A Farewell from Kate

After 13 years at SASTA, I’ll be retiring at the end of this year. It’s a big step, and one I’ve been thinking about for a while — but now that it’s here, it feels a bit surreal.

SASTA has been more than just a workplace for me. It’s been a community of passionate, generous, creative and often hilarious people who care deeply about science education and the young people they teach. I’ve learnt so much from you all and felt lucky to be part of it.

One of the great joys of this role has been watching teachers I first met in a workshop go on to present their own sessions, join the Board, and even serve as President of SASTA. That sense of growth and shared purpose has been something truly special to witness.

Delivering professional learning was one of the most meaningful ways I hoped to contribute to science education in South Australia, and it’s incredibly rewarding to know that some of those ideas are still making a difference in classrooms today. I’ve lost count of how many times I rolled out the Mystery Tins to model science inquiry — I know many of you will remember that activity! It’s moments like those that have shaped my time here and made it so worthwhile.

Over the years, I’ve also had the privilege of working closely with organisations that share SASTA’s passion — from the team at the South Australian Museum to Inspiring SA, FREF, and many others. These partnerships have helped us broaden our reach, deepen our impact, and build exciting new opportunities together.

Together we’ve grown SASTA in ways I’m really proud of: expanding our membership, offering more support to teachers across the state, raising the profile of science education and creating programs that really matter. The Oliphant Science Awards alone has gone from strength to strength — and seeing the joy (and chaos!) of judging days and the buzz of the presentation ceremony is something I’ll always treasure.

But most of all, it’s the people I’ll remember. The teachers who go above and beyond. The volunteers who just quietly get things done. The students whose projects make you laugh, think and sometimes tear up. And of course, the brilliant, hardworking team in the SASTA office — I couldn’t have asked for a better group of colleagues to share this journey with.

I’ve had the absolute privilege of working alongside Tegan, Rebecca and Isabelle, who bring dedication, warmth and integrity to everything they do. SASTA is in very capable hands, and I’m especially pleased that Tegan McClean will be taking over as Executive Officer. Her deep knowledge of SASTA and thoughtful leadership will continue to steer the organisation into a strong future.

Thank you for making my time at SASTA such a meaningful and memorable chapter. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and I’m leaving knowing that this community will keep doing great things for science education in South Australia.

With heartfelt thanks,
Kate Dilger
Executive Officer (until late November)