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 rewarding experience.

Curious Minds is an eight-month program that combines two camps – a summer residential camp and winter virtual camp – and a mentoring program that takes place between summer and winter camp.

The camps will enable the girls to explore all aspects of science, technology, engineering and math through guest lectures, interactive sessions, practical’s and field trips.

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 six 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 project 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
• Meet your student and get started during the summer camp
• Stay in touch with your student every three weeks, with communications in between.
• Attend a wrap-up session during the winter camp in July.

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, 9 or 10 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 5-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 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 completed Working with Children Check (or state equivalent)
• the ability to commit to time requirements

The program was developed in response to the Australian Government’s 2014 Restoring the focus on STEM initiative, which aims to support improved science, mathematics and digital technology education in schools and promote improved results in international tests and increased take-up of STEM subjects at the post-secondary level.

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

Please click here to express your interest for the next program. 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 Vulnerable People card, or be willing to obtain one.