Demand for STEM skills in Australia is clear. Three quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require significant STEM skills and knowledge. STEM-based employment is projected to grow at almost twice the pace of other occupations. Yet employers are still having difficulty recruiting STEM-skilled professionals, particularly in mining, manufacturing and electricity, gas, water and waste services.
Increasing the use of inquiry-based and problem-based pedagogies within STEM and other subjects, taking advantage of industry partnerships where appropriate, and exploring the use of new educational technologies will significantly improve the quality of education in Australia. It is also critical that teachers are trained to be skilled and confident in STEM subject matter.
A report from the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority earlier this year revealed alarming results for science literacy.
Only 57% of Year 6 students nationally attained the science proficiency standard in 2023. Only 54% of year 10 students attained the proficiency standard across NSW, Victoria and WA.
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) STEM programs
ATSE programs aim to support STEM literacy and increased diversity within STEM cohorts, from high-school students through to university students and graduates.
STELR is a hands-on, inquiry-based and in-curriculum program designed for secondary schools. It is designed to be taught within the curriculum so that all students participate in inquiry learning that engages and challenges them in STEM.
STELR equipment is being used by over 1,000 schools around Australia and internationally to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.
Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM aims to address gender inequities in STEM through fostering more women and non-binary led industry-academia collaborations in applied research and business, growing professional skills of women in STEM and propelling women and non-binary people into leadership.
There have been 2100+ applications submitted to Elevate to date, with 100% of scholars saying they have benefited from being part of Elevate.
IMNIS — Industry Mentoring Networking in STEM helps PhD students and early career researchers increase their understanding of industry, identify the skills needed to succeed, learn about different career opportunities and extend their professional network.
IMNIS has a network of over 2000+ Alumni, with 62% successfully securing work in industry.
All Australian students need a strong, relevant and empowering science education so they can understand and make decisions in our increasingly complex world, make use of and develop new technologies, guard against misinformation and, one day, develop future generations of science-literate Australians.
Learn more about ATSE’s STEM Careers programs.
For opportunities to partner with ATSE to educate and excite the next generation of STEM leaders contact partnerships@atse.org.au
