Generation STEM

2022 Annual Review

Australia’s National 
Science Agency

CSIRO logo, csiro.au

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO recognises that Aboriginal and Torres 
Strait Islander peoples have made and will 
continue to make extraordinary contributions 
to Australian culture, economy and science and 
we aim to promote and support the vision of 
‘A science landscape in respectful partnership 
with Indigenous Australia delivering innovative, 
sustainable, holistic solutions to meet our 
greatest national challenges’.

Cover image: Department of Defence.

Generation STEM is managed by CSIRO and made possible 
by the NSW Government’s $25 million endowment to 
the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF).



Contents

Executive summary...................................................................................................................................2Generation STEM: 2022 year in review.............................................................................................................................3Continued growth and expansion.....................................................................................................4Broadening our reach through communications.......................................................................6Program insights........................................................................................................................................8Program delivery......................................................................................................................................10Focus Area 1: STEM Community Partnerships Program ...............................................................................................10Focus Area 1: Deadly in Generation STEM.....................................................................................................................16Focus Area 2: Generation STEM Links............................................................................................................................18Data insight projects..............................................................................................................................20Program management...........................................................................................................................21Governance.......................................................................................................................................................................21Appendices ...............................................................................................................................................22

Executive summary

2022 was a successful year of growth for Generation STEM with expanded 
reach and diversified program offerings. Generation STEM continued to 
create strong relationships with its participants, partners and collaborators, 
building on a solid foundation to ensure its programs are impactful and 
meet local community needs. 

Over the past 12 months, the now well-established STEM 
Community Partnerships Program (STEM CPP) (Focus Area 1) 
focused on increasing opportunities for students to engage 
with industry through new and remodelled offerings, 
and expanding its activities outside Western Sydney. 
The program reached over 2,300 high school students in 
2022, providing opportunities for 2,208 industry-student 
interactions across 89 activities and events. 

With the addition of Deadly in Generation STEM (DIGS) 
(Focus Area 1) and Generation STEM Links (Focus Area 2) 
to Generation STEM’s offerings, the team has been 
actively working to increase the participation of people 
from diverse backgrounds within the STEM pipeline 
and supporting tertiary students in their transition 
to employment. Noting that the programs are still in 
establishment phase, significant work was undertaken 
to refine these programs and strengthen relationships 
with community, schools and industry to inform 
program improvements. 

While participation numbers for these programs remain 
relatively small, initial participant feedback has been 
positive and in the case of DIGS, indicates the potential for 
deeper impact, and in the case of Generation STEM Links, 
is establishing a solid delivery model that can be scaled 
and replicated. 

Industry and community are increasingly seeing the value 
of Generation STEM, with some businesses being involved 
in multiple programs or expanding their participation to 
more activities. The program’s flexible nature and suite 
of offerings across the STEM pipeline makes it easy to 
participate in a way that suits their needs while providing 
the structure and support to make the experience engaging 
and rewarding. 

Recognising that Generation STEM has completed its fourth 
year of delivery, an Evaluation Report has been developed 
for the first time, outlining progress to date and evaluation 
assessments associated with Generation STEM’s initiatives. 
This report provides the team with key insights and 
recommendations to consider for implementation as the 
programs continue to grow and develop. 

In summary, 2022 was a year of firming up our presence in 
NSW, refining the suite of program offerings and learning 
by doing. 



Generation STEM 
2022 year in review

3 programs 
delivered in 
5 location 
priorities

104% growth 
in student 
numbers

96% growth in 
industry partners

1219 attendees 
across 10 STEM 
CPP showcases

Deadly in 
Generation STEM 
Immersion 
Days held in the 
Illawarra and Moree

29 internships 
completed or 
underway, with 
a further 31 in 
the pipeline

First STEM 
industry-education 
roundtable 
in Newcastle

First STEM specific 
careers event 
held with 450+ 
students attending

Our partners see the value of Generation STEM

“STEM CPP is both a strategic 
and tactical approach to 
developing and retaining STEM 
talent in our region that can 
support the development of 
local and regional industry 
and future-focused economy.” 
– Queanbeyan‑Palerang 
Regional Council 

“We find STEM CPP 
dovetails perfectly with our 
requirements. We often have 
students start flight training 
after a STEM CPP site visit.” 
– Central Coast Aero Club

“The [Generation STEM Links] 
candidates we were offered were 
all good but the candidate we have 
chosen is an exceptional fit for 
our business. I doubt we would 
have been able to achieve this 
without the aid of the CSIRO.”
– Generation STEM Links 
industry partner

Our impact

The monitoring and evaluation of 
Generation STEM to date has shown:

1

Increased levels of interest and 
intention to pursue STEM careers 
among students

2

Increased teacher capacity, 
including in inquiry-based learning

3

Increased awareness of Indigenous 
knowledges in STEM

4

Increased skills and 
confidence among students

Communicating to a wider audience 

16,340 website 
visitors (249.67% 
increase from 2021)

4129 social media 
engagements 
(LinkedIn, Facebook, 
Twitter and Instagram)

Data insights

Continued progress including initial results 
from a predictive analytics 
project and approval of Evidence X, 
a project that aims to improve STEM 
education outcomes. 



