Abstract
Abstract: Within the evolving educational and future workforce landscape, the demand for educators who are proficient in integrating STEM subjects continues to rise.
Teachers are the key element determining the implementation of integrated STEM education. Currently there is no national or state direction mandating the inclusion of STEM education in initial teacher education in Australia. The University of the Sunshine Coast is positioning itself to be at the forefront of educational change, actively shaping the trajectory of STEM pedagogical approaches and curriculum design in our ITE programs. STEM education is multidisciplinary and one of the key strengths of our university is access to diverse expertise across disciplines providing valuable insights into how each subject can be integrated to create authentic and meaningful STEM learning experiences for students, without losing sight of the curricular and assessment demands required by professional teacher standards. This presentation outlines the rhetoric and reality of STEM Education in primary initial teacher education in Queensland.