Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

TinkerTank began with a simple question: What if learning could be as engaging, creative, and inspiring as the future our children are growing into?

Our founder, Julija McDowell, has spent her career at the intersection of creativity, technology, and education. Before founding TinkerTank, Julija worked in the film and animation industry, contributing to major productions and developing a deep understanding of the power of storytelling, technology, and innovation.

When her own children were young, Julija became increasingly interested in alternative approaches to education. She began homeschooling, exploring how children learn best when they are engaged, curious, and given the freedom to pursue their interests. This experience led her to develop an early home education platform and learning app, designed to help families create more personalised learning experiences.

What started as a personal journey soon became a much bigger mission.

In 2015, TinkerTank was born.

The vision was simple: create a place where students could learn by doing. A place where robotics, coding, engineering, animation, design, creativity, and problem-solving came together in a hands-on environment that encouraged curiosity, collaboration, resilience, and innovation.

Over the past decade, TinkerTank has worked with more than 15,000 students across Sydney through after-school programs, holiday camps, school incursions, libraries, community programs, and special events. Along the way, we have seen thousands of students discover new passions, build confidence, develop future-ready skills, and experience those magical “A-Ha!” moments that happen when learning becomes meaningful.

Today, our mission continues to evolve.

As the world changes, the skills students need are changing too. Technical skills matter, but so do creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, and adaptability.

That's why TinkerTank combines STEAM education with project-based learning, real-world challenges, and a strong focus on human skills.

Today, we are proud to partner with schools, libraries, councils, and community organisations to bring engaging, future-focused learning experiences to even more students. Through workshops, incursions, professional development, holiday programs, and innovative learning pathways, we continue to inspire the next generation of creators, inventors, engineers, storytellers, and problem solvers.

Because at TinkerTank, we believe every student has incredible potential.

Sometimes they just need the right environment to discover it.