Captains of industry, politicians and thought leaders all agree that skilling children early and in areas of the fastest growing occupations is important to productivity, workforce participation and global competitiveness.

Quoted at her recent address to the National Press Club. Catherine Livingstone, President of the Business Council of Australia said, “If 47% of the total US employment is at risk of being automated using artificial intelligence, we need to move urgently from a discussion about protecting the jobs of today, to creating the jobs of the future.

This includes ensuring that there is a workforce skilled in the attributes required by business.”

According to Ms Livingstone, Canberra and the states should immediately improve the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths – known as the STEM subjects – among children eager to learn at an early age.

Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb in his paper, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Australia’s Future says, “It is time to do what so many other countries have already done: take a long-term strategic view of STEM’s pivotal role in securing a stronger Australia.”

Leading workforce development program, ME is addressing the need for STEM and has seen outstanding results in subject participation in the five years since its inception.

The ME Program, managed by Hunter based economic development agency RDA Hunter, is STEM focused and partners education and industry to build students’ technical skills in preparation for careers of the future.

Some key outcomes of Phase One of RDA Hunter’s ME Program are:

•  Increasing the selection of key STEM subjects in Hunter high schools from below the NSW average to significantly above it
• 17% of ME Program students now select HSC Physics compared with the NSW average of 14%
•  In NSW 12% of HSC Physics students will drop the subject before Year 12, in ME schools this rate is just 6%
•  12% of ME Program students now select HSC Engineering Studies compared to the NSW average of 4%
•  In 2012, a ME partner school reported it had enough interest to run its first HSC Mathematics Extension 1 class
•  14% of ME Program students will select Metals and Engineering Certificate II for their HSC compared with the state average of 3%

Another significant outcome of the Program has been the development of iSTEM, a state-of-the-art new senior school subject that incorporates mechatronics, aerodynamics, engineering, 3D CAD/CAM and motion modules. It presents maths and sciences to years 9 and 10 students in a hands-on and interesting way.

iSTEM was created in the Hunter Region in direct response to industry’s urgent demand for young people qualified in STEM.

Currently taught in 15 smart Hunter high schools, Board of Studies endorsed iSTEM, has been so successful in its first year that it is being rolled out to senior school students in 32 NSW schools and offered Australia wide.

“We are delighted that our ME Program is contributing to a change in the landscape of education and industry in Australia. iSTEM is nationally significant. Its impact in skilling students for their future in a technologically advanced economy can’t be underestimated.” said Todd Williams CEO RDA Hunter.

BHP Chief Executive Andrew McKenzie: “STEM Professionals are Vital to our Future Prosperity”
http://www.manmonthly.com.au/news/stem-professionals-are-vital-to-our-future-prosper

PwC Chief Executive Luke Sayers: “Demand for STEM Skills will Generate the Next Wave of Growth”
http://www.pwc.com.au/media-centre/2015/stem-skills-apr15.htm

BCA President Catherine Livingstone: “Adapt to Digital Change or Suffer”
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/bcas-catherine-livingstone-says-adapt-to-digital-change-or-suffer-20150429-1mvq73

Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb
http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/