Bridge Building Podcast Episode 84: Datta Podcast: From the Tools to the Classroom – Mark Agnew on the Trade to Teach Journey
Release Date: 08/12/2025
Bridge Building Podcast Episode 88: Datta Podcast: Growing the Future: Design Students as Technicians with Peter Murphy (RMIT)
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode, we explore a powerful idea emerging from Victoria: placing industrial design students into school workshops as paid technicians to support teachers, enrich student learning, and build a new pipeline of future Design & Technologies educators. Stephen Anderson, QCHDF, speaks with Peter Murphy from RMIT about how the program works, why design students are so eager to participate, and what this model could mean for addressing the national teacher shortage. Peter also discusses his long-term vision for the learning area — including university partnerships, teacher training...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 87: Datta Podcast: Teaching Beyond the Boxes with Primrose Kombanie
DattaQueensland's podcast
Join Stephen Anderson in conversation with Primrose Kombanie, an inspiring design educator at Glasshouse Christian College on the Sunshine Coast. Primrose shares her remarkable story — from her upbringing in Zimbabwe and studies in textile sciences, to her transition into design teaching in New Zealand and Australia. She speaks passionately about changing classroom culture, connecting with industry partners, and helping students see design as a way of thinking, not just making. It’s a warm, engaging, and thought-provoking episode about education, creativity, and courage in teaching. 🎧...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 86: Datta Podcast: Bringing Design Thinking into Primary Classrooms with Danielle Ruddock
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this conversation, host Stephen Anderson speaks with Danielle Ruddock, Design and Technology Teacher at Beenleigh State High School, about her work bringing design thinking into the primary classroom. Danielle shares strategies for integrating design thinking into HASS and Science, drawing on the Eight Ways of Learning and principles of Universal Design for Learning. She reflects on how introducing students to creative problem-solving early helps them transition into secondary design subjects with greater confidence and flexibility. As part of DATTA QLD’s Professional Learning Series,...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 85: Datta Podcast: Structuring Design Education with Andrew Scott
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson sits down with Andrew Scott, co-author of the Design for QCE textbooks and an experienced industrial design educator. Andrew unpacks the challenge of helping students use their time productively in design projects—whether in high school or university. Drawing on years of teaching first-year design, he explains why structure, constraints, and collaboration are key to unlocking creativity and progress. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to structure design projects to keep students moving...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 84: Datta Podcast: From the Tools to the Classroom – Mark Agnew on the Trade to Teach Journey
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson chats with Mark Agnew, a former industrial plumber now teaching Industrial Technology and Design at Mabel Park State High School through Queensland’s Trade to Teach program. Mark explains how the program helps experienced tradespeople transition into teaching, the challenges and rewards of working in a diverse school community, and the importance of building relationships with students. He also shares an extraordinary story about creating adaptive tools for a legally blind...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 83: Datta Podcast: Celebrating a Legacy of Hands-On Innovation with Terry Grieger
DattaQueensland's podcast
Episode Overview In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we celebrate the extraordinary career of DATTA QLD’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, Terry Grieger. With over three decades of service to Design and Technologies education, Terry has turned classrooms into creative workshops where theory meets real-world problem-solving. Terry shares how he brought CNC milling to Far North Queensland in the 80s, built working printing presses with his students, and even ran radio-controlled yacht regattas—all while nurturing critical thinking and ingenuity. As he...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 82: Datta Podcast: Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven Future with Tracy Sheen
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we sit down with Tracy Sheen, a digital innovator and author of AI and You: Reimagine Business. Tracy shares her incredible journey from tinkering with electronics as a child in rural Queensland to becoming a mentor for businesses navigating the AI revolution. With AI transforming industries from hospitality to education, Tracy offers insights into how teachers can equip students with the skills needed for a workforce where roles are rapidly evolving. She challenges us to rethink traditional education, emphasizing...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 81: Datta Podcast: Agents of Change – Social Impact & Storytelling with Margaret O’Brien and Natasha Ratajczek
DattaQueensland's podcast
Episode Overview In Episode 81 of the Bridge Building Podcast, host Stephen Anderson previews two inspiring sessions from the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference. Margaret O’Brien, CEO and co-founder of Young Change Agents, is our Friday morning keynote. She shares how design and technologies education can be a springboard for young people to solve real-world problems and create social impact. Margaret offers a powerful call to action for teachers as mentors, changemakers, and facilitators of “FLARN”—failing and learning. Natasha Ratajczek from the Queensland State Library joins us to discuss...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 80: Datta Podcast: Innovation in Education – Previewing the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference with Michael Mikhail and Jacqueline Niblett
DattaQueensland's podcast
Episode Overview In Episode 80 of the Bridge Building Podcast, host Stephen Anderson previews two powerhouse sessions from the upcoming 2025 DATTA QLD Conference (June 19–20, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre). He’s joined by Michael Mikhail, a Melbourne-based engineer and fibre laser innovator, and Jacqueline Niblett, a University of Queensland educator who’s bringing creative firepower to the classroom. Together, they represent the exciting blend of industry, innovation, and education shaping this year’s conference. This episode is packed...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 79: Datta Podcast: Previewing the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference with Sally Lawrence and Leighann Ness-Wilson
DattaQueensland's podcast
Episode Overview Stephen Anderson fuels excitement for the 2025 DATTA QLD Conference in Episode 79, recorded on May 5 and 7, 2025, with Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi educator Sally Lawrence and QUT PhD researcher Leighann Ness-Wilson. This episode previews their June 19 sessions at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, offering insights for design and technology educators. Sally and artist Lesley Gordon Morabalista Warraba dive into Aboriginal tools, fibres, and plant uses, linking cultural knowledge to design. Leighann shares her work on the engineering syllabus and PhD insights on teacher...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson chats with Mark Agnew, a former industrial plumber now teaching Industrial Technology and Design at Mabel Park State High School through Queensland’s Trade to Teach program.
Mark explains how the program helps experienced tradespeople transition into teaching, the challenges and rewards of working in a diverse school community, and the importance of building relationships with students. He also shares an extraordinary story about creating adaptive tools for a legally blind student—demonstrating that inclusion and ingenuity go hand in hand.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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How Trade to Teach supports tradespeople moving into education
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The step-by-step process from industry to classroom
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Why strong student relationships are essential for learning
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Creative approaches to inclusion in workshop settings
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Why Mark believes now is the perfect time for tradies to consider teaching
Links and Resources:
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Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au
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Email the podcast: podcast@dattaqld.org.au
Connect With Us:
Host: Stephen Anderson
Email: podcast@dattaqld.org.au