Maker projects grants - supporting young people to access STEM

MAKER Projects – Community STEM Engagement grants 2024 provides grants up to $100,000 to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning for the development of STEM skills in students and youth in design, engineering and programming through hands-on learning. Last year for Science Week, Sean Albon (Macarthur Primary, Grade 4) and Wally Morton (Penshurst Primary, Grade 6) made use of a microscope to examine bacteria. Photo: LARA FITZPATRICK.

By Admin

August 01, 2024 | 4:00 PM

THE Australian Government is backing Australian science and giving young Victorians the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) creativity and learning.

Industry and Science minister, Ed Husic has launched Round 3 of the Maker Projects Community STEM Engagement programs which provides total funding of $1 million per year over two years.

Grants of between $20,000 and $100,000 are now available to organisations across the country to deliver STEM projects through collaborative partnerships with entities such as libraries, schools, and non-for-profit bodies.

The projects mean young people can apply existing STEM knowledge to engage in a range of technologies and unique events across the country.

Previous rounds of the Maker Projects grants have supported students and young people who are historically underrepresented in STEM education and careers, including girls, regional and remote students, and students with a disability.

Mr Husic said inspiring young Australians to engage in STEM learning is what these grants are all about.

“Young people who live in the regions, the outback and the outer suburbs should have the same opportunity as kids from the city to engage in a wide range of STEM learning tools,” he said.

“We will need more and more young Australians to pursue STEM skills and qualifications, so they’re equipped to enter the global tech-based economy.”

Victorian senator, Jana Stewart said growing up in a regional area, she didn’t have the same opportunities as those from our big cities.

“Thanks to the Maker Project grants program, organisations and businesses can now deliver practical STEM programs for more Australian youth and students where they live,” she said.

“By inspiring Victorian students with the opportunity to work hand-on with STEM tech and tools, Australia will benefit from a more capable and diverse workforce in the years to come.”

Applications are open until Wednesday, August 14, and more information on the Maker Projects grants is available at business.gov.au/makers2024