$28.8 million adds up for Indigenous students

By September 30th, 2014

Launched today at Parliament House by the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry, the $28.8 million, five-year project will deliver education programs, excellence awards, mentoring, summer schools and tailored university degrees, reaching students and schools across Australia.

“Our partnership with BHP Billiton will enhance and expand our education programs to reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across Australia.”

Dr Megan Clark, CSIRO Chief Executive

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark said the new program would support students from primary school through to tertiary education, providing a pathway to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in STEM related professions.

“CSIRO has delivered education initiatives across Australia for over 35 years and in parallel to this, we have a dedicated Indigenous science program that not only aims to get more Indigenous scientists working in CSIRO, but also delivers science projects for Indigenous communities,” Dr Clark said.

“Our partnership with BHP Billiton will enhance and expand our education programs to reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across Australia. We are really excited about this opportunity to reach so many new students, and get them excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mackenzie, said the program would build on BHP Billiton’s 33 year partnership with CSIRO through its support of the Science and Engineering Awards.

“BHP Billiton believes that providing opportunities in STEM education is a powerful way to support the professional aspirations and career opportunities of a generation of young Aboriginal Australians.

“We hope the program encourages more Aboriginal students to consider a rewarding career in the STEM disciplines, which will go some way to further closing the gap and recognising the important contribution Aboriginal Australians make to the economy.

“This latest long-term partnership commitment between CSIRO and BHP Billiton is aligned not only to the Foundation’s focus on STEM education but also the company’s commitment to provide tangible opportunities that support Aboriginal peoples with education, training, employment and business development,” Mr Mackenzie said.

CSIRO will manage and implement the program over five years, targeting metropolitan, regional and remote schools across Australia with high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

The program includes primary through to secondary school programs, summer school and mentoring for high-achieving year 10 students, excellence awards and a tailored Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne.

Learn more about our STEM education program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

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Two female students show thumbs up with a laptop computer on the desk.

Western Australian and Queensland students learning science and mathematics through a customised program for Indigenous students.

Students work in a lab environment to populate samples.

The program provides inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities to improve educational outcomes in STEM subjects.

What the project is and why it’s needed.

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This program is being funded by the BHP Billiton Foundation and implemented by CSIRO. It aims to improve the participation and achievement of Torres Strait Islander students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects across Australia.

This program is needed because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across Australia are underrepresented in tertiary courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and we believe that that significantly limits their options in terms of careers and life choices

What makes this project different.

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This program is different due to its scale – the size of the funding from BHP Billiton Foundation $28.8 million is a significant investment – its national reach and catering to the diversity of Indigenous learners across Australia from those on remote Aboriginal communities through to high achieving students in mainstream urban schools.

How the program has been tailored for Indigenous students.

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We believe this program will be successful because of the way it links a range of elements that cater for the diversity of Indigenous learners from primary school right through secondary school and on into tertiary education.

I think probably that one of the significant aspects is also that the program is grounded strongly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and identity and we aim to ensure that students feel strong in their own culture as well as very capable in the academic rigour of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects that they are going to be undertaking.