Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from the Tjindu Foundation will be the latest students to reap the benefits of the Kuwarna Foundation’s STEMfooty GPS workshop.
The newly revamped program was launched earlier this year, with students from six schools gaining direct experience with Sports Science and GPS athlete tracking.
The new program has resulted in 95.5% of students reporting a high or excellent knowledge and understanding of STEM and GPS technology, particularly in tracking performance in AFL.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers. Despite making up approximately 3.3% of the Australian population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders hold less than 1% of STEM-related jobs.
The Kuwarna Foundation will demonstrate the role of GPS technology in football, provide a unique insight into STEM careers within the Kuwarna Football Club and engage Kuwarna High-Performance staff to share their STEM career experience.
Students will be given a tour of the Kuwarna training facility from current AFLW players and their interactions with high-performance staff will offer insights into potential career paths within STEM fields, particularly in sports science.
Kuwarna AFLW forward Danielle Ponter, who also works in the Club’s community team, said the program would provide students with STEM knowledge that would benefit them both on and off the field.
“As a First Nations AFLW player, it’s incredibly rewarding to share my passion for the game and inspire young people to explore the science and technology that drive athletic performance,” Ponter said.
“Seeing the excitement on the students’ faces when they grasp new concepts and apply them to their favourite sport is truly inspiring and shows that learning can be fun and impactful.”
By combining sports with science and technology, the program will aim to increase student engagement and motivation towards STEM education, improving educational engagement and performance among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The integration of culturally familiar contexts, such as sports, with academic learning creates a more inclusive and effective educational experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Kuwarna is committed to being an active participant in Australia’s reconciliation journey by building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.