Continued growth 
and expansion

Gaining momentum with two new programs

2022 saw two new programs – Deadly in Generation STEM 
and Generation STEM Links – ramp up delivery. 

Deadly in Generation STEM Immersion Days were delivered 
for the first time in the Illawarra and Moree. Students 
engaged in hands-on STEM activities on Country and 
explored the connections between Indigenous STEM 
knowledges and Western science. 

Generation STEM Links also gained traction throughout 
the year, with 29 placements completed or underway and 
31 in the pipeline. The team has now developed strong 
relationships with 12 tertiary educational institutions 
and received applications from 271 students1.

All of NSW 

Generation STEM Links 
(Focus Area 2) open to businesses, 
organisations and tertiary 
students in Generation STEM 
location priorities and from 
September 2022, across all of NSW.

New England

Deadly in Generation STEM (Focus Area 1) 
delivered in Moree to leverage 
opportunities related to the Special 
Activation Precinct. Discussions 
commenced to establish STEM CPP 
(Focus Area 1) in the region in 2023. 

Hunter region

Identified as the first location to test 
opportunities to build and strengthen 
connections between the tertiary 
education sector and industry as part 
of Generation STEM Links (Focus Area 2).

Central Coast 

STEM CPP (Focus Area 1) 
established with strong 
interest from local 
schools and industry.

Central West 

STEM CPP (Focus Area 1) delivered 
in the region. The uptake of the 
program in 2022 was slower than 
expected. The team will increase 
its focus on the region for 2023. 

Western Sydney 

STEM CPP (Focus Area 1) is well-established 
in the region, with 68 participating schools. 
From 2023, STEM CPP will be available in all 
local government areas in Western Sydney. 

Illawarra-Shoalhaven 

Deadly in Generation STEM (Focus Area 1) 
established and delivereds. The program offering 
will expand in 2023 to include more elements 
and involve schools from the Shoalhaven area. 

South Jerrabomberra 
Regional Jobs Precinct

STEM CPP (Focus Area 1) 
established after 
identifying strong local 
interest and a pipeline 
of STEM opportunities. 

Riverina-Murray

Generation STEM Links 
(Focus Area 2) already established 
in the area. STEM CPP (Focus Area 1) 
to be launched in Albury Regional 
Jobs Precinct in 2023. 

Active in 2022

Non-priority areas

1 This does not include an additional 75 applications that did not meet the eligibility criteria.



Expanding our geographical reach 

Generation STEM continued its geographical expansion in 
2022. It commenced programs in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven 
region, Central Coast, Moree and the South Jerrabomberra 
Regional Jobs Precinct and grew its presence in the Central 
West region. Within Western Sydney, the STEM CPP 
expanded from seven to 11 local government areas (LGAs). 

Since September 2022, Generation STEM Links is now 
available to all NSW businesses/organisations. This has 
streamlined recruitment and marketing processes while still 
enabling the team to retain a focus on Generation STEM’s 
location priorities.

Building on a solid foundation

STEM CPP continued to grow from strength to strength. 
Recovery from COVID-19 disruptions allowed the team 
to deliver elements of the program that had been in 
development for some time. These include partnering with 
TAFE NSW on two STEM Taster Programs and delivering 
Generation STEM’s inaugural #WithSTEMYouCan Career 
Expo at Sydney Olympic Park. These activities provided 
students with more immersive STEM experiences and a 
broader range of connections to local STEM pathways 
and careers.

The relationships developed as part of STEM 
CPP have contributed to the growth of the other 
programs, with businesses appreciating the ability 
to engage with students at both the high school and 
tertiary level through Generation STEM’s programs. 
To date, 8.5% of the Generation STEM Links industry 
project applications have come from existing STEM 
CPP relationships.

STEM CPP continues to strengthen capability in 
inquiry‑based learning and linking to real-world STEM 
within schools. Both existing and new schools continue 
to send, on average, 1.9 new teachers to the Teacher 
Professional Learning Day (TPL) enabling the program 
to become more embedded in the schools. Across the 
life of the program, capability has been developed in 
approximately 275 NSW teachers and in some schools, 
entire faculties have completed the TPL. 

