Colleen O’Rourke
The Hills Christian Community School, SA
Peramangk
Teaching Fellow
Colleen O’Rourke is a visionary STEM educator whose work reimagines what digital learning can look like for neurodivergent students. As Leader of Digital Innovation and a Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) at The Hills Christian Community School in the Adelaide Hills, Colleen has developed the Nature, Nurture, Network curriculum — a transformative model that connects digital technologies with outdoor, nature-based learning. Establishing a Digital Innovation Centre, built in the heart of the school’s nine-acre nature play space, is a hub of immersive, interdisciplinary learning where students explore AI, virtual and augmented reality in outdoor learning and sustainability through hands-on projects.
Colleen’s approach is deeply inclusive, using adaptive technologies and AI-driven differentiation to support students with ADHD, ASD, dyslexia and complex learning needs. Through her research partnership with UniSA, she tracks measurable gains in student engagement, creativity and executive functioning. Her Digital Leadership Program supports learners to grow as confident mentors and public speakers, with a strong focus on inclusion, agency and real-world impact. A regular presenter at EdTech SA, and Science Teachers’ Association and AI education summits, Colleen shares her practice widely and is committed to scalable, low-cost innovation.
Whether co-developing cross-cultural VR storytelling projects with Nyangatjatjara College near Uluru or equipping teachers across sectors with accessible tech tools, Colleen’s work exemplifies equity, creativity and system-wide impact.