Queensland Students Build Future Skills with Google and Schools Plus

I was thrilled to witness the excitement and enthusiasm at Beenleigh State High School in Queensland as a new STEM journey kicked off in late August. Students got to see the breadth of career opportunities in STEM – from crime scene investigation to drone aviation technologists, right there in the heart of Logan. The event marked the beginning of a multi-year, $3 million project funded by Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, in partnership with Australian Schools Plus. Our shared goal is to empower students from all backgrounds with the skills they need to succeed in the future.

Empowering the Next Generation

At Google we are committed to fostering innovation and creating a more inclusive digital future for all Australians. It's crucial that we provide all students with access to digital skills and opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic background. The event at Beenleigh showcased role models and real-world examples from the local science and technology industry, hopefully inspiring these bright young minds to consider a career in STEM.

I'm incredibly proud of our collaboration with Schools Plus. And Schools Plus’ CEO, Sherrill Nixon, emphasised the importance of democratising STEM opportunities.

"This event aims to spark curiosity in technology and innovation, inspiring students to pursue their ambitions in these fields," she said.

Matthew Morgan, Principal of Beenleigh State High School, expressed his enthusiasm for the project's potential to revolutionise students' learning experiences and prepare them for success in the 21st century.

Member for Forde, Mr Bert Van Manen added to the comments saying, “No child should miss out on an education. I fundamentally believe that no matter their disadvantage, receiving an education should be the right of every Australian kid. Australian School Plus’s vision for continued growth; increasing access to equal education opportunities for thousands more children and strengthening the organisation’s impact in under-served communities is a vision I can get behind. Beenleigh State High School deserve immense credit for partnering with School Plus and I look forward to seeing the collaboration pay dividends for children in the Forde electorate.”

We are committed to continuing our efforts to enhance educational opportunities for students nationwide. The partnership between Google.org and Schools Plus is a testament to the power of collaboration in empowering the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

About Google.org

Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, supports nonprofits that address humanitarian issues and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to the world's biggest challenges. We accelerate their progress by connecting them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers. We engage with these believers and invest in their vision to build a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable world.

About Australian Schools Plus

Schools Plus is a national education not-for-profit that supports children to have the opportunity to thrive through school and beyond. Through targeted programs and initiatives, Schools Plus aims to improve the wellbeing and learning outcomes of students and empower teachers and school leadership teams to create sustainable change for their students. Schools Plus was founded following a recommendation in the first Gonski Review, which identified a need for philanthropic funding in schools to help close the education gap caused by disadvantage.