Workshops at the Kirby Makerspace
Inside UNSW's Engineering Makerspaces
Where UNSW engineers make
The James N. Kirby Makerspace is one of UNSW's three Engineering Makerspaces, alongside the Elec and Renewables Makerspaces, and part of the UNSW Making Network.
It gives students and staff hands-on access to tools including 3D printers and laser cutters, with training in everything from metal basics and machining to soldering, Arduino and mould making. Access is earned through UNSW Making badges, starting with the Workshop Safety Badge.
UNSW Kensington
Kirby Makerspace workshops
Building Safer Makerspaces: A Hands-On Workshop Safety Induction Badge
How do you introduce students to a workshop or makerspace safely, consistently and engagingly? The Built Environment and Engineering Makerspace teams will take you through the complete journey of the Making system with our introductory safety badge.
We'll show how the badge is set up in the badging system, then you'll experience it as a student would, from the required reading and quiz to the practical assessment. We'll share what we've learnt creating the system and discuss approaches you can adapt for your own facilities.
Participants will be inducted into the makerspaces and able to access them in the future.
Open Doors, Active Spaces: Inside Our Makerspaces
Step inside the Design Futures Lab, MCIC and Kirby Makerspaces for an open studio experience showcasing how our spaces support students and staff to explore, experiment and make.
Meet the technical teams, tour the facilities and see completed projects and live demonstrations, including injection moulding, robotics and CNC milling. Discover how our open-door approach works in practice, from safety and access systems to equipment maintenance and AI-assisted visual maintenance guides, with hands-on craft activities along the way.
