Queensland Museum

Today we commemorate World Aids Day, a time to reflect on the lives affected by HIV and AIDS by honouring the lives lost, those who provided care, support and advocacy throughout the epidemic, and the progress made over time through advancements in medical science, activism and community leadership. It is also a day to show solidarity with people of all sexualities and gender identities living with HIV and highlight how treatments allow people to live long, healthy lives and prevent transmission. On World AIDS Day in 1988 the Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt Project was established inviting community members and organisations to create panels stitched together into quilts to remember the lives lost to AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses, and have a tangible reminder of the love and grief felt by family members and loved ones. In the following years AIDS memorial quilts were made all around Australia, and in March 1994, an unfolding ceremony was held at Brisbane’s John Reid Pavilion RNA Showgrounds for the entire Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt, that was comprised of some 587 individual panels. The museum’s free exhibition, Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity in the 90’s features the poster promoting this community advocacy event, and other objects and stories that reflecting the devastating impact HIV/AIDs has had across many communities in Queensland. Make a Scene is free and open daily, 9:30am – 5pm bit.ly/QMK-Make-a-Scene Poster: State Library of Queensland archives

Queensland Museum appoints new CEO Queensland Museum is pleased to welcome Renai Grace as its next CEO. She will take up the role on 15 December 2025, following the retirement of Dr Jim Thompson, who has led the Museum for the past eight years. Renai brings more than 25 years of experience in cultural leadership, with a strong record of accomplishment in audience engagement, building partnerships and innovative programming that inspires curiosity and learning. The Board looks forward to Renai guiding Queensland Museum into its next chapter of growth, creativity, and connection with communities across Queensland and beyond. Read the full announcement → https://lnkd.in/gJNV_yrm #QldMuseum

Calling all young designers and engineers with disability 📣 SparkLab is designing a new Maker Space program, and we are seeking a team of 6 to 13-year-old children to help shape it! This program will challenge visitors to design inclusive playground equipment that is accessible to children with and without disability, reflecting the diverse needs of our community. As part of its development, we are holding a Test and Talk session where children with disability can: ⭐ try out the program for themselves, including using craft materials to make things ⭐ share their feedback on the activity ⭐ talk about what they would like to see in playgrounds in their community. Your voice matters and we welcome children with all types of access needs to participate. 📅 Saturday 6 December, 9am - 10:30am Registrations close 1 December: https://lnkd.in/gzbHBtXQ

Launch Your Career. Celebrate Culture. Shape Queensland's Future. Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career journey in a supportive and culturally rich environment? Are you a passionate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate ready to kickstart a meaningful career? The Australian First Nations Queensland Cultural Centre Graduate Program invites you to join a two-year journey that blends professional development with cultural empowerment across Queensland's leading cultural institutions in Brisbane. This is your opportunity to work in environments where your identity, culture, and aspirations are recognised, respected, and nurtured. Applications close 30 November - https://bit.ly/3MfeqwQ

Queensland Museum is seeking a creative and motivated Assistant Producer to help shape and deliver public programs that inspire curiosity and connect audiences with the museum's research and collections. Based at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in South Brisbane, this role supports the production of high-quality experiences from lecture series and panel discussions to creative activations and community events. Working closely with the Program Producer and a collaborative team, you will liaise with internal departments and external partners to ensure the seamless delivery of programs that reflect the museum's commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and the amplification of diverse voices, particularly those of First Nations peoples. If you’re passionate about creating meaningful moments that bring science, culture and community together, we’d love to hear from you. Applications close 14 December: https://bit.ly/4o4pxGb

Go Beyond 🌟 World Science Festival Brisbane, presented by Queensland Museum is back from 20–29 March 2026, and the first wave of events has just dropped! 🎟️ WSFB dives into the hidden networks that shape our world from underground mycelium pathways to vast galaxies, complex ecosystems, and the tiniest microscopic realms. It’s a celebration of connection, curiosity, and big ideas. Explore the newly released events: https://lnkd.in/gUNBX8A The full 2026 program lands at the end of January so stay tuned! 🌌

