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About the program

Living STEM facilitates professional learning for primary and secondary school teachers to embed local Indigenous scientific knowledges in classrooms.

Living STEM increases teaching confidence, student engagement and achievement in STEM. Schools are supported to build community partnerships learning programs and foster reconciliation and respect for local Indigenous culture.

Living STEM benefits all students by providing authentic and engaging STEM learning that deepens the connection with the Country and culture where they live.

Participating Educators use Living STEM program learning and engagement principles to connect students to science in a culturally interconnected way. It draws on community engagement principles of Two-way Science. The Two-way Science model allows students to explore STEM subjects that value and connect with their local areas, and/or cultural identity, leading to increased engagement and enthusiasm for learning.

CSIRO is partnering with Chevron Australia until 2026, to deliver the Living STEM program, connecting Indigenous knowledges to the classroom. 

Learn more about the Living STEM initiative 

The opportunity

At the beginning of 2024 and 2025, we will open up the program to new schools in the Pilbara region.

Contact livingstem@csiro.au to be updated on this intake. 

Each school will identify a small team of 2 - 3 people including a teacher and/or Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers to participate in a workshop and webinars. 

At the end of the Living STEM year, we gather for a Showcase event so participants can reconnect with their Community partners and peers to share insights and learnings from Living STEM and classroom inquiry.

Program eligibility

Living STEM is for eligible Pilbara schools and educators in the Pilbara region, Western Australia.

Traditional Owner groups and Indigenous community organisations who are interested in the program are encouraged to contact the Living STEM team at any time to discuss participation.

How to apply

Eligible Pilbara schools and educators can contact us for more information to apply.

Please note further training, protocols or governance requirements may be requested to meet Child Safe policies, government and/or cultural needs, depending on the local relationship.

Program outcomes

Recognising that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples have an ongoing relationship with science and engineering dating back thousands of years, we co-design the program closely with Community partners and Elders, ensuring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledges, technologies and process are an integral part of science teaching.

Living STEM is another way to connect students to science in a meaningful and culturally interconnected way, driving greater increases in attendance, reconciliation, subject participation and nurturing of interests into STEM higher education and careers.  As of November 2023, 22 schools in the Pilbara region completed Living STEM program community projects.

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