Cultivating STEAM in western Sydney
A ‘Think Big Space’ has been launched by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at Blacktown Girls High School.
This space will enable students to explore and cultivate an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) and STEAM-related careers.
Demand for skills in STEAM-related fields continues to rise, with research from AWS and AlphaBeta revealing that 3.7 million Australians need to undertake digital skills training in the next year alone to ensure the country keeps pace with technological advancements. The Think Big Space will encourage Australia’s future technologists and engineers to ‘think big’ about how they can use cloud computing and technology to solve real-world problems.
The launch was officiated by Blacktown City Councillor Julie Griffiths; Stephen Bali, Member for Blacktown; and Ian Palmer, CEO of School Industry Partnership.
“Blacktown City is full of enormous talent, and we have one of the fastest-growing populations in Australia. Over the coming decades, the demand for skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is going to grow at a rate we have never seen before. That’s why I believe it’s so important to support girls into STEM programs from a young age. This hub will empower our young women to nurture their talents in STEM and give them the opportunity to inspire younger girls to follow in their footsteps,” Griffiths said.
“AWS is passionate about making a positive difference in the communities where we build and operate. With the opening of the inaugural AWS Think Big Space in Sydney’s Blacktown Girls High School, we believe this dedicated environment will give students, and members of the local community, a first-hand look into what a career in the STEAM field could look like. Blacktown Girls High School was a natural fit for us to launch the first AWS Think Big Space in Australia. The school’s enthusiastic initiative to nurture digital skills among young people, particularly girls, is commendable,” said Michelle Hardie, Head of Strategy, Operations and Enablement, Australia and New Zealand at AWS.
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