BAE Systems Australia has partnered with immersive technology company Lumination to scale its STEM outreach program, Beacon, for students in Victoria.
The Beacon program seeks to help children from diverse backgrounds, aged between 8 and 11, understand more about technology early in their education to encourage them to consider STEM subjects.
With the expansion in Victoria, the program will now reach more than 600 students in years 4 to 6 in South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales.
In 2022, nearly half of all participating students were girls and 6 per cent were Indigenous children. Around 80 per cent of those who participated in the program said they would now choose a future STEM career.
Over 400 students, who may not have otherwise had access to emerging technology, got a chance to gain new skills that will help them in their future careers, said Rebecca Bendikov, head of education at Lumination.
“By showing these students their own potential, what future careers are available to them and bringing in role models from BAE Systems, they can now aspire to be what they can see,” Bendikov said.
South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said the Beacon program strives to make STEM interesting and accessible for young students, exposing them to career paths in which there will be significant demand, now and in the future.
With the recent AUKUS announcement, the Australian industry is presented with the opportunity to work with schools to equip students with the technology necessary to build careers in the future,” said Edward Carlson, CEO at Lumination.
“We are proud of the impact this program has had in its inaugural year. Not only does it work to increase equitable access to emerging technology, it ensures a strong local supply of students pursuing STEM career opportunities, which is required to compete and engage in the global economy,” Carlson said.
“By inviting students to create solutions that impact air, land, and sea here in Australia, we are setting them up for success.”
