Blog icon

Important information

The National AI Centre (NAIC) is transitioning from CSIRO to the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources (DISR) on 1st July 2024. You can find the latest NAIC content at industry.gov.au. For any NAIC-related questions, please email NAIC@industry.gov.au.

About

The My Defence Industry Career resources support educators and Year 9–10 students to explore the diversity of STEM careers through the lens of defence industry. Through a series of short career videos showcasing defence industry professionals, myth-busting activities and collaborative classroom tasks, students investigate common misconceptions about STEM careers and discover the wide range of roles, skills and pathways available. The resources highlight how STEM professionals apply skills such as problem solving, teamwork, data analysis and creativity in real-world contexts. Curriculum-aligned for secondary classrooms, the resource suite includes a teacher guide, career videos, an interactive myth-busting activity, STEM Skills cards and Everyday Skills cards.

These resources aim to help students recognise how the skills they use in everyday activities can connect to STEM careers and future study pathways. The activities support discussion and reflection while helping students build awareness of the many ways STEM skills are used across industries, including defence industry.

Australian Curriculum links

Australian Curriculum connections

View how these resources can be linked to certain learning areas within the Australian curriculum.

Australian Curriculum Links  PDF (155 KB)

Australian Curriculum - accessible version  TXT (1 B)

Student and teacher resources

Teacher guide

Our teacher guide supports educators to deliver classroom activities that explore STEM careers through the lens of defence industry. It provides lesson structures, discussion prompts and collaborative activities that help students challenge common misconceptions about STEM careers. The guide also helps students recognise the wide range of skills, pathways and roles that exist across STEM industries.

 
Photograph of a person standing behind multiple white drone-like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a storage or workshop setting.

Teacher guide  PDF (846 KB)

Teacher guide - accessible version  TXT (20 KB)

 

STEM Mythbusting eLearn module

This interactive module allows students to investigate common myths and misconceptions about STEM careers. The eLearn includes real career stories, evidence and reflection prompts that challenge stereotypes about who works in STEM, what STEM jobs involve and how people enter these careers. The resource encourages students to use evidence and critical thinking to reconsider assumptions about STEM pathways.

 
Photograph of a person outdoors holding two camouflaged cylindrical objects crossed in front of their chest, wearing a navy blue shirt and matching cap with a logo. Background shows an open field with blurred structures and clear sky.

STEM Mythbusting Module [Link will open in a new window]

 

STEM Skills and Everyday Skills card deck

These card decks support classroom activities that help students recognise the transferable skills used in STEM careers and how everyday activities develop those same skills. The STEM Skills cards highlight key workplace skills and how they are applied in STEM roles, while the Everyday Skills cards connect common activities to the skills students already use.

Printing instructions: Print the STEM Skills cards double sided so the skill description and STEM application appear on opposite sides. Print the Everyday Skills cards one sided for use in matching and discussion activities.

Accessibility note: These resources are designed as hands-on classroom materials intended to be printed and used in activities. A web-accessible version has not been supplied.

 
Image of a hand holding 4 My Defence Industry Career Skill Cards.

STEM Skills cards  PDF (801 KB)

Everyday Skills cards  PDF (95 KB)