As a STEM coach you will:

• Make a difference in the life of a girl with a curious mind.
• Contribute to the future career of a potential STEM professional.
• Develop your own teaching and coaching skills.
• Create new networks with a group of awesome female STEM peeps.
• Have a fun and rewarding experience.
• Inspire confidence in young women in STEM!

Curious Minds is an eight-month program that combines two camps – an in-person, residential Summer Camp in December, and a Winter Camp held online the following July – and a mentoring program that takes place between Summer and Winter camps.

The camps will enable the girls to explore all aspects of science, technology, engineering and maths through guest lectures, interactive sessions, practicals and field trips. You will attend Summer Camp for one day IN-PERSON to meet your student/s.

As a STEM Coach, you will be matched with a female student based on a compatible STEM area of interest and, where possible, geographical location.

Over the course of the eight months, you will be keeping in regular contact with your student to help them build their skills and confidence in a STEM area.

This can include discussing study options and career pathways, helping them undertake further extension work, developing ideas based on learnings from the camp, working on a STEM exploration, or inviting them to your workplace for a visit.

Modules will be provided to give you and your student ideas of useful things to do.

The overall objective is to increase your student’s confidence, stimulate her curiosity, inspire her enthusiasm and motivate her interest in STEM studies and careers.

You will need capacity to:

• Attend webinar training and catch ups with Curious Minds staff and other STEM Coaches.
• Attend one day of Summer Camp in December to meet your student IN-PERSON, to initiate a bond and get a head start with your mentoring.
• Connect with your student every three weeks, with communications in between, assisting with their STEM exploration and story sharing, and providing guidance and insights into a STEM career.
• Attend an online wrap-up session during the winter camp in July to celebrate the achievements of the group.

We will support you throughout the program with:

• Initial Coach Intro sessions.
• Online Coach forum for questions and discussion.
• Planned modules including conversation tips and goals.
• A ‘Head Coach’ who will monitor, check in and problem solve with you.
• Online catch-up sessions mid program and prior to the winter camp.
• The opportunity to catch up with other mentors.

Curious Minds is open to young Australian women who:

• Are in Year 8 or 9, and enrolled in an Australian school in the year of the program.
• Attend a school with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage value of less than 1000 and/or resides in a rural, regional or remote area of Australia and/or identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• Have demonstrated potential in one or more scientific subjects, including biology, chemistry, computer science/programming, earth science, engineering, mathematics or physics.
• Are able to commit to full participation in the program, including a 6-day residential camp in December and a virtual camp in July the following year, and the STEM coaching program.
• Are highly capable, hard-working and apply themselves.
• Are curious – they have a love of learning.
• Are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident.

In order to qualify as a Curious Minds STEM Coach, you will need:

• Successful, proven interest in STEM activities.
• The desire and capability to work with young people, in particular high school students.
• An understanding of and agreement to coach responsibilities.
• A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC), or Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration, or state equivalent.
• The ability to commit to time requirements.

Curious Minds is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education under the Women’s Economic Security Package 2018.

Australian Science Innovations (ASI) and Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) jointly deliver the Curious Minds program, which is supported by the Australian National University.

You can express your interest in being a STEM Coach for the 2026-27 Curious Minds Program here, and we will contact you when applications open next year – recruitment will start in approximately September 2026.

Please contact us on [email protected] if you have any questions!

Please note: This is a volunteer role, and all STEM Coaches should hold a valid Working with Children Check, or Working with Vulnerable People registration (or state equivalent), or be willing to obtain one.