Academy student selected for Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy

The Central West Leadership Academy’s Year 8 student Indigo Chatfield has been selected to CSIRO’s Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy program.

The Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy gives young Indigenous women the tools and support they need to succeed in an exciting STEM career.

The individualised support will be provided in the form of extension camps, tutoring, specialist STEM activities, mentors and peer networks. The STEM Academy will leverage existing STEM and Commonwealth support to ensure that all students that start their degree will be supported to complete their degree. After completing university, Academy students will move into STEM related careers with the assistance of CareerTrackers.

A quote from Indigo, “I was thrilled to find out that I was accepted to be a part of such an amazing opportunity like this. Being a part of the school has challenged my abilities and I feel supported in all my decisions and I have made a lot of amazing friends and met a lot of amazing teachers.”

Ms Mandi Randell, Principal of the Central West Leadership Academy, said, “We are dedicated to closing the achievement gap and supporting our high achieving Aboriginal students to have the best possible opportunities. Indigo wants to be an engineer and this program will support her to achieve this dream. I am so glad we were able to facilitate this application for her.”

The STEM Academy will increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females undertaking studies and careers in STEM. The Academy does this through targeted, long-term support to help overcome the barriers that discourage Indigenous women from pursuing STEM careers.