Page 2006 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 June 2018
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Madam Speaker, I know this is something that is dear to your heart, having turned the sod at the start of the development of the centre for innovation and learning at Caroline Chisholm School, now a very busy centre working on increasing access by young people in the ACT to science, technology, engineering and maths. What has been great about it is making sure that we look at how we introduce STEM to young people in a way that makes it inclusive; in a way that will encourage young people to engage in those sorts of learning experiences, and not discourage them.
Particularly for young women, those kinds of skill areas are not always seen to be an exciting pathway. Through the future skills academy and the learning I have seen in Caroline Chisholm School, we will make sure that STEM is as inclusive as possible.
It has been great to have the Chief Scientist, Dr Finkel, encouraging and applauding us for the work we are doing in the ACT on these two academies: the future skills academy and the Caroline Chisholm School. I also give a shout-out to Paula and her pink lab coat at the Caroline Chisholm School for being such a great host and always looking for interesting and fun ways to introduce young people to STEM.
MR STEEL: Minister, how will the future skills academy support teachers across all schools?
MS BERRY: To make sure that the academy benefits as many people as possible, these hubs will be available for teachers to learn through as well. Teachers will be able to access professional learning and accredited training in STEM, which will strengthen the delivery of the Australian curriculum. The hubs will feature 3D printers, augmented reality equipment and robotics kits. It was a great pleasure to hear from a student who had developed a 3D artificial foot for his duck using one of the 3D printers. I hope that it was put to good use and that that duck now has two feet and not just one.
It is because of the hub’s expert teachers and staff that they are able to support all of their colleagues across the ACT school system as well as facilitate strong industry, government and tertiary sector partnerships that individual schools would otherwise not be able to universally and equitably access.
Teachers will be able to take these skills to their classrooms, supported by the Chromebooks that all high school students were delivered by last year’s budget and the excellent facilities that are provided in our public schools.
MS CODY: Minister, how will the future skills academy support local industry?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cody for the supplementary. The academy was developed in consultation with CSIRO, the ANU, the University of Canberra, the CBR Innovation Network and other industry representatives. It will connect schools with local industry for students to work on real-world scenarios.
The ACT economy is growing in sectors like defence, sports science, multimedia and digital arts, fashion and renewable energy—all fields that will increasingly require
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