The Year 8 Discovery Day introduces students to the university environment through a range of hands-on activities at different study areas on campus.

Activities have included making a gyroscope, practicing medical procedures, eating your own ice-cream made with liquid nitrogen to acting as a juror in a moot court or making your own earthquake.

Participating UWA schools, centres and discipline groups in the past have included:

In addition to hands-on activities, students will meet current Indigenous university students and are informed of university entry pathways and the School of Indigenous Studies' Outreach Program. Students also receive lunch and a free t-shirt.

The first Discovery Day was held in 2000 with 21 students from five schools. In 2020, we had over 110 students attend from the Follow the Dream Program, Catholic Education, Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA) and public schools attend over the three-day program.

The program is free for participating schools. Places are limited to 60 students per day and schools are limited in the number of students they may bring due to venue capacities.