Delivery models to meet community needs

The expansion of Generation STEM beyond Western 
Sydney opened opportunities to work with different 
organisations and individuals with local knowledge and 
expertise. For example, the Moree Deadly in Generation 
STEM program was delivered in collaboration with 
a Moree‑based youth organisation, SHAE Academy. 

The new partnerships and collaborations have enabled the 
team to gain deeper insights into local and regional needs, 
and better tailor our programs. With this in mind, the team 
will continue to explore and consider the most suitable 
collaborators when working in different regions. 

The roadmap to sustainability

As Generation STEM approaches the halfway point of 
its 10-year timeframe, the team has started to consider 
and develop a plan for the sustainability of the program. 
This will involve working in collaboration with key 
partners and participants towards self-sustaining 
programs, a shift in culture and perspectives and 
having insights to inform future programs. 

Initial discussions have commenced with longer‑term 
collaborators to take on greater responsibilities. 
Additionally, through focused professional learning and 
intensive support at the beginning of a participant’s 
involvement, sustainable relationships between 
teachers and industry are starting to emerge. 
A Content Specialist has also commenced in the team, 
who will lead the development of participant resources 
to support their current involvement and ongoing 
post‑Generation STEM activities.

The next one to two years will be crucial for ensuring 
that strong foundations for Generation STEM’s legacy 
are laid. STEM CPP will be the ideal testing ground for 
sustainability as it is the most progressed program. 
Learnings from STEM CPP’s legacy planning approach will 
inform the future of the other programs as they develop. 



Broadening our reach 
through communications

What we did

Made it easier for participants and stakeholders 
to engage with Generation STEM

• Refreshed entire Generation STEM website.
• Developed new program flyers for Generation STEM 
and Generation STEM Links. 


Celebrated successes and student achievements 
to attract more participants

• Developed 10 new program stories (blog posts).
• Launched Generation STEM newsletter with program 
news and stories to our supporters.


Promoted activities in new ways and across 
a range of platforms

• Paid LinkedIn campaign for Generation STEM Links.
• Promoted content (including live tweeting) on 
CSIRO social media channels and CSIRO Education 
Facebook page. 


Partnered with NSW Small Business Month in 
November to promote Generation STEM Links

Proactively shared news stories and content 
with a range of channels

Such as Regional Development Australia, Education Today, 
Coast Community News, University of Newcastle and 
Nepean News. 

Virtual work experience program offers students a 
behind‑the‑scenes look into STEM careers, Sam Miles is a PhD 
candidate in medicinal chemistry at The University of New 
South Wales.

Students learn the drill at Central Coast Aero Club.



What were the results

Increased website traffic

• 16,340 visitors to the Generation STEM website 
compared to 4673 in 2021.
• 112.18% increase in website pageviews from 36,662 in 
2021 to 77,791 in 2022.


Increased engagement across social media channels

• 4129 engagements and 177,277 impressions across 
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• 224 web visits and 44,719 impressions from the 
Generation STEM Links LinkedIn campaign.
• #WithSTEMYouCan hashtag reaching 4710 people.


Increased coverage

• Coverage in the Coast Community News, a local Central 
Coast news source, about the STEM CPP operating 
in the region.
• A filming opportunity organised by the University 
of Newcastle to highlight Generation STEM Links for 
Career Connect, an extra-curricular university program 
designed to help students build the essential knowledge, 
skills and experience that employers demand.




Program insights

Following the completion of four years of program delivery, 
a mid-term Evaluation Report 2019–22 has been developed 
to outline progress to date and provide evaluation 
assessments on STEM CPP (being the most mature 
program), as well as implementation and early outcomes 
evaluation on Generation STEM Links, and implementation 
evaluation on DIGS. 

Overall, strong implementation outcomes were observed, 
including significant scaling up of STEM CPP and 
formation of industry partnerships, and successful first 
year implementation of Generation STEM Links and DIGS. 
The key outcomes are highlighted below.

STEM CPP

Increased teacher 
capacity, particularly in 
inquiry‑based learning

Increased student interest 
and knowledge of STEM, 
particularly among those with 
lower initial interest levels 
and female students

Increased awareness of 
and intention to pursue 
STEM careers

Deadly in Generation STEM

Engagement of students 
in hands-on, real world 
STEM activities

Students valued hands‑on 
activities and the 
involvement of Community 
Knowledge Holders

Strengthened knowledge and 
understanding of culture and 
Indigenous knowledges

Generation STEM Links

Successful targeting 
to students in lower 
socio‑economic areas

Increased student confidence 
in core work-readiness skills

Industry partners valued 
access to potential high-quality 
recruitment pipeline

Some of the key areas of consideration included refinement of the program model and 
targeting (STEM CPP), greater focus on TAFE (Generation STEM Links), and discussion 
with young people on the design and delivery of camps/Immersion Days (DIGS).

