A record 779 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from 187 schools attended this year’s STEM Aboriginal Learners Congress in South Australia, highlighting the growing reach of the event and its focus on science, culture and education.
South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher addressed the congress, which was organised by Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia (YASTSA).
Maher said the congress had become one of the events he most looked forward to each year, noting that he had spoken at it several times over the past decade.
He told students that Aboriginal people have a long history of scientific knowledge and environmental observation, pointing to generations of expertise in caring for Country, understanding ecosystems and navigating by the night sky.
Maher said some of the students attending the congress could become future scientists working on challenges such as climate change, water security, infectious diseases and space exploration.
Attendance has grown sharply since the first Aboriginal STEM Learners Congress was held nine years ago. Organisers said this year’s total represents a 649 per cent increase compared with the inaugural event.
YASTSA was recognised for its role in bringing together students from across South Australia and creating opportunities for young Aboriginal people to engage with STEM education while maintaining strong cultural connections.
The congress forms part of broader efforts to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, where Indigenous Australians have historically been underrepresented in higher education and STEM careers.
Education and Indigenous leaders have increasingly argued that combining cultural knowledge with contemporary scientific education can strengthen pathways into research, environmental management, health and technology.
This year’s turnout suggests that interest in STEM among Aboriginal students continues to grow, with schools and community organisations expanding participation across metropolitan, regional and remote South Australia.
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