Last week, ASETO Shantelle Pickett and I accompanied a crew of four Year 8 students – Alex Ware, Kyla Kropinyeri, Lataya Carbine and Leo Warrior – to Adelaide, for the Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia (YASTSA) Camp; this trip was offered as valuable preparation for this year’s major event, the 2026 YASTA Congress.
The August Congress will inspire Aboriginal students to explore future pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by connecting modern STEM concepts with over 65,000 years of First Nations knowledge, innovation and culture.
Throughout the Camp, our students participated in a range of exciting activities including team-building challenges, STEM workshops at Adelaide University, and public speaking sessions designed to build their confidence and leadership skills. The experience provided valuable opportunities to collaborate with like-minded students, explore future pathways in STEM, and develop the skills needed to represent our school at the upcoming Congress, where they will facilitate a workshop for other students to participate in.
We are incredibly proud of the way these students have embraced every opportunity, stepped outside of their comfort zones and displayed our school values. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow as young leaders and innovators.
~ Mrs. Stacey Hartwich (Science Teacher)
