Students Present at STEM Aboriginal Congress

In Week 3, four Year 8 PLHS students – Ella Cox, Taylah David-Mabura, Tyson Retallick and Kobi Saunders – travelled to Adelaide to attend and help facilitate the 2023 STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress. This annual event aims to connect First Nations learners with potential pathways in the fields of Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Our students worked very hard in the lead up to the event to prepare their interactive workshop titled ‘Follow the Stars’, in which they shared knowledge of the Emu in the Sky formation. In Aboriginal Astronomy, knowledge of the whole sky is considered, including the stars, the constellations and the dark patches in between, and connected to cycles and seasons on the land. Knowledge of the Emu in the Sky helps to track the breeding cycle of the emu for both food gathering and sustainability purposes.

During their workshop, they were visited by a special guest, the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Mr. Blair Boyer MP! The students’ efforts during the three-day event, as well as their extensive preparation, should bring them pride and a strong sense of accomplishment.

~Ms. Anissa Hofen (Accompanying Teacher)