How can students reimagine the future of rail infrastructure while learning real-world STEM skills? That’s exactly what 87 students from Broadford, Benalla, and Euroa tackled during the Future Precinct Designer STEM Challenge—a partnership between STEM Punks and Inland Rail.

With hands-on coding, engineering, and design thinking, students explored how sustainable infrastructure can shape their communities, focusing on station precinct design, smart technology integration, and environmental impact.

Bringing STEM to Life Through Real-World Problem-Solving

The program wasn’t just about classroom learning—it was about empowering students to design solutions for their own towns. Through a combination of Minecraft-based precinct prototyping, coding environmental sensors, and applying engineering principles, students were challenged to think critically about what makes a transport hub both efficient and community-friendly.

Using human-centred design, students tackled challenges like sound abatement, accessibility, heritage preservation, and sustainability. Their ideas showcased not only their STEM skills but also a deep understanding of how infrastructure impacts people’s lives.

Student Impact & Learning Outcomes

📌 94% of students said they found the program enjoyable
📌 92% reported learning something new
📌 87% said their confidence in STEM increased
📌 83% expressed greater interest in pursuing a STEM career

“I most enjoyed building the future rail station for Benalla and coding the environmental sensors to detect and mitigate noise.” – Emily, Student, FCJ College, Benalla

“I got to do coding, which I really enjoyed, and learned lots of new things. I hope you come back so I can experience more of this because I loved it!” – Hamey, Student, Euroa Secondary College