Join the Program
Interested in becoming part of STEM Professionals in Schools? First, check your eligibility for the program below then apply through the Education and Outreach portal.
See the portal support page or email us via stemprofessionalsinschools@csiro.au.
At a time when STEM skills are critical to building the Australian workforce of the future, our STEM professional volunteers are inspiring students, increasing teacher capability and improving understanding of STEM career pathways.
The STEM Professionals in Schools program has a network of STEM professionals from more than 300 organisations, committed to supporting the next generation of problem solvers and innovators.
Infographic for STEM related professionals showing the following points:
If you work in STEM related disciplines within industry, academia or research, we can match you with a teacher to share your knowledge and passion and develop the scientific literacy of students. Through a partnership you can help to bridge the gap between the classroom and real-world STEM practice.
Our independent evaluations have found that partnerships are effective in delivering benefits for teachers, students and STEM professionals. The most recent evaluation reported that major benefits identified by STEM professionals include:
- involvement in STEM education
- sharing their STEM knowledge with others
- personal development
- networking through interactions with teachers, peers and students.
Each partnership in the STEM Professionals in Schools program is a bespoke arrangement between the STEM professional and teacher, based on their combined interests and expertise, availability, local context and student needs. Teacher partners provide expertise on how to align with the Australian Curriculum and their student needs, and our dedicated program support team is available to provide guidance at every stage of your partnership.
Program eligibility
- minimum of a bachelor degree in a STEM field; or
- evidence* of equivalent experience in a STEM field
- the ability to obtain and/or provide evidence of the relevant Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and National Police Certificate as part of the CSIRO Child Safe procedure
* Evidence may include a letter of endorsement, supervisor support, Curriculum Vitae or similar.
Child Safe Standards
As part of the program's mandate to keep all children and young people safe, all STEM professionals who undertake any type of interaction with students are required by state and federal governments to undergo security screening. You must provide evidence of the relevant Working With Children/Vulnerable People Check and National Police Certificate as part of CSIRO's Child Safe Policy.
If you don't have this documentation, the STEM Professionals in Schools team can support you to obtain it and cover the associated costs. Evidence of the completed checks must be provided before a partnership is made.
Australian Capital Territory | Working with Vulnerable People registration | Access Canberra |
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New South Wales | Working with Children check | NSW Office of the Children's Guardian |
Northern Territory | Ochre Card | SAFE NT |
Queensland | Blue card | Queensland Government |
South Australia | Working with Children check | Department of Human Services |
Tasmania | Registration to work with vulnerable people | Tasmanian Government |
Victoria | Working with Children check | Working With Children Check Victoria |
Western Australia | Working with Children check | Government of Western Australia |
More information
If you would like additional assistance, please email us via stemprofessionalsinschools@csiro.au.