Maker Projects - Community STEM Engagement Grants 2024

The Maker Projects - Community STEM Engagement grants 2024 provides grants for fostering inquiry-based learning and the development of STEM skills in students and youth under 18 years of age in design, engineering and programming, through hands-on learning.

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

• deliver maker projects where students and youth under 18 years of age, at the time of application, can develop and apply their STEM knowledge through experimentation, tinkering and hands-on learning by engaging with a range of technologies
• encourage practical skills, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking through the delivery of hands on STEM-related events and activities
• inspire students to pursue STEM disciplines in their study and work
• ensure that maker projects are accessible to as many young people as possible, including those in regional, rural and disadvantaged areas
• make a positive and ongoing impact on youth under 18 years of age, particularly diverse cohorts and communities historically underrepresented in STEM including:
  • First Nations peoples
  • culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people
  • women and girls
  • people living in regional and remote areas
  • people with disability
  • people from low socio-economic backgrounds
  • neurodivergent people
  • LGBTQIA+ people
  • people who face age-based discrimination.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:

• students and youth under 18 years of age will gain practical knowledge and skills in scientific experimentation, design, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship
• an increase in the accessibility of STEM-related events and activities and increased participation of youth under 18 years of age, particularly diverse cohorts and communities historically underrepresented in STEM as defined in the glossary
• positive and ongoing development of STEM skills for participating youth through inquiry-based learning.