For further information, refer to the Generation STEM Evaluation Report 2019–22.



Program delivery

Focus Area 1 
STEM Community Partnerships Program 

STEM CPP is now well-established in Western Sydney 
and is making headway outside of Sydney. Not only has 
the number of schools and students participating in the 
program increased by 66% and 107% respectively, but the 
average number of classes within each school and range 
of activities being offered has also grown.

Increased reach and reputation of STEM CPP have resulted 
in more STEM professionals and organisations interested in 
sharing their real-world knowledge with students through 
the program. 2208 industry-student interactions took place 
across 89 activities and events. 

The relationships and processes established in 
previous years have paved the way for sustainable 
industry‑education relationships, with more 
partnerships facilitated by the program flourishing 
and becoming independent of the program. 
Several strong partnerships have formed, including with 
Canva, Western Sydney Airport, Sydney Water and Lincoln 
Electric, who have engaged with a large number of schools 
on different activities, such as offering multiple site visits, 
participating in the Careers Expo and encouraging staff to 
become mentors. 

2022 also allowed for the return of face-to-face showcase 
events, after two years of virtual events due to COVID-19. 
Over 100 industry professionals were able to celebrate 
students’ achievements, view their projects and engage 
with them about the program. 

“STEM CPP has been crucial in showing schools and 
students the links between the different subject areas. 
So that science, technology, engineering and maths 
are brought together as one curriculum unit of work.” 
– Teacher

“In presenting their projects to industry a number 
of the students greatly developed their interpersonal 
skills. I have not seen growth like this from any other 
form of learning.” – Teacher

Continued year-on-year growth since 2019

STEM CPP number of schools and students year-on-year

After four years of program delivery, almost 4000 students 
have participated in STEM CPP. Importantly, an accumulated 
94 schools have participated over the life of the program, 
with a retention rate of 83% for schools that complete their 
first year and many continuing to send new teachers every 
year. This is evidence that the program is becoming more 
embedded within schools.



Key activities and achievements

Community 
engagement

12 industry/council 
engagement 
workshops

124 school leaders 
engaged

1219 showcase 
attendees

Empowering 
teachers

12 teacher professional 
learning (TPL) 
workshops

60 STEM professionals 
partnered with teachers 
(increase of >100% from 
2021 (29))

Additional optional TPL 
on Gender Inclusive 
Classrooms offered

10 teacher meet 
and drop‑in 
sessions to provide 
additional support

Attract, 
support and 
train students

2231 students 
(increase of 99% from 
2021 (1122))

78 participating 
schools (increase of 
66% from 2021 (47))

10 showcase events 
with 839 students 
presenting 
their projects

91% school retention 
rate across the year 
(87% in 2021) 

Connect 
to industry 

28 industry partners 
involved in activities 
and events 

44 virtual 
work experience 
opportunities 
(27 in 2021)

Industry input into 
50 new challenge 
scenarios

2208 interactions 
with students

Responding to participant feedback and expanding program offerings 

Feedback from previous years’ program insights allowed 
the team to focus on program activities that have the most 
impact and close out those that students and teachers saw 
as less beneficial, such as masterclasses. This was one of the 
recommendations from the 2021 M&E data insights report. 

New and remodelled program activities included the 
STEM Taster Program, #WithSTEMYouCan Careers 
Expo, more virtual work experience opportunities and 
an optional Gender Inclusive Classrooms professional 
development session for teachers.

Following teacher requests and stakeholder consultation, 
STEM CPP will expand to Stage 4 students (Years 7 and 8) 
in 2023. This will enable students to see and interact with 
real-world STEM earlier, strengthen teacher capability in 
inquiry-based learning and increase the program’s ability 
to influence the subject selection and career choices. 

“The passion for STEM is built in the Stage 4 course and 
there are currently many students across this stage who 
would jump at a chance for something like [STEM CPP]. 
It is an opportunity for students to really see what STEM 
is about in a more authentic manner ... Stage 4 students 
are best engaged in a hands on manner, so being able 
to work in this manner would suit them.” – Teacher

“I enjoyed being able to talk to professionals about 
nanotech and STEM in general. It gave me a lot of 
helpful knowledge that would definitely benefit my 
future.” – Virtual work experience student 



CASE STUDY

Partnering with TAFE NSW to provide a taste of STEM to Year 10 students

Generation STEM partnered with TAFE 
NSW to offer a STEM Taster Program 
to raise awareness of local vocational 
pathways in STEM. Twenty students 
attended each of Kingswood and 
Padstow campuses across 5–7 days. 

