Jordan Cooper (year 9), Larissa Da Bono (year 10) and Alicia Rodney (year 10) are learning to code through Sphero.
Camera IconJordan Cooper (year 9), Larissa Da Bono (year 10) and Alicia Rodney (year 10) are learning to code through Sphero. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Opportunity for high achieving Indigenous students

Staff ReporterMandurah Coastal Times

HIGH achieving Indigenous students from John Tonkin College are set to see how some of the world’s biggest companies are using technology to transform workforces.

The Mandurah years 9 and 10 students are among more than 70 WA school groups lining up to experience the two-day Resources Technology Showcase next month.

The event has been identified as particularly relevant to students in the college’s Follow the Dream program, which encourages Stem (science, technology, engineering, maths) based learning among high-achieving Aboriginal students across the state.

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John Tonkin teacher and Follow the Dream coordinator Andrea Tacko said it was essential students in the program were exposed to the opportunities in the Stem field.

“This year I have students who are very science focused and this showcase will help clarify future career prospects for them,” Mrs Tacko said.

“Once students have a clear goal, their learning and motivation becomes more focused and they are self-motivated.”

Follow the Dream, which is supported by the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, introduces students to a wealth of experience, opens their eyes to a range of post-school pathways and encourages them to “dream big”.

The showcase fosters John Tonkin College’s mantra that students in the program will be “tomorrow’s leaders.

But the chance to interact with the showcase doesn’t end there.

All WA schools are being offered the opportunity to take part through BHP’s Future Ready Stem Challenge, which is set to kick off on November 4 and offers winners the chance to scoop part of the massive $100,000 prize pot.

Schools can select from several different challenges, which are linked to the mining and energy industries, and the competition is designed to ensure it is accessible to students of varying levels of ability and schools with different levels of resourcing as well as work in concert with curriculums.

Teachers can visit The West future ready to download a teacher’s resource pack from November 4 and groups have until November 25 to enter the competition.

The Resources Technology Showcase will be held on November 27-28 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Visit RTS Perth.