes today to inspire action for the environment ✅💙🐝☀️

2026

👉5 June 2026 (celebrated every year on 5 June worldwide).

✍️Theme 2026

Climate Change – World Environment Day 2026 focuses on the urgent need for climate action and responding to the warning signals the Earth is sending. The campaign slogan is .

👉Host Country

The global celebrations of World Environment Day 2026 are being hosted by the Azerbaijan, with the main event taking place in Baku.

🌎History

Established by the United Nations in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

👉First celebrated in 1973.

Coordinated globally by the United Nations Environment Programme.

It is now one of the largest environmental awareness events in the world.

🖊️Objectives

1. Create awareness about environmental issues.

2. Encourage climate action.

3. Protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

4. Promote sustainable lifestyles.

5. Reduce pollution and waste.

6. Inspire governments, businesses, and individuals to act.

👇Major Environmental Challenges in 2026

Global warming and climate change

Heatwaves and extreme weather

Melting glaciers

Rising sea levels

Deforestation

Air and water pollution

Plastic pollution

Biodiversity loss and habitat destruction

👉How Students Can Participate

🌱 Plant trees
♻️ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
🚲 Use eco-friendly transport
💧 Save water
⚡ Save electricity
🧹 Join cleanliness drives
📢 Spread environmental awareness through posters, speeches, and social media campaigns.

✍️Important Slogans

"Only One Earth, Protect It."

"Act Now for Climate."

"Go Green, Keep It Clean."

"Save Nature, Save Future."

"Small Actions, Big Impact."

👉Quick Facts

Item Details

Date 5 June 2026
Theme Climate Change
Campaign
Host Country Azerbaijan
Host City Baku
Organized By UNEP
First Celebrated 1973

👉World Environment Day 2026 Message:
"The future of our planet depends on the actions we take today. Every tree planted, every resource saved, and every sustainable choice matters." 🌍💚

MEMBERS OFFER - Join Us for a 2-Day GTAQ Experience!

We’re excited to offer a fantastic 2-day event, don’t miss out!

Friday, July 31 Drone Workshop (run by She Maps)

FREE for members attending the Saturday conference.

$40 fee applies to cover lunch. Saturday, August 1 is the main Conference Day.

Important: The Friday drone workshop is free of charge (FOC) for conference ticket holders with a small fee for lunch.

Already registered for the conference? Please contact GTAQ to secure your spot in the Friday workshop.

To secure your seat go to the link and select:

EARLYBIRD MEMBER Friday Drone Workshop & Saturday Conference. https://www.gtaq.com.au/event-6621374

Trade Display Invitations Still Open – Geography- it's STEM Conference 2026. We’re excited to remind our community that trade display (and sponsorship) invitations remain open for our upcoming Geography & STEM Metro Conference!
This flagship event is a powerful opportunity to connect, collaborate, and showcase the incredible work happening across Southeast Queensland. We warmly invite organisations, businesses, and industry partners to join us by hosting a trade display.
By being part of the conference, you will:
- Showcase your organisation’s work, resources, and innovations
- Engage directly with passionate educators, academics, and professionals
- Build meaningful connections across the geography and STEM community
- Help inspire the next generation of geographers and environmental stewards
Your presence will play a vital role in enriching the conference experience and strengthening the importance of geographical and environmental education in Queensland.
Spots are limited, so secure your trade display opportunity today!
Tickets here: https://www.gtaq.com.au/event-6621374

Join our other trades today including Planning Institute of Australia, Wiley (Jacaranda), Australian Geography Competition, Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia-PIEFA, Student Horizons and Sunshine Coast Council (Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary).

This week is National Reconciliation Week and if you are still feeling nervous about embedding First Nations perspectives into your teaching or you are not sure about how to create a culturally safe classrooms check out the fabulous resources from the Sharing Stories Foundation's Jajoo Warrngara:The Culture Classroom.

Yarns - Jajoo Warrngara Yarns Still Standing, Still Strong Two days of reflection after the outcomes of The Voice Referendum and there is still a level of anxiety in…