A unique Aboriginal student-lead South Australian conference, the only of its kind in Australia, will inspire other young Aboriginal people to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The STEM Aboriginal Learners Congress, which kicked off at the Adelaide Convention Centre, saw about 1,000 Aboriginal students and their teachers from 178 schools across the state, come together to hear from leading Aboriginal STEM thinkers.

Students and teachers participated in cultural workshops, seminars, networking activities and hands-on learning at some of the state’s iconic destinations, such as the Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide Botanic Garden, Australian Space Discovery Centre and the MOD.

The two-day conference, on 10 August and 11 August, was hosted by the Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia (YASTSA) – a diverse group of 76 Aboriginal students from 15 schools across the metropolitan and regional areas from as far afield as the APY Lands, Coober Pedy and Port Lincoln.

In its sixth year, the annual event connected students aged between 10 to 15 with elders, past congress guests, leading STEM thinkers, other students, teachers and industry experts.

Keynote speakers, shared their personal experiences pursuing careers in STEM, including the Australian Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Daniel Riley, DeadlyScience founder and 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year Corey Tutt and founder of Australia’s first Indigenous edu-tech company Indigital Mikaela Jade.

Year 10 students were encouraged to visit the STEM Scholarships information booth to discover more about the scholarship opportunities of up to $10,000 for students wanting to study STEM subjects in year 11 and year 12.

”We have some students travelling more than 1000km to attend the STEM Aboriginal Learners Congress and immerse themselves in the city of Adelaide – some for the very first time,” said Director of Aboriginal Education Bronwyn Milera.

“Meeting in one place with other Aboriginal students to share stories, learn from experts, network with mentors in the field of STEM and discover a world beyond their classrooms is an amazing opportunity.

“The Congress celebrates the past and current achievements of Aboriginal people through their work and passion for STEM and will inspire young Aboriginal learners to pursue challenging subjects in school and to explore the skills required to pursue a career in STEM."