About the Project
Funded by BHP Foundation and delivered by CSIRO from 2014 to 2021, the Indigenous STEM Education Project demonstrates the link between the traditional ecological knowledge of Australia's First Nations Peoples and the science curriculum and how it can be taught using inquiry-based methods.
The project had a national footprint working with primary, secondary and tertiary students in remote, regional and metropolitan areas.
Throughout the six years of the Project, it has reached just under 24,000 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, 2,768 teachers and assistant teachers, and 603 schools.
Find out more
33C - CSIRO – ISEP
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Narrator: The Indigenous STEM Education Project funded by the BHP Foundation and delivered by the CSIRO is forging new education and career pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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The project consists of six national programmes. The Science Pathways for Indigenous Communities Programme works with remote schools and communities to develop Two-Way science learning programmes that connect Indigenous scientific knowledges with the Australian curriculum.
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The Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students Programme equips teachers with the confidence and understanding to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges using hands-on inquiry-based science projects.
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The Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Science brings together high achieving Year 10 students for a residential summer school and alumni programme.
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The Annual Indigenous STEM Awards recognise the achievements of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander STEM professionals and students.
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The Bachelor of Science Extended Programme provides a supported pathway for students with aspirations for a career in STEM to complete the Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne.
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Prime Futures works with teachers in mainstream metropolitan and regional schools with higher than average Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student populations providing tools and support to improve student outcomes in mathematics.
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Since 2016 monitoring and evaluation of these programmes has indicated they’ve been making substantial impacts on the engagement and achievement of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in STEM.
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This includes enhanced academic results; the creation and expansion of peer and professional networks; stronger and clearer student aspirations; increased sense of belonging at school; and a deeper understanding of cultural identity.
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The profile of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander STEM role models has grown significantly. Parental and community engagement in STEM education has increased.
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Teachers capacity has also improved along with their confidence. CSIRO programme staff have built strong connections among teachers, schools and communities and have shown how a model of culturally responsive and inclusive STEM education can work.
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Learn more about the evaluation findings at csiro.au/indigenous-education.
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Important statistics
23,000+
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students reached
2,768
teachers involved
603
schools participating
6
years of program delivery