🐚 Shell-ebrating Queensland’s newest deep-sea discoveries! Queensland Museum scientists have scientifically described four new-to-science species of Livonia sea snails living in deep waters off the Queensland coast. The newly described species - Livonia mooloolaba, L. capricornia, L. hydrographica and L. pithensis - were found from the Tweed–Moreton region to Pith Reef off Innisfail, with each species unique to its own stretch of ocean. Co-authored by Dr John Healy (Queensland Museum) and Dr Ashley Field (Queensland Herbarium & James Cook University), the research redefines what was long thought to be a single species (L. mammilla), revealing instead an entirely distinct northern group - all living right here in Queensland’s deep sea. 🪸 Recently published in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy, this study expands Australia’s known marine biodiversity. Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/gqWZtXGf #QueenslandMuseum #ShellabrateScience #MarineBiodiversity #NewSpecies #QueenslandResearch #Livonia

Science belongs to everyone. 🌈🔬 Today, on International Day of LGBTQIA+ People in STEM, we’re celebrating the incredible LGBTQIA+ scientists, researchers and innovators who are helping us better understand the world around us. Diversity in science sparks creativity, discovery and new ways of thinking - that’s why visibility and inclusion in STEM matter. 💡 We’re proud to join organisations around the world, including Pride in STEM and 500 Queer Scientists, in recognising the contributions and stories of LGBTQIA+ people in science. Because when everyone can bring their whole selves to science, we all move forward together. 💜 #InternationalDayofLGBTQIAPeopleinSTEM #LGBTQIAinSTEM #DiversityInSTEM #QldMuseum #STEM #InclusionMatters

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Queensland Women in STEM awards. Proudly presented by Queensland Museum in partnership with the Queensland Government through the Department of the Environment, Science and Innovation and the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism, the prize recognises and rewards the extraordinary women who exemplify innovation, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge and discovery. We applaud these remarkable women, and thank you for being inspiring mentors to women and girls all over the world. 🏆 Breaking Barriers Award Winner: Associate Professor Nathalie Bock 🏆 Breaking Barriers Award, Highly Commended: Dr Somayeh Hussaini 🏆 Breaking Barriers Award, Highly Commended: Dr Rebecca McElroy 🏆 First Nations STEM Award Winner: Dr Bridie Mulholland 🏆 Judges' Award Winner: Associate Professor Joy Wolfram 🏆 Judges' Award, Highly Commended: Dr Sabrina Chakori 🏆 Judges' Award, Highly Commended: Dr Abbi Scott Congratulations again to all our winners and finalists! 👏 Discover more about their research → bit.ly/QWISP #QldMuseum #WomenInSTEM #QldScience #QldGov

Congratulations to Associate Professor Bianca Beetson on being named a 2025 QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Outstanding Community Impact Alumnus. This award recognises her decades-long contribution to Indigenous art and cultural leadership – from her beginnings as a QUT Visual Arts graduate to her work today as Executive Director, First Nations here at Queensland Museum. Throughout her career, she's demonstrated an unwavering commitment to truth-telling through art, advocacy and community. Her work continues to challenge stereotypes and embed Indigenous perspectives across Australia’s creative and institutional landscapes. We're proud to have Dr Bianca Beetson in our leadership team – a visionary and driving force who helps guide and strengthen our commitment to amplifying First Nations cultural knowledge and leadership within museum programming and governance, embedding inclusive, decolonised practices across all areas of our work, and inspiring the next generation of artists, leaders and cultural thinkers. Congratulations again, Bianca! 🎉 Read more: qut.edu.au/news?id=202467 Meet Dr Beetson: https://lnkd.in/gwgtPKqz #QldMuseum #QUTAlumni #IndigenousLeadership #FirstNationsArts #CulturalImpact