The program provided opportunities 
for students to engage in hands-on 
practical activities and interact with 
industry professionals. 

Students could “try” a range of local 
vocational career pathways in STEM, 
such as allied health, IT, advanced 
manufacturing and aviation. 

Feedback about the program has 
been very positive, with students 
indicating it has made them more 
interested in learning about STEM and 
knowing about potential STEM jobs. 
Early discussions are underway to look 
for opportunities for a collaborative 
one-TAFE approach for delivery of the 
STEM Taster Program across NSW.

What partners said: 

“Having the opportunity to 
experiment in these fields of study 
enables students to visualise what 
a job would look like and learn 
how TAFE NSW can help them 
forge a career they love. 

“We want to inspire these young 
people through hands-on learning 
and ensure vocational education 
and training is front of mind 
when they are considering future 
training and career pathways.” 
– TAFE Services Manager



CASE STUDY

Showcasing STEM at the #WithSTEMYouCan Careers Expo 

Generation STEM delivered its first Careers Expo, supported 
by Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), to showcase 
a range of STEM careers to students in June 2022. 
The event continued the theme of the 2021 Generation 
STEM #WithSTEMYouCan campaign. 

The Careers Expo provided students access to businesses 
offering STEM careers in their local community. 
They were able to ask questions, discuss educational 
pathways and learn more about the varied career paths 
they could move into.

Students also participated in a range of hands-on 
workshops delivered by the industry as well as listened 
and asked questions as part of a panel discussion by 
STEM professionals.

A total of 450+ students from 16 schools attended the 
event, with overall positive feedback from attendees. 
Six new industry partners committed to further activities 
with Generation STEM as result of attending the event.

A strong relationship formed between SOPA and 
Generation STEM as a result – this combined with the 
positive results from this event, has increased SOPA’s 
contribution in 2023, with a larger venue confirmed already 
enabling more attendees and hands-on activities.

What participants said: 

“It was an absolute thrill to be a part 
of [the expo], and engage with so 
many keen and interested young 
people on the day. Congratulations 
to the CSIRO team who were involved 
in the planning and delivery of such 
a wonderful day.” – Sydney Water

“Students were able to converse 
with industry professionals and 
engage in some practical tasks or 
see the practical application of 
the different fields. They have a 
better understanding about career 
opportunities in STEM related 
jobs and understand that there 
are different pathways to reach 
their goals not just a straight line.” 
– Teacher



Testing new models of collaboration 

A committed local stakeholder is the key success factor of 
STEM CPP. Generally, this role has been fulfilled by local 
councils. However, in recognition that STEM CPP needs 
to accommodate the local community and the resourcing 
constraints of local councils, the program continued to 
be agile when working with local stakeholders in 2022. 
This resulted in different models of collaboration, 
reducing both the strain on local councils and the 
over‑reliance on a single stakeholder in a particular region.

2022: How STEM CPP collaboration model adapted to 
address community needs and new model delivered

2023: Learning and further improvements to 
be incorporated into program for 2023

Alternative local stakeholder: Where a local council was 
unable to collaborate on the STEM CPP, an alternative 
was sought. This led to collaborations with Sydney 
Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) and RDA Central Coast, 
with a smooth roll out and high engagement in the 
Parramatta LGA and Central Coast area. SOPA has been 
key in delivering the #WithSTEMYouCan Career Expo 
and the Central Coast model has produced a strong 
collaboration between Generation STEM and other 
Department of Education programs (Regional Industry 
Education Partnerships Program and Educational 
Pathways Program).

Generation STEM will continue to explore other local 
organisations like SOPA and RDA that have the capacity 
and capability to collaborate in different regions.

Co-collaboration with multiple local Councils: STEM 
CPP has commenced a co-collaboration agreement with 
Yass Valley Regional Council and Queanbeyan‑Palerang 
Regional Council to deliver STEM CPP in the South 
Jerrabomberra Regional Jobs Precinct. This allows 
reaching regional areas with more dispersed populations 
and the shared responsibility places less pressure on the 
one council.

Discussions are ongoing with Department of Regional 
NSW and Regional Growth NSW Development 
Corporation (RGDC) to replicate this model in other 
regions in 2023, notably in Tamworth and the wider 
New England region. Generation STEM will continue to 
consider other local stakeholders, such as universities, 
in this model. 

Delivery partner model: Generation STEM partnered 
with RDA Central West to deliver the program in the 
Central West. The intention of this model was to ensure 
the program was delivered “on the ground” by a 
local organisation with the expertise and networks. 
This partnership ended in 2022 due to capacity issues of 
the delivery partner, which had impacted our ability to 
grow the STEM CPP and establish a strong presence in 
the Central West.

