October 15, 2024

Early Start Discovery Space celebrates millionth visitor milestone

New research project will use insights from past members to inform future experiences and programs

Children and their adults, donors and community members early childhood researchers, educators, and past and present staff came together last Friday (11 October) to celebrate the Early Start Discovery Space achieving the milestone of one million visitors.

Among the attendees were Christopher and Barbara Abbott, whose initial donation was instrumental in founding the Discovery Space, and the one-millionth visitor herself, Addison Micallef, 20 months, alongside her parents Rachel and John.

University of Wollongong Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said that one million visitors in under 10 years was a testament to the profound impact the Discovery Space has made.

“A special thank you goes to Christopher and Barbara Abbott, whose generous donation and belief in Early Start’s vision laid the foundation for what we celebrate today,” Professor Dewar said.

“Thank you also to all our donors in attendance today. Your generosity and support help sustain and deepen this experience for all to enjoy.

“I also want to acknowledge the incredible staff and researchers who have shaped this space into what it is today. Through your workshops, programs and groundbreaking research, you have demonstrated how essential play is in shaping children’s futures.

“You have created a space where children are encouraged to dream, explore and collaborate, and through your dedication, you have left a lasting mark on their hearts and minds.”

Early Start Research Director Professor Lisa Kervin thanked the more than 70 researchers and 50 research students who contribute their time, expertise and passions to the Early Start Institute and the Discovery Space. She used the occasion to launch a study that will examine the impact of the Discovery Space on children and families.

“The tireless work of our researchers, often in the background, ensures that children and their adults experience the very best we can offer through the translation of our research onto the floor – we do this through informing experiences, collaborating on programs and supporting our amazing Early Start professional colleagues,” she said.

“It is my pleasure today to launch our retrospective cohort study on behalf of the Early Start research team. In this study we want to hear from previous members to find out ‘where are they now’.

“Through questionnaire and focus groups we’re keen to connect with families of children who were members of the Early Start Discovery Space, to understand their experiences, and how the Discovery Space fostered for their children a sense of community, connection, belonging, and set them on positive learning trajectories.

“This study will help us to understand what is working but also to help us set a future agenda for our next million visitors.”

Manager of Early Start Operations Josef English said the event was not only a celebration of the millionth visitor but also of every one of the million visitors who have contributed to making the Discovery Space “a vibrant community space, open and accessible for all to experience the power of play, backed by research”.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to share some things we know about the million visitors that have come through the Discovery Space over the past 9 years,” he said.

“Around 360,000 have come through our gates for general entry, often converting to membership after visiting. Our members have been incredibly supportive, visiting over 570,000 times and we have welcomed 65,000 visitors in a range of diverse groups.

“Our visitors have come from regional and remote parts of every state and territory in Australia, and – unsurprisingly, as the first children’s museum in the world built on a university campus – international visitors as well.

“They are parents, grandparents, carers, significant adults in children’s lives, international students, Higher Degree Research students, UOW staff, local Illawarra families. I look forward to continuing to work on broadening our reach and bringing new communities into Early Start in the years to come.”

^{Manager of Early Start Operations Josef English, Mr Chris Abbott, Addison Micallef, Rachel Micallef and Early Start Research Director Professor Lisa Kervin.}