With a long career teaching STEM in regional Queensland high schools, Sarah Chapman understands first-hand the significant gender disparity in STEM fields. In Australia, women remain underrepresented in STEM education and careers, making up only 27% of STEM-qualified professionals. Sarah knew that addressing this gender imbalance would be essential, as industries are increasingly facing shortages in skilled, diverse workers, impacting Australia’s future growth. She also recognised that there were few opportunities specifically for her students.

Sarah believed that engaging young people in STEM, especially those from underserved groups – girls, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and regional students – would foster aspirations for a lifelong STEM journey. To achieve this, Sarah applied for and received a $50,000 Backing the Future grant to establish STEM Changemakers. After decades of meaningful conversations with a diverse range of young people, Sarah was able to design a concept that was informed by the needs of regional girls. The initiative connects young regional girls to transformative STEM experiences and mentorship, equipping them to envision themselves in impactful STEM roles in the future.

Supported by the grant which was funded by Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), Sarah took extended leave from teaching to dedicate herself to STEM Changemakers, securing an additional $18,500 from other sources to amplify its reach. From August 2023 to June 2024, STEM Changemakers unfolded in regional Queensland, beginning with a STEM Faire in Townsville. Attended by 4,100 people, the event included a youth forum for idea generation, leading to three Girls in STEM Youth Forums and collaborations with local STEM experts. Between September and December, 22 girls participated in weekly STEM activities, including a project that secured $10,000 in funding to repurpose PVC pipes for aquaculture, a circular fashion collaboration, and fully funded scholarships for national STEM programs.

By mid-2024, Sarah launched the STEM Changemakers Pilot Program for 33 girls from rural areas, culminating in a youth-led celebration where participants shared their STEM journeys. One participant reflected, “STEM Changemakers has brought me from a girl interested in science to a girl interested in a career in science.”  Sarah credits the Backing the Future Grant with bringing her vision to life, saying, “The trust VFFF had to fund this idea and see what it could grow into is pretty unique.”

As a result of the program, the proportion of participants seeing STEM as a potential career grew from less than 40% to 91%, with 95% showing an increased awareness of STEM pathways.

From the work catalysed by VFFF funding, Sarah hopes to see STEM Changemakers grow to have national reach into regional, rural and remote Australia. She sees the format of STEM Changemakers influencing other organisations across Australia, to address and sustain the engagement of underrepresented girls in STEM.

“The main aim is changing the narrative for regional girls engaged in STEM.  It’s really important as a lot of STEM talent lies in the regional and rural areas of Australia.” 

Excited for the future, the project pilot has affirmed to Sarah the need for a program like this to continue: “I’m excited to continue to find new funding partners to continue to ensure that young regional females are able to see themselves as the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”

You can see STEM Changemakers in action below!

In 2022, young engineer Jameson Harvey founded Red Dirt Robotics with a vision to bring hands-on, innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experiences to young people in remote, rural and regional Australia. Recognising the disparity in STEM education between metropolitan and rural areas – with students in regional communities are an average of 1.5 years behind – Jameson set out to empower, inspire and engage the next generation of young engineers. His journey has since evolved into a story of resilience, new connections and a growing momentum for equitable education across the outback.

Jameson’s efforts were first recognised through the ABC Trailblazers program, through which he received an initial grant to build Red Dirt Robotics’ organisational capacity. Following this, he secured an FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grant and, most recently, a Backing the Future Grant, supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF). With these funds, Jameson has made significant strides in breaking down barriers to STEM education for remote youth.

“We all know that working in regional and remote communities, where access to robotics and 3D printers is hard to come by, is challenging,” Jameson shared. “To see students walk into the classroom a bit nervous and unsure about these fancy technologies, and then, by the end of the session, walk away confident in programming and design skills – even skills that were tricky for me to learn – is incredibly rewarding.”

In 2024, Jameson launched a three-month tour throughout rural and regional Queensland, supported by his Backing the Future Grant. Red Dirt Robotics visited 34 schools and organisations, delivering 64 interactive workshops, giving more than 900 young people the opportunity to build and program their own robots using 3D printing technology and the Micromelon Rover robotics platform. For many of these students, it was their first experience with STEM beyond a textbook.

The tour wasn’t just a learning experience for students; it also engaged nearly 100 teachers and school staff, equipping them with the tools and confidence to incorporate STEM into their own classrooms. With this hands-on experience, teachers are now better prepared to sustain STEM education within their schools. “It’s so important for me that schools and libraries don’t have to pay anything. Being able to remove that extra barrier to access STEM and technology is really exciting,” Jameson noted.

A particularly rewarding aspect of the tour was the partnership Jameson formed with Georgie Arnold of Aviatrix Australia, whom he met at the ABC Heywire Trailblazer Summit in Canberra. Together, they brought a unique combination of aviation futures, robotics, 3D printing, and drones to rural Queensland.