Ongoing consideration of the balance between 
building capacity in regional areas and ensuring what 
is delivered meets our program standards, including 
considering options for collaboration before moving 
into a delivery partner arrangement. Reengaging schools 
and industry in the Central West will be a priority for 
2023, and discussions are already underway with existing 
networks, including RGDC, TAFE NSW and Mining NSW.



Reflecting on 2021 impact and evaluation recommendations 

Recommendation: Further explore gendered differences in student outcomes

Actions taken: 

Developed and delivered Gender Inclusive Classrooms 
professional learning session to teachers

Actively reached out to women in STEM networks to seek more 
female mentors (Superstars of STEM, Western Sydney Women, 
WSU networks)

Encouraged representation from women in the business at site visits

All discussion panels included at least 50% female representation

Result: 

Increase from 
29% female 
mentors in 2021 to
50% female
in 2022

Recommendation: Focus on matching schools with industry mentors earlier in the school year 
and review matching process

Actions taken: 

Focused on engaging more mentors prior to school 
engagement therefore enabling the team to match teachers 
as soon as they started the program

Highlighted to interested industry partners that the mentor option 
is the ‘lightest touch’ way of them engaging in the program 

Continued to approach larger organisations that have the capacity 
to offer more mentors across a wide range of STEM disciplines

Had mentors provide testimonials at Council/Industry 
workshops to boost interest from industry

Result:

Majority of 
mentors matched 
in the first 
half of 2022

Recommendation: Consider the purpose and effectiveness of the pre-recorded masterclass videos

Actions taken: 

Conducted a cost-benefit analysis and noted the high effort 
and cost required for developed the masterclass videos

Decided in July 2022 to cease producing masterclasses 
and focus on face-to-face engagement activities, such as the 
Careers Expo, bespoke site visits and the STEM Taster Program, 
especially as feedback from teachers was that students 
were less keen on virtual activities 

Result:

More engaging 
industry 
experiences 
for students



Focus Area 1 
Deadly in Generation STEM

Following extensive community consultation, Immersion 
Days were delivered for the first time as a pilot in 2022 
in Dharawal Country (Illawarra) and Kamilaroi Country 
(Moree). These days were designed as interconnected 
experiences as an alternative to an immersive camp 
experience given the COVID-19 related challenges in 
early 2022. 

Immersion Days were delivered with a select group of local 
Years 8–11 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. 
They provided opportunities for deep engagement in STEM 
activities delivered on Country by Cultural Knowledge 
Holders, local cultural mentors and STEM professionals, 
where they explored cultural knowledge connections and 
links to local STEM pathways.

2022 learnings 

2022: What we heard from the pilot 

2023: Learning and further improvements 
to be embedded into program for 2023

The original idea of a four-day camp was changed 
to interconnected Immersion Days spread across 
the year to reduce the risk of COVID-19 disruptions. 
However, there were elements that weren't able to 
be replicated, and it proved challenging to maintain 
momentum and engagement with participants, 
teachers and families throughout the program.

Delivery of the camp as planned to meet program 
outcomes. Ensure adequate communications and 
planning in place to mitigate the risk of disruption 
caused by external factors, such as COVID-19.

Feedback from community stakeholders was that 
most Indigenous students are disengaged from 
STEM subjects by the time they get to high school. 
However, students valued hands-on activities delivered 
outside of the classroom by Cultural Knowledge Holders, 
and being able to see the links between cultural 
knowledges and Western applications of STEM.

Continue to look for ways to incorporate more 
immersive, hands‑on experiences into future programs 
and continue to engage Cultural Knowledge Holders. 
Expand the Illawarra program to primary schools to 
engage students in STEM earlier.

Some students felt there is still inherent racism in the 
schools from teachers and peers, which presents as a 
main barrier to engagement for Indigenous students 
in the classroom.

Utilise the CSIRO Inquiry for Indigenous Science 
Students (I2S2) Teacher Professional Learning program 
to address unconscious bias, promote an understanding 
of Aboriginal contributions to STEM and their relevance 
in today’s industries, support culturally safe learning 
environments, and strengthen student engagement 
and achievement in science.

Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) 
members and teachers want support to authentically 
embed Indigenous cultural knowledges into their 
STEM‑based curriculums and strengthening local 
Aboriginal community partnerships with schools.

Expand the Illawarra program to support teachers in 
embedding Indigenous cultural knowledges through 
hands‑on, inquiry-based projects within the STEM 
curriculum, through the I2S2 program. Deliver the I2S2 
program to more schools in the Moree area. 

