Building stronger school communities from the inside out
For more than two decades, Wayne and Chris’s work has been deeply embedded in schools — particularly state schools, where community trust, engagement, and shared purpose matter most.
Long before BrickTalk existed, they worked alongside principals, teachers, students, families, and local partners to help schools clarify who they are, strengthen engagement, and open up real pathways for young people.
That experience now shapes everything BrickTalk brings to schools.
Deep roots in school and community engagement
Through Wayne’s consultancy, School Community Relations, more than 100 schools across Queensland were supported with practical work including:
- School identity and positioning
- Community engagement and enrolment confidence
- Open days, transition programs, and storytelling
- Strategic planning that staff could actually use
One standout example was the Peninsula Education Precinct (PEP) — a collaboration between seven local schools and two special-needs schools, designed to break down silos and build shared opportunity.
Programs weren’t theoretical. They were lived.
- Inter-school initiatives linking primary and secondary students
- The PEP Student Chef Competition, pairing students with local restaurants and professional chefs
- Real-world learning judged by local dignitaries and industry leaders
- Families welcomed into schools as partners, not spectators
The outcome wasn’t just engagement — it was possibility made visible.
Chris’s leadership in technology education and robotics
Alongside this community-building work, Chris brings nationally recognised expertise in technology and robotics education.
As a senior academic at Queensland University of Technology, Chris developed and led Robotics@QUT, a large-scale outreach program that connected with more than 70 schools across the Moreton Bay region.
Through this work, Chris:
- Empowered teachers to confidently use technology and robotics in classrooms
- Supported curriculum-aligned learning, not one-off activities
- Built long-term school networks focused on capability, not dependency
Chris also worked closely with LEGO Education as a curriculum consultant, developing technology curriculum guides and supporting LEGO® robotics programs in schools.
Community-scale learning, not just classroom programs
Chris’ work extended well beyond individual schools:
- LEGO®-led robotics competitions and community events regularly attracted 500–600 students, teachers, and families
- Robotic Fun Days held at the former QUT Caboolture campus brought hundreds of children and parents together for full-day, hands-on learning
- Teachers, parents, and students learned side by side — building trust, confidence, and shared understanding
- Yes, there was free pizza — because community matters, and people stay where they feel welcome
These weren’t showcases. They were learning communities in action.
What this means for BrickTalk workshops in schools
This depth of experience matters.
BrickTalk’s LEGO® Serious Play® workshops for schools are grounded in:
- A genuine understanding of how schools operate
- Respect for teachers’ professionalism and workload
- Deep knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy, and group learning
- Proven experience working at scale with diverse school communities
For leadership teams and staff
- Shared clarity around priorities and constraints
- Safer conversations about culture, direction, and change
- Alignment before action — not another plan that sits on a shelf
For students
- Confidence expressing ideas
- Stronger listening and teamwork
- Seeing problems from multiple perspectives
- Making thinking visible through hands-on building
This is not “play for play’s sake”.
It is serious thinking, made accessible.
Why this works in schools
Schools are complex human systems. Time is tight. Voices are uneven.
BrickTalk works because it:
- Gives every voice equal weight
- Reduces hierarchy without removing leadership
- Makes abstract issues visible and shared
- Builds trust through doing, not debating
That’s as true for student leaders as it is for executive teams.
Who this is for
BrickTalk works with:
- State and independent schools
- Leadership teams and staff groups
- Student leadership cohorts
- Cross-school collaborations
- Community and industry partners