The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF), a not-for-profit charity that connects young Australians with their science and technology future, celebrated 40 years of impact with a Gala Dinner at the Great Hall, Australian Parliament House, on 19 August 2024. An announcement of additional funding marks a significant boost for the NYSF and STEM sector in our shared efforts to support a sustainable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.
Alumni from the inaugural 1984 NYSF Year 12 Program and beyond gathered in Canberra for the dinner. Many of these alumni, now in senior STEM roles, credit the NYSF as a life-changing experience that shaped their careers. NYSF Science Patron, and Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro AC FAA FTSE, an alum of the 1990 NYSF Year 12 Program, spoke at the Gala Dinner on the transformative experience that meeting and networking with a diverse array of like-minded people at the NYSF had on her life and career.
The Honourable Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science paid tribute to the vast impact of the NYSF.
“More than five hundred students took part in this year’s Year 12 Program, they are part of 15,000 students who have been helped in the past 40 years. That’s a significant STEM legacy.
“Drill down into that list and you will see names like Tanya Monro, Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist and Tim Senden, Director of the ANU’s Research School of Physics and ANSTO Board member.
“Our excellent host Nate Byrne is also an alumnus. And joining us here tonight is Dr Catherine Sinclair who took part in the inaugural NYSF program back in 1984.
“All of these alumni praise the program for having empowered or influenced them to set off down their chosen career paths.”
The festivities took off with Minister Husic announcing further details of additional funding outlined in 2024-25 Federal Budget to support a range of STEM programs to reach more diverse people and engage them in STEM study, training and jobs.
“I am very pleased to announce the Government is boosting funding for the NYSF by an extra $1.8 million over four years. This means more young people from a wide range of backgrounds will be able to [access] STEM education and careers.
"This brings the total government support for this program to more than $5 million. The new funding is part of the Government’s $38 million boost to STEM programs,” said Minister Husic.
The room was thrilled to hear that the NYSF has received increased support to encourage more young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM education and careers. The NYSF helps young people who may not otherwise have the chance to explore science and technology. In 2024, 45% of NYSF Year 12 Program participants came from remote and regional areas of Australia, and 68% were young women or gender diverse.
With additional Federal Government support, the NYSF will increase participation from underrepresented communities in its programs. The NYSF, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, sees this investment as crucial to diversifying the future STEM workