Four Mount Gambier High School Aboriginal students recently took part in the 2022 STEM Aboriginal Learners Congress – Cultural Innovators in Adelaide.

Accompanied by Mount Gambier High School Aboriginal Education Teacher Miriam Alford and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teacher Kerrin Blott, the excursion allowed the students to explore their passion and learning in STEM.

The Department of Education generously supported the school with a $1500 grant and relief cover for teachers.

Ms Alford said the first session of the congress was an eye-opener with highly visible culture and language.

“Over 800 students from years 5 to 10 listened to presentations from STEM thinkers and keynote speakers who shared traditional knowledge, insights, experiences and skills,” she said.

“We were extremely fortunate to have a series of five entrepreneurial young Aboriginal people as keynote speakers who have gone into all sorts of industries.

“The audience reflected on different journeys focusing on ‘learning from the past to drive the future.’

“A stand out crowd favourite was the powerful dance from Kuma Kaaru accompanied by the Yidaki (the Aboriginal word for didgeridoo).

“The talented Jack Buckskin then gave an inspirational talk about staying true to yourself and connecting with your mob.”

Mount Gambier High School students chose Mr Buckskin’s workshop and learnt about revitalising the Kaurna language as well as getting got some red-hot tips on how to fly a boomerang and use other hunting weapons.

The children were fascinated to learn one of his boomerangs is on the International Space Station, making the longest journey ever- with the help of NASA.

Ms Alford said it was a wonderful opportunity for the Aboriginal students to learn what indigenous people have been doing in the fields of STEM within their culture over the last 50,000 years.

“Indigenous people have had to be very inventive, not only from the point of view of making things but also having a very strong understanding of how the natural world works including the solar system,” she said.

“You do not hear about very many indigenous entrepreneurs and indigenous STEM scientists in the media and yet they are out there.

“One of the interesting things about it was most of these young Aboriginal people are self-made.

“They really did not have the easiest of backgrounds, but they were interested in a whole range of subjects, so they had to really stick to it, get higher degrees and be creative in how they applied their skills.”