Building strong networks and relationships with local 
collaborators and community members takes time, but can 
lead to lasting benefits and deeper community impact. 
Having a local presence also enables the team to provide 
“on the ground” support to teachers and other participants.

Continue to have a local presence and broaden 
Aboriginal Community and industry networks 
and relationships with a focus on fostering 
sustainable relationships.



CASE STUDY

Combining STEM and culture in the Illawarra

The Illawarra program explored 
the themes of Identity, Connection, 
Pride and Empowerment while taking 
a community-driven approach to deliver 
and support activities. 

Over the four days, 11 Year 9 and 10 
students from 5 schools visited local 
sites, including Mount Keira and Sandon 
Point Aboriginal Place, two important 
cultural sites. They also learnt about 
the importance of Country and the 
relationship between Indigenous 
knowledges and Western science 
through hands‑on activities involving 
astronomy, drone technology, 
environmental management, 
sustainable design, traditional 
medicines, weaving and storytelling.

The experience enabled the students 
to broaden their perspective of STEM 
and what their STEM journey could look 
like, as well as create strong friendships. 
After completing the program, students 
can continue their learning journey as 
ambassadors, pass on their learnings 
and support other Indigenous students.

What participants said: 

“I’m walking away with so much knowledge about 
my culture that I’ll be able to pass on to my family, 
especially my younger brother. It’ll be nice to teach him 
how to connect to Country. I’d like to be a nurse and 
combine my cultural knowledge.” – Lucy, Student

“I thought it was going to be like science at school. 
But it was completely different.” – Shakira, Student

What community members said:

“I think this has opened up his mind and he’s moved to 
the top ten [of the class]… The whole school is talking 
about how – they just don’t know where [it] comes 
from. And I think this has opened up the importance 
[of cultural knowledges] and just made it more 
relatable.” – Parent

“I just want to say how proud I am of what this program 
is doing for our kids. If they taught more of this stuff 
when I was in school, I wouldn’t have dropped out.” 
– Aunty



Focus Area 2 
Generation STEM Links

Generation STEM Links is gaining traction across NSW, 
with applications from students and businesses on the rise 
and word spreading about how the program has helped 
businesses to recruit the right intern. Many organisations 
participating in Generation STEM Links are taking on 
student interns for the first time. 

2022 was a year of ‘learning by doing’, where the 
team trialled new strategies, streamlined processes 
and incorporated feedback and learnings to scale 
and improve the program. 

Generation STEM Links held its first STEM 
industry‑education roundtable in Newcastle in November 
2022. This brought local industry and the tertiary education 
sector together to explore opportunities to strengthen 
connections and work together to build a strong, 
local STEM pipeline and workforce. Planning is underway 
for the next phase of this work, as well as early planning 
for similar activities in other areas in 2023. 

Program highlights2

29 placements 
completed or 
underway, with 
a further 31 in 
the pipeline

Almost 80% of 
student interns 
offered ongoing 
employment 

31 industry 
partners 
applied

Average of 2 student interns 
per business, with many 
interested in further interns

Most common industries: 
manufacturing, IT, agribusiness 
and sustainability

Continuous improvement throughout 2022 

What we learnt and heard

What we did in response

There needs to be an easy-to-use, online application 
form and straightforward process for businesses and 
students to reduce application barriers. 

Refreshed and enhanced the website, application form, 
and internal procedures and documentation, leading to 
a smoother process and experience for participants.

Location priorities were a cause of confusion amongst 
stakeholders as to whether a business was eligible to 
participate in the program. 

Updated the eligibility criteria to enable businesses 
across all of NSW to apply to participate, as well as 
clarifying other criteria elements regarding business size 
and number of STEM-skilled staff members. 

Due to a strong-matching process, Generation STEM 
Links interns have generally been ‘work-ready’ and able 
to bring skills and knowledge to support businesses 
with projects. However, there is a negative perception 
about the value students can bring to a business, 
which can take time to overcome and is often a barrier 
to participating.

Developed clearer communications and case studies 
showcasing success stories, benefits to businesses 
and how the program is different to other internship 
programs. A working group was formed to unpack 
challenges preventing businesses participating in 
the program, including the perception challenge. 
Further actions will be undertaken in 2023, 
including highlighting key messages and further 
simplifying the application process.



2 The reported figures do not include four businesses who withdrew their applications due to internal changes.



CASE STUDY

Nautitech invests in students to build its workforce

Nautitech employs 34 staff at its Western Sydney 
headquarters, focusing on the design and manufacture 
of products that improve safety and productivity in 
hazardous areas underground.

“Recruiting takes a lot of time and during the past 
two years, it’s been difficult to hire engineers,” 
says Nautitech Engineering Manager Mojtaba Ghaderi.

