• McGowan Government boosting digital and technology skills for Western Australians to take on the jobs of the future
• $738,000 has been allocated to eight science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education projects
• Projects help to deliver on outcomes outlined in the State's first-ever STEM skills strategy

Women, girls, Aboriginal people and people living in regional and remote locations will benefit from funding to boost the STEM skills of people under-represented in science, technology, engineering and maths professions.

The McGowan Government has invested $738,000 in eight community-based STEM education programs through its new Digital and Technology Skills Program.

The funded projects will develop participants' digital and technology skills crucial for future jobs, such as coding, data analysis and geospatial mapping, and provide deeper knowledge about concepts such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Grants have been awarded to:

• City of Belmont ($21,896) for 'Film It!!';
• City of Bunbury ($30,000) for the Bunbury Library Makerspace;
• Fire Tech Camp Australia Pty Ltd ($147,007) for the Wirrpanda STEM Indigenous Project;
• Peel Bright Minds ($49,197) for the Peel Bright Minds Project;
• Shire of Murray ($30,000) for the Murray STEM Futures Project;
• Spacecubed ($210,000) for the She Codes Project;
• Winyama Pty Ltd ($70,000) for the Indigenous Mapping Workshop; and
• Women in Technology WA ($179,900) for the Techtrails [tech+] Future Skills Program.

The Digital and Technology Skills Program is an initiative under the State STEM skills strategy Future jobs, future skills - Driving STEM skills in Western Australia, which aims to ensure that all Western Australians have an opportunity to develop the skills to embrace a technological future. For more information visit http://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/digtechskills

Comments attributed to Science Minister Dave Kelly:

"This Government believes that all Western Australians should have the opportunity to develop STEM skills regardless of age, gender, race or postcode.

"By supporting STEM education service providers outside the formal education system, we are opening up more avenues for Western Australians to build their skills and gain employment in a STEM future.

"I am delighted to be able to support such a broad array of interesting projects in locations across the State."

Minister's office - 6552 6100