Education and Training Minister visited Newton Moore Senior High School to officially open its impressive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) centre, which was completed ahead of schedule earlier this year. The dedicated centre includes an engineering workshop, staff collaboration room, IT lab, storage areas, offices and kitchen facilities. External landscaping around the centre and refurbishments to the existing design and technology classroom block were also included in the works.
Students have been busy in the new facilities with activities including coding, designing and building prototypes such as solar cars, model submarines and drones. These upgrades are part of the State Government’s $452.8 million investment over this financial year to improve infrastructure in public schools and create jobs.
In addition to this funding, the State Government recently announced the Major School Upgrade package as part of the WA Recovery Plan. The package includes $319.2 million of new funding for upgrades and refurbishments at 63 public schools around the State, stimulating economic growth and supporting around 1,850 jobs. The Education and Training Minister stated she was excited to announce the new and impressive STEM centre which was completed ahead of schedule.
“It is great to see first-hand how these new facilities are inspiring students’ creativity and developing their problem-solving skills,” she said. Students now have access to the best possible facilities and learning opportunities that will prepare them for the jobs of the future.
The Bunbury MLA stated that STEM skills are crucial for the future prosperity of the region and it is terrific local students will be learning in some of the best facilities you can get. Local opportunities for young people to develop an interest in STEM professions will be essential as Bunbury advances its manufacturing capacity, so this centre is a vital part of our future.
STEM education to help in pandemic recovery effort
In its supplementary pre-Budget submission, Science & Technology Australia has outlined a bold vision for a “STEM-smart recovery” for Australia. It proposes a series of strategic investments to drive major job growth, build on Australia’s existing STEM strengths, and build back stronger out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
STA is the peak body for the science and technology sectors, representing over 80,000 scientists and technologists spanning both the public and private sectors. Even as the nation has relied on its STEM workforce to save lives amid the pandemic, the science and research sectors have been hit hard – and are now poised on the edge of a funding cliff. This submission lays out a clear blueprint for the Australian Government to safeguard the vital national strategic asset of our science and research capability – and put it to work on the recovery.
Australia’s STEM sector has come into its own time and again during this pandemic. Now the aim is to see the Government make clever new strategic investments to bring that same powerful contribution to the urgent task of economic and social recovery.
