We are all really excited here at RDA Central West about the recent news enabling us to expand the STEM Industry School Partnerships (SISP) program into more rural towns and schools across the Central West in 2019.
Following the highly successful pilot that ran in three NSW regions in 2018 (Central West, Hunter and Southern Inland) the NSW Department of Education has committed funding for 2019.
Phase Two of SISP will build on the successful partnerships forged between local schools and industry by Regional Development Australia and will include two new regions (Mid North Coast and Riverina). In Central West the program will be expanded to include all Orange public, primary and high schools, Parkes public, primary and high schools, Condobolin public, primary and high schools and Lake Cargelligo Central School.
The program, in partnership with industry, is inspiring students to study STEM, actively growing students’ job readiness skills and contributing to the international competitiveness of regional NSW. It’s really important for our smaller regional centres to have access to the same opportunities as the larger cities so expanding the program to Parkes, Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo is a great win for our students and local industry.
RDA Central West will have an industry focus of rail and freight logistics infrastructure in 2019 due to the exciting infrastructure developments in our region including the building of the Inland Rail and Parkes Logistics Hub. As well as the regional focus areas the SISP program will include state-wide focus areas of Agri-Tech and Cyber Security. These areas have been deemed of significance to regional Australia and identified as skill shortage areas.
You can read more about the SISP program, including photo’s and accounts of recent School visits and excursions, by clicking on this link.