The Wonder World travelling holographic experience is the result of a collaboration between an Aussie tech company and an early childhood education provider. Photo: Thrive.
Illawarra preschoolers are about to take a trip under the sea, into the rainforest and even back to the time of the dinosaurs, all without leaving the schoolyard.
Thrive Early Learning, which operates centres across NSW, including in the Illawarra, has unveiled an Australian-first “hologram truck” designed to transport children into immersive 3D worlds that bring lessons to life.
The Wonder World travelling holographic experience is the result of a collaboration between Thrive and Australian technology company Axiom.
The mobile classroom is kitted out with stereoscopic projection technology (think 3D cinema meets interactive field trip), allowing children to “walk through” a coral reef, stand alongside an elephant or explore ancient landscapes teeming with life-size dinosaurs.
Thrive General Manager Craig Talberg said the idea was born from a desire to make early learning more dynamic and accessible.
“It’s about adding that extra dimension to learning,” he said. “To give children the chance to go beneath the waves into the deep blue sea and see whales and coral ecosystems up close, or be side by side with African animals like a rhino or elephant, explore a rainforest canopy or go back in time to walk with a life-size dinosaur,” he said.
While virtual and augmented reality tools are becoming increasingly common in older age groups, the Wonder World project marks the first purpose-built immersive holographic experience created specifically for preschool education in Australia.
For Illawarra families, the initiative promises to level the playing field — particularly for children who might not have access to regular excursions or travel opportunities.
“Using stereoscopic glasses, similar to the fun 3D or VR glasses you might see at the movies, the Wonder World immersive excursions will give children a chance to ‘travel’ to distant places, explore diverse cultures, learn about different ecosystems and historical moments — experiences that would otherwise be impossible for many of our children to access,” Mr Talberg said.
“The three-dimensional visuals will allow them to interact with complex ideas, making abstract concepts more accessible and tangible.”
Thrive Head of Education and Quality Natasha Stabler, who has worked in early education for three decades, said the project directly supported the preschool curriculum and the Early Years Learning Framework.
“Immersive holograms can captivate children’s attention, stimulate curiosity and encourage exploration, all of which are vital for active learning,” she said. “This experience will complement our inquiry-based learning and enhance the research and wondering component of the curriculum.”
The truck will visit Thrive centres across NSW and Victoria from this month, including in Consiton on Wednesday 12 November.
For parents and educators alike, it’s a glimpse into how technology is reshaping early education, not as a replacement for play, but as a new tool to expand imagination and access.
Each Wonder World visit will include a series of short, interactive walk-throughs lasting around three minutes, with environments designed to align with what children are learning that term, from Australian habitats to world cultures and natural science.
“If children are learning about Australian animals and their habitats, they will be able to physically explore them up close and then go back with more questions to deepen that learning and understanding,” Ms Stabler said.
