$10,000 donation to give 126 Indigenous students vital STEM learning.
15 July 2024.
A funding boost for the national DeadlyScience ‘Deadly Learners’ program from ZEN Energy will deliver science, technology, engineering and maths resources and education to 126 Indigenous students this year, particularly in remote communities where opportunities don’t otherwise exist.
ZEN’s $10,000 donation to the ground-breaking ‘Deadly Learners’ program, delivered by DeadlyScience, will also contribute toward addressing the stark education gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, especially in STEM education and careers.
Among the non-Indigenous population of Australia, 5.2 per cent has a University STEM qualification. The percentage of Indigenous Australians with a STEM qualification is one-tenth that rate, or just 0.5%. In regional and remote Australia, the gap is even greater.
As part of its Reconciliation Action Plan, ZEN is dedicated to meaningful collaborations with First Nations people and organisations through partnerships, sponsorships, and advocacy opportunities that also improve industry participation and leaders.
The donation of $10,000 will fund an additional 7 Deadly Learner sessions during 2024. These sessions will be held at regional and remote primary and high schools across Australia. This equates to an average of 18 students per session. Therefore, 126 students will gain access to STEM learning.
Quotes attributable to ZEN CEO Anthony Garnaut:
“ZEN recognises the immense potential of young minds to shape Australia’s transition to renewable energy. Their contributions will play a vital role in driving innovation, sustainability, and positive change in our nation’s journey towards a cleaner, greener future.
“Our Reconciliation Action Plan seeks to establish long-term partnerships based on trust, respect, and shared values. By investing in education, we aim to inspire future leaders that will lead the transition to renewable energy and beyond.”
Quotes attributable to DeadlyScience CEO Corey Tutt:
“DeadlyScience is thrilled to be partnering with ZEN Energy to further our mission of creating STEM equity for Indigenous learners. This partnership has paved the way for further expansion of our Deadly Learners sessions to positively impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners across the country.
“We know that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, and that is why we continue to inspire Indigenous youth through our educational programs including Deadly Learners, to allow them to explore the possibilities of pursuing a career in STEM.”
As a young person, Deadly Science’s CEO Corey Tutt developed a love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects but found little encouragement for Aboriginal people to pursue careers in STEM.
A key reason was that regional and remote schools were often critically under-resourced, and their students did not receive the same learning experiences as students in urban areas.
To address this deficiency, Corey founded DeadlyScience in 2018, a not-for-profit organisation that provides STEM resources and education to regional and remote schools in Australia and connects young Indigenous people with STEM professionals.
Since then, DeadlyScience has grown to be Australia’s leading Indigenous STEM charity, working with over 800 schools and community organisations across all states and territories.
Media Contact: Paul Sheridan | 0410 516 656 | paul.sheridan@zenenergy.com.au
