australian science teachers association

What australian science teachers association does

The Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) is a national not-for-profit federation established in 1951 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in New South Wales. It functions as the peak body for science educators in Australia by federating all eight state and territory Science Teacher Associations, and operates as a virtual, office-less organisation with approximately three paid staff (Office and Operations Manager, Journal Publisher, Finance and Accounts Coordinator) supported by an honorary Federal Board.

ASTA's core offerings span professional development, content publishing, student engagement, and advocacy. Its flagship commercial products are Science Assist, a subscription-based online advisory service for school science educators and laboratory technicians covering lab safety, curriculum implementation, and practical activities (priced at AUD $150-$400 per 12-month tier for schools, individuals, non-schools, and overseas subscribers), and Spectra, a curriculum-aligned digital activity card library for Years 1-10 priced from AUD $9.99 per card to $99.99 for unlimited access. Other core programmes include the annual four-day ConASTA national conference (~400 attendees), National Science Week coordination (1M+ participants, ~2,500 events annually), the peer-reviewed Teaching Science Journal (71st year of publication, quarterly), the Chrysalis online professional learning platform, ASTA iCubed student and teacher awards, and the Rowe Scientific National Student Investigation Program. Revenue is generated through membership subscriptions flowing from state associations, Science Assist subscriptions, Spectra and book sales, journal and resource book advertising, conference registration and sponsorships, donations, and scholarship programmes.

Name

australian science teachers association

Legal name

Australian Science Teachers Association Limited

Website

https://asta.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Australian Science Teachers Association is a national not-for-profit federation established in 1951, serving Australian science educators and laboratory technicians through eight state/territory member associations. It delivers professional development, the Science Assist advisory subscription, Spectra curriculum activity cards, the ConASTA conference, Teaching Science Journal, and National Science Week.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Revenue generated through state and territory science teacher association memberships, with benefits including access to Teaching Science Journal, professional development, awards, conferences, and networking.
2. Science Assist Subscriptions: 12-month subscription service providing access to expert advice, safety guidelines, curriculum support, and resources. Pricing: Australian schools $150, Individuals $150, Australian non-schools $300, Overseas $400 (prices exclude GST).
3. Spectra Product Sales: Sale of digital science activity cards for primary and secondary students. Pricing: Unlimited access $99.99, Complete Primary set $49.99, Complete Secondary set $49.99, Individual topic cards $9.99 per card.
4. Advertising: Advertising space available in the Teaching Science Journal (quarterly), National Science Week Resource Book of Ideas, website, and social media channels.
5. Publications and Books: Sale of educational resources and books such as 'Try this — Engaging Science/STEM learners in their first years of school' ($19.95) and 'Teaching Science Concepts in Primary Schools'.
6. Donations and Bequests: Registered not-for-profit charity accepting donations and bequests to support science education. Tax deductibility not currently available.
7. Conference Revenue: ConASTA national conference attracts around 400 attendees to its four-day professional learning event, with opportunities for sponsorship, exhibitor booths, and registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ASTA is the national federation of Australian state and territory science teacher associations, delivering professional learning, peer-reviewed publications, a national science advisory service (Science Assist), curriculum-aligned activity cards (Spectra), the annual ConASTA conference, and student awards and competitions. Its core sellable offerings revolve around subscription services, professional learning events, digital teaching materials, and a quarterly journal that support science teachers, school laboratory technicians, and schools across Australia.

Product overview

The Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) operates as a federation of state and territory Science Teacher Associations, offering a comprehensive suite of programs and resources for science educators. The core product portfolio includes Science Assist (national advisory service for lab safety and curriculum support), Spectra Cards ( Years 1-10 curriculum-aligned activity cards), Teaching Science Journal (quarterly peer-reviewed digital journal), ConASTA Conference (annual national professional learning event), National Science Week (annual event with school grants and resource books), ASTA iCubed Awards (national student awards program), Scholarships (conference attendance support), Chrysalis Learning Platform (online professional development community), Rowe Scientific NSIP (student investigation awards), plus Books & Publications and Position Papers. ASTA functions as a national office-less organisation with member associations across all eight states and territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Science Assist Subscription-based online advisory service that provides school science educators, laboratory managers, technicians, heads of department and students with expert advice on laboratory safety, risk assessments, curriculum implementation, and hands-on science activities aligned to the Australian Curriculum: Science.
• Spectra Science Activity Cards Digital curriculum-aligned science activity cards covering chemistry, biodiversity, aeronautics, First Nations science and other topics for primary (Years 1-6) and secondary (Years 7-10) students, with award certificates for student completion.
• Teaching Science Journal Quarterly digital-only peer-reviewed journal promoting science teaching practice in Australian schools, distributed to members of state and territory Science Teacher Associations and available by subscription.
• ConASTA Conference Australia's national professional learning event for science educators, laboratory technicians and industry partners, offering registration-based access to keynote sessions, workshops, networking, and an industry exhibition.
• Chrysalis Learning Platform Online professional learning community that delivers courses developed by experienced science teachers from member associations, enabling educators to connect, learn, and share with colleagues across Australia.
• Books and Educational Publications Educational ebooks and printed publications covering inquiry-based science and STEM teaching in early years, primary science concepts, and Australian space industry topics, sold directly through the ASTA online shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 students participated in science investigation projects through state/territory associations in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Science Innovations (ASI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's premier provider of innovative and challenging science programs, competitions, and residential camps for high achievers, such as the Australian Science Olympiads.
• Bush BlitzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's largest nature discovery program - a multi-million-dollar partnership between Australian Government, BHP and Earthwatch Australia to document plants and animals across Australia.
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's national science agency providing trusted STEM education programs. Supports building scientific knowledge and understanding in the Australian community.
• Earthwatch AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizen science and education organisation connecting people with nature and empowering them to take action on sustainability.
• Australasian Science Education Research Association (ASERA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes science education and science education research. Publishes Research in Science Education (RISE) journal through Springer.
• Science Education Technicians Australia (SETA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella group connecting school science technicians across Australia, providing a national voice on issues and encouraging sharing of ideas across state boundaries.
• Questacon - The National Science and Technology CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides programs and activities for individuals, schools and communities focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics to support economic development and science literacy.
• Australian Academy of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides independent, authoritative and influential scientific advice and champions excellence in Australian science. Offers education programs spanning science and mathematics for Australian schools from Foundation to Year 12.
• Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of Australia's most significant scientific infrastructure. Supports secondary school science curriculum outcomes through training, school tours, online learning, and numerous school resources.
• Aerobotics GlobalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRobotics education and learning centre based in Melbourne providing advanced robotics and programming courses, including online programs for kids.
• Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRepresents food system professionals working in food science, technology, engineering, and related fields.
• Naval Shipbuilding CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromoting STEM careers in Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Industry with up to $183 billion invested by the Australian Government.
• Inspiring AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational strategy for getting Australians engaged with the sciences. National Science Week was formally established in 1997 as a program of Inspiring Australia.
• State/Territory Science Teacher AssociationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEight member associations across Australia: STAT (Tasmania), STAV (Victoria), STAWA (Western Australia), SEAACT (ACT), STAQ (Queensland), SASTA (South Australia), STANSW (NSW), STANT (Northern Territory). They coordinate annual student science competitions and support thousands of science educators.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA): The US national professional association for science educators, offering journals, PD, conferences and advocacy. Closest direct structural analogue to ASTA, serving teachers rather than delivering curriculum itself.
• Australian Science Innovations (ASI): Australian provider of science competitions, Olympiads and enrichment programs, a core ASTA strategic partner. Operates in the adjacent student-side niche while ASTA focuses on teachers.
• Science Olympiad USA: US national STEM competition organization running student tournaments and teacher events — directly comparable to ASTA's iCubed Awards and ConASTA student competition components.

Regional players

• Association for Science Education (ASE): UK-based national membership body for science teachers with conferences, journals (Education in Science), CPD and curriculum resources — a near structural mirror of ASTA in a different geography.
• Science Teachers' Association of Ontario (STAO): Canadian provincial science teacher association offering publications, PD and advocacy — comparable in scope and federation role to one of ASTA's member associations or to ASTA as a smaller federation.
• European Science Education Research Association (ESERA): European association focused on science education research, conferences and advocacy; comparable mission to ASTA/ASERA partnership though more research-focused.

Others

• CSIRO Education and Outreach: National science agency delivering free STEM education programs to schools — a free-content competitor and strategic partner that shapes the funding environment ASTA operates in.

Broad incumbents

• Questacon: Australia's National Science and Technology Centre delivering large government-funded STEM programs, exhibitions and school resources; overlaps with ASTA's advocacy and National Science Week role.
• Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER): Independent educational research body operating across curriculum, assessment and teacher PD — broader portfolio than ASTA but overlapping in research, assessment and PD for educators.
• National Geographic Society Education: Global science/education publisher offering teacher resources, grants and PD. Comparable content-library and grant-distribution model to ASTA's Spectra and National Science Week grants, at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASTA.Science
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-science-teachers-association
• Xtwitter.com/asta_online

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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