This workshop offers an engaging and accessible exploration of the mathematics underpinning bushfire behaviour. It bridges classroom-ready concepts with authentic applications, demonstrating how core mathematical ideas can illuminate one of Australia’s most significant natural hazards.

Participants will be introduced to practical learning activities originally developed for Year 6 and Year 9 students. These activities highlight fundamental ideas such as shape, rates of spread, geometry, and simple modelling, making bushfire behaviour both understandable and relevant to school mathematics curricula. Building on these foundations, the workshop will extend into offering participants a glimpse into how mathematicians model more complex fire dynamics. Without requiring advanced mathematics, these examples showcase how basic principles scale into powerful tools used in research and real-world prediction.Ideal for educators seeking meaningful, context-rich teaching material, this session provides practical classroom ideas alongside deeper insights into applied mathematics. Participants will leave with information, inspiration, and a renewed appreciation for how mathematics can help us understand and respond to critical environmental challenges.