Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series
The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) is an initiative funded by the Victorian Government to extend and engage high-ability students across the state. The series provides opportunities for students from Foundation to Year 12 in Government Schools to participate in enrichment learning experiences that challenge their thinking, build advanced skills, and encourage creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. Delivered by specialist organisations and education providers, VCES programs immerse students in authentic, real-world learning beyond the classroom.
As a proud VCES provider, Ecolinc Science Centre offers both onsite and virtual programs designed specifically for high-ability learners. Our program titled STEAM Ahead, connects students with experts in their fields and gives students the opportunity to engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning to extend their capabilities and foster higher-order thinking. Whether onsite or online through our virtual platform, students are encouraged to explore real-world concepts and environmental challenges through the lens of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Ecolinc’s approach emphasises depth, discovery and creativity, providing high-ability students with meaningful challenges that inspire curiosity and innovation. By aligning with the goals of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, our programs empower young learners to extend their skills, learn from experts, connect with like-minded peers, and develop the confidence to see themselves as future leaders and changemakers in STEM and sustainability.
VCES Bin Chicken
In this course, students will participate in a notice & wonder session, label adaptive bin chicken body parts, design their own mini recycling bin, play a rubbish classification game, dance to a Wiggles song, and finally make their own bin chicken models.
VCES Bugs on the Menu … Future Foods
Are bugs the superfood of the future? Entomologist Shasta Henry will explore this idea in this captivating session.
VCES Christmas Advent: What’s in your Backyard?
Lots of animals live in our backyards. Some are nocturnal, some leave their footprints, others build their nests and burrows. Make students more aware of animal activity in their local environment at Christmas. Integrate STEM with craft, dance and inquiry learning.
VCES Crack the Case Forensics
Crack The Case Forensics has been designed for Years 5-6 high-ability students. Deakin University, Forensic Environmental Scientist, Dr. Jessica Hay has worked in conjunction with members of the Ecolinc team to develop this exciting hands-on VCES workshop.
VCES Dinosaur Dynamics & Dinosaur Locomotion
Dinosaur Dynamics Engage your students in an exploration of fossil evidence with palaeontologist Tim Richards to determine how particular dinosaurs moved when they roamed the Earth.
VCES Eco-Comix
Eco-Comix has been designed for Years 5-6 high-ability students. Professional Cartoonist, Sarah Howell has worked in conjunction with members of the Ecolinc team to develop this exciting hands-on VCES workshop.
VCES Extreme Engineering: Reef Builders
Extreme Engineering: Reef Builders has been designed for Years 5-6 high-ability students. Dr Rebecca Morris who is a Senior Lecturer and Marine Scientist at the University of Melbourne has worked in conjunction with members of the Ecolinc team to develop this exciting hands-on VCES workshop.
VCES Fossil Forensics
Join Palaeontologist Amber Rose-Faith as she takes students on a journey chasing fossils and deciphering ancient evidence.
VCES Ice Age: Clone the Colossus
Ice Age: Clone the Colossus has been designed for Years 5-6 high-ability students. Paleontologist Dr. Amber-Rose Faith (University of Queensland) has worked in conjunction with members of the Ecolinc team to develop an exciting hands-on workshop.
VCES Pterosaurs: Giants of the Skies
Students will be enthralled learning about Pterosaurs who were once the giants of the skies flying above the Eromanga inland sea.
VCES Secrets of Eromanga & Drawing Fossils
Palaeontologist Tim Richards will take students on a discovery of the fossils from the Eromanga Sea and then learn how to draw a trilobite.
VCES SMART Engineering Design Challenge
The ‘SMART Engineering Design Challenge’ has been developed for Years 5-6 high ability students. Dr Ben Vaughan will explain how the Centre for Organic Electronics research at the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Energy and Resources have developed world-first printed solar sheeting technology for solar panels.
VCES Space Junk & Salvaging Satellites
Students will become junior space engineers as they learn about space junk and its impact on our daily lives.
VCES The Christmas Beetle who Lost its Way
In the first workshop, students will learn how to identify the features of this unique, iridescent beetle while celebrating its role in maintaining our environment. Students are provided with art materials to complete their very own Christmas tree decoration featuring Buzz. After a short break, students will dance to a special Christmas Beetle song, and construct a museum style bug box to showcase a variety of Christmas Beetle species.
VCES The Science of Climate Change
Explore the climate secrets ice cores hold from Earth’s past in this exciting VCES workshop.