“After our presentations in Canberra, a lady handed me a sticky note saying, ‘I would love to see a partnership between Aviatrix and Red Dirt Robotics,’” Jameson recalled. “Georgie and I had already been brainstorming how to make it happen and it was fantastic to see it come together.”

Through these collaborations, Red Dirt Robotics’ workshops exposed students to a broad array of technologies and career pathways in fields that are often under-represented in rural areas. The impact is tangible; several schools have since committed to prioritising STEM education, ensuring that these introductory experiences are just the beginning of an ongoing journey. For Jameson, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of consistent support and resources in sparking interest and building skills.

Reflecting on the support he received, Jameson expressed deep gratitude for the programs and funding that have helped him reach communities across Australia.

“I owe a lot to the Trailblazer and Backing the Future programs in helping me get to where I am today,” he said. “The FRRR ABC Heywire Innovation Grant allowed me to visit two really remote schools, including One Arm Point and Groote Eylandt, where I ran workshops and provided gear to have that follow-on effect once I leave.”

Jameson’s story is a testament to how a passionate individual, with the right resources and support, can drive meaningful change – even if his trusty Land Cruiser has seen better days. Red Dirt Robotics isn’t just about teaching students to build robots – it’s about building confidence, bridging educational gaps, and inspiring young people across the outback to envision a future where they can thrive and shape their communities in innovative ways.

Hear more about this project on VFFF’s Stories of Giving and Receiving podcast here.

Applications for the next round of Backing the Future – QLD grants, which help individuals bring to life ideas they have to enhance the lives of people aged 12-30, close 17 March 2025.

In the Victorian dairy region of Gippsland, a small primary school identified challenges with the gender imbalance at their school and came up with an idea they felt could address the matter and improve the learning outcomes of their students.

Welshpool and District Primary School applied for a Gardiner Foundation Community Grant in 2022. At that time, they had 32 enrolled students, seven of which were girls (22%) and 25 (78%) boys. Recognising the need to support the girls in their school and promote connection and empowerment, the community secured a $5,000 grant. This grant allowed the school to further invest in their science program, via the ‘IncrediGirls’ program, with a focus on the girls within their school.

The ‘IncrediGirls’ program delivered science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities to the girls in the school. The participants were then encouraged to share the same experiences with other students in their class, with the support from their teachers. The program also featured guest speakers from the community, fostering connections beyond the school. Activities encompassed a variety of events such as RUOK day, shop visits, STEM-focussed sessions, Kinder transition books, LEGO build days (as shown in the image), and more.

This project aligned with FRRR’s Gardiner Foundation Community Grants program objective of ‘Providing Lifelong Education and Training’ via projects that provide locals with access to opportunities that enrich their learning and skills development. The implementation of the ‘IncrediGirls’ program at Welshpool and District Primary School created opportunities for students to develop an interest and passion for STEM skills. Additionally, it indirectly fostered teamwork, connection and leadership opportunities.

Gabrielle Boyd, the principal of Welshpool and District Primary School expressed gratitude from the school and the students for the grant.

“This has been such a fantastic grant opportunity for our school. The students were very excited to know they had been selected to receive the grant and the ‘IncrediGirls’ loved being involved in the spending of the funds as well.”

She continued saying, “The program has contributed to improvements in self-esteem, teamwork, friendships, connections and has broadened students’ perspectives globally, shifting the focus beyond themselves. This has, in turn, enhanced community life in this small, outer regional community.

“Our school is very proud that the ‘IncrediGirls’ program is not only thriving within our school but, thanks to the positive outcomes, is also expanding to other schools in the region.”

Did you know that some schools in remote Australian communities might have as few as 15 books in their library?

That discovery in 2017 prompted Corey Tutt to start sourcing and supplying resources himself, initially from his personal library. DeadlyScience Limited was established in 2020, and is now a registered charity. Through DeadlyScience, Corey is seeking to inspire a new generation of scientists.
It focuses on providing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and early learning reading resources to remote Australian schools to help increase engagement.

The initial priority is schools with a high proportion of Indigenous children. Where possible, and appropriate, DeadlyScience sources materials from Indigenous authors, artists, and translated versions in Indigenous languages. In the three and a bit years since inception, DeadlyScience has had more than 110 schools requesting resources.

They have delivered more than 16,000 books, 500 telescopes (and basic science kits), 80 educational resources and six greenhouses (plus seeds, and educational materials to support food production projects) to more than 100 Australian schools and/or communities.

This growth looks set to continue as the organisation gains more momentum and profile. Another key activity involves maintaining a website to support teachers in remote schools with access to high quality scientific research and relevant experts in their fields (also of Indigenous background, where possible). 

In 2020, DeadlyScience partnered with FRRR to set up a Not-for-Profit Fundraising Account, allowing them to attract tax deductible contributions from a broad range of donors to expand their activities and support the overall capacity and operations. 

You can check out the DeadlyScience website to learn more about their work.

To learn more about opening a Not-For-Profit fundraising account, get in touch with Jo Kemp.