Welcome back to a brand-new year of Teacher. After a short break, we’re excited to be back and to be gearing up for the new school year here in Australia.
As usual, we’re kicking things off with our round-up of the key educational, cultural, political, and sporting events, themes, and dates for 2025 – that should provide some extra inspiration and resources for your lesson planning over the next 12 months.
Term 1

While the date is not yet set, the biggest event for the first half of the year is set to be the federal election, which is expected to take place sometime between March and May. The election period is a great opportunity for lessons related to government, democracy, civics and citizenship. There is a range of teaching and learning resources available to download on the Australian Parliament's website and you can also view some of our previous articles for ideas about civics and citizenship lesson activities.
Aside from the federal election, the early part of the year is filled with exciting events you can lock into your planning calendar. For starters, Safer Internet Day is on 11 February and the theme this year is ‘Together for a better internet’. Designed to raise awareness of online safety issues and work towards a safer internet, the annual day serves as a great reminder to the risks that the tech-savvy ‘internet generation’ face. You can find more information and download resources here.
Registrations for the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge are open from 4 February – so why not challenge some of your students to apply their maths knowledge to a real-world problem? Past years have tasked teams with solving pet abandonment and finding the fastest way to board and disembark an airplane, among other challenges.
Term 1 also provides plenty of opportunity to celebrate the diversity in our schools and community. March is Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day is on 8 March. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is slightly earlier on 11 February – this is important as the world continues to suffer from a shortage of STEM workers, particularly women. International Mother Language Day is on 21 February, while Harmony Week – a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds – runs from 17 to 23 March.
This term, millions across the globe will also be welcoming in the year of the Snake and observing Ramadan. You can find some handy learning resources for Ramadan – from both SBS and Museums Victoria – and Lunar New Year here.
Term 2

If you haven’t started thinking about it already, registrations to the annual STEM Video Game Challenge close on 19 June, with submission allowed up until 23 July.
National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June each year. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The theme for 2025 is Bridging Now to Next, which reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. Visit the Reconciliation Australia website for more information about the 2025 theme and for handy resources to help with your lesson planning.
The book for this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime – where millions (over 2.3 million children in 2024) read a book at the same time – is The Truck Cat. Written by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell, it tells a story of immigration and identity, and of homes lost and found. The time for this year’s read is Wednesday 21 May at 12:00 pm AEST.
NAIDOC Week falls at the close of Term 2 – held in the first week of July each year. The theme for 2025 is yet to be announced, but it’s an important date to keep in your calendar. Keep an eye on the NAIDOC website for the latest information and resources.
Term 3

Term 3 is a big time for women’s sport, with a couple of major events taking place. First up is the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which will be played in England from 22 August to 27 September. The last time the tournament was held in England the Wallaroos achieved their best ever finish (3rd) – and they’ll be looking to replicate that form again this time. The Women’s Cricket World Cup is also taking place in 2025, and the Aussies go into the event in India as defending champions and the top ranked team in the world. The tournament will take place in September and October.
Outside of sport, there’s plenty on in Term 3.
National Science Week runs from 9 to 17 August and the theme for 2025 has already been announced – Decoding the Universe. As the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) explains, this theme invites students and teachers to delve into the mysteries of the universe by exploring the fundamental languages of nature, including mathematics and the groundbreaking field of quantum science. Not only can you get resources to help your school’s National Science Week activities, but grants are available too. You can find more information here.
Speaking of quantum science, it’s been 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics and UNESCO is recognising this by naming 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). 2025 is also the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP). An opportunity to raise global awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the hydrological cycle, and the economic, social and environmental impacts of the impending changes in the earth’s cryosphere – IYGP makes for great learning opportunities in science and environmental protection.
R U OK? Day falls on 11 September and reminds us to connect and listen with those around us who may be struggling through 4 easy steps:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
Young people face a lot of challenges, from exam and study pressure to financial stress, relationships, and more – and it’s important they know support is available as well as how to support others who may be struggling. There are plenty of handy resources available on the R U OK website – and not just for your students. If you need support or want more information to assist a colleague, there’s lots of everyday resources, real stories and useful links.
Term 4

The theme for World Space Week 2025 is ‘Living in Space’. According to the World Space Week Association, his theme emphasises the importance of sustainable practices in space exploration and habitation. The annual event will take place on 4 to 10 October this year, and you can find resources and further information closer to the date. Past years have consisted of space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world. It’s a great one to start planning early with colleagues.
Heading back down to earth and we have World Cities Day on 31 October. While information on the 2025 event is yet to be announced, World Cities Day focuses on addressing the opportunities and challenges of urbanisation and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world – so it’s a great tie-in to challenge your students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. Keep an eye out for more information here.
Children's Week is a national celebration that recognises the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children. The event takes place in October every year and you can check in on the website for more information and updates closer to the time.
And finally for this round-up, another date for your Term 4 calendar is International Day of People with Disability, on 3 December. Creating welcoming, inclusive schools is integral to the wellbeing of all students. In 2025, you can plan in opportunities to learn about the challenges many Australians face – promoting awareness, understanding and acceptance. The Australian Government website has handy resources you can use.
Consider the key events and themes mentioned in this article. Which do you anticipate will tie in well with your lessons this year? With a colleague, discuss which you feel will be most beneficial to, and most well received by, your students.
Leave a comment below to let us know about any events, anniversaries or milestones that have been left off the round-up this year, but are some that students always enjoy learning about. We’d love to hear about them!