Western Australia (Apr. 1 2025) – More than 150 students, educators, and special guests gathered at Southern River College in Gosnells on April 1 for an inspiring and hands-on STEM event presented by national education non-profit, Schools Plus in partnership with Google.org. Designed to spark curiosity and ambition in the next generation of tech leaders, the event is the second in a national five-part series running from 2024 to 2026.
Children from 10 local schools came together to explore the real-world possibilities of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through interactive Google-led activities, a dynamic robotics showcase by Southern River College students and an engaging session with Superstar of STEM, Dr Adelle Goodwin, who shared a glimpse of life as an astrophysicist and her research on how stars are destroyed by supermassive black holes.
Federal Member for Burt, the Hon Matt Keogh MP and Terry Healy MLA, Member for Southern River were among the distinguished guests, with Keogh speaking on the importance of equitable access to STEM education.
“This initiative shows the beauty of partnerships in action,” said Schools Plus CEO, Sherrill Nixon. “STEM education is a powerful catalyst for equity. Our partnership with Google enables us to bring exciting and innovative STEM learning opportunities to children in disadvantaged communities, empowering them to become agile thinkers ready for today’s world and the future. We’re giving students the opportunity to imagine a future within their reach.”
The event forms part of a broader initiative supported by Schools Plus and Google.org across the 10 schools, engaging children with robotics clubs and competitions and supporting teachers through professional development and a shared Future Ready Skills framework. Many students, particularly those who previously struggled to find a sense of belonging in school, have discovered renewed confidence, and enthusiasm for future-focused learning. Children from each school were transported to the venue with costs covered, helping remove barriers to participation.
In 2023, Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm committed $3 million in funding to Schools Plus to help young people from disadvantaged communities access the digital learning resources they need to forge successful futures.
Marie Efstathiou, Google.org Australia, is excited to bring this project, supported by Google.org and Schools Plus, to students at Southern River College in Gosnells, WA. “Google.org believes in building a strong digital future for Australia, and that means making sure all students have the chance to learn and grow their digital skills.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Schools Plus on this project, bringing role models and real-world examples from Australia’s science and technology industry right to Southern River College. We want to show students that a career in STEM is totally within reach. Seeing is believing, and we’re here to inspire them!”