Mojtaba mentored university students Callum and Jeffrey 
during their 12-week placement. This internship has led to 
both students being offered ongoing roles at Nautitech. 

Mojtaba explains that the candidates received through 
Generation STEM Links were better suited in terms of 
values and skills than when they advertised on job sites. 

“Generation STEM Links has been outstanding. 
Specifically in terms of the students’ level of expertise and 
the opportunities we’ve been able to give them,” he says. 

As the first two interns were finishing their placement and 
transitioning to full-time work in late 2022, Nautitech took 
on two more students through Generation STEM Links, 
and already they’ve learnt new skills, received mentorship 
and gained insights into the workplace, their chosen fields, 
and potential career pathways. 

Nautitech plans to continue participating in Generation 
STEM Links. 



Data insight projects

Significant progress was made in 2022 to establish and implement two data insights projects – predictive analytics 
and Evidence X.

Project one

STEM education predictive analytics 

STEM education-specific analytics project spanning 
STEM pipeline to identify and help address leaks 
before they happen.

Key activities

• Received ethics approval to proceed.
• Signed a collaboration agreement with the 
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.
• Analysed a student-level dataset from around 
70 schools.
• Will seek additional opportunities to partner 
with data holders.


Key results

Initial results build on what is understood about the 
factors that contribute to STEM education outcomes 
in high school, including parent’s education levels 
and prior STEM achievement. Initial accuracy levels 
(of whether student completed HSC in STEM) are over 
70 per cent, with further refinements underway.

Project two

Evidence X (previously STEM 
education outcomes framework)

Evidence X seeks to help build an evidence base for STEM 
education interventions; that is, to better understand 
what interventions work and why, and achieve an 
increased ability to assess an intervention’s effectiveness. 

Key activities

• Built a prototype of an online, interactive evidence 
tool that would allow users (program designers, 
program funders, and program evaluators) to 
understand the current state of evidence and inform 
their decision‑making.
• Received approval to progress co-design phase 
of Evidence X. 
• Commenced a procurement process for a co-design 
consultant for Evidence X, which will involve STEM 
education stakeholders being invited to help design 
a platform or set of tools that will improve the ability 
to assess and measure success.
• Next phase will involve seeking approval to progress 
to the build phase.


Key results

Phase two of project (Evidence X) approved 
and planning commenced.

These projects will play a key role in Generation STEM’s legacy, through harnessing insights and an evidence base 
to shift the dial in STEM education outcomes on a larger scale.



Program management

Governance

The current membership is as of 31 December 2022: 

Dr David Wright (Chair)
Managing Director at Aqua Ventures

Ms Elanor Huntington
Executive Director, CSIRO Digital
National Facilities and Collections

Ms Gail Fulton
Director, CSIRO Services

Ms Chloe Read
Deputy Secretary, Skills and Higher Education
NSW Department of Education 

Dr Ian Oppermann
Chief Data Scientist and CEO
NSW Data Analytics Centre

Ms Gabrielle Trainor AO
Chair of the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce



Appendices

This section details the characteristics of the student/schools that participated in Generation STEM in 2022. 

STEM Community Partnerships Program 

Number of students participated by year

Year 9

Year 10

Total

2019–20

358

91

449

2021

757

365

1122

2022

1171

1150

2321

Year on year change

+55%

+216%

+107%





Number of schools participated by sector and year

Government

Catholic

Independent

Total

2019–20

15

1

6

22

2021

27

12

8

47

2022

43

19

16

78

Year on year change

+59%

+58%

+100%

+66%





Number of schools participated by LGA/region and sector

Government

Catholic

Independent

Total

Blacktown

3

5

3

11

Blue Mountains

1

0

1

2

Camden

1

1

2

4

Campbelltown

4

0

1

5

Canterbury Bankstown

7

2

0

9

Central Coast

5

1

1

7

Central West

2

0

0

2

Fairfield

4

2

0

6

Hawkesbury 

1

0

0

1

Liverpool

3

3

3

9

Parramatta

3

2

1

6

Penrith

7

2

3

12

The Hills Shire

2

1

1

4

Total 

43 (55%)

19 (24%)

16 (21%)

78







Deadly in Generation STEM 

Number of students participated by region

Illawarra

Moree

Total

2022

11

16

27





Generation STEM Links 

Total

Number of placements confirmed or underway 

29

Number of industry partners applied 

31

Number of student applications3

271

Percentage of student interns from underrepresented groups

89.6%





3 Excluding 75 applications that did not meet the eligibility criteria.



Contact us

1300 363 400
csiro.au/contact
csiro.au

For further information

csiro.au/generationSTEM

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agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest 
challenges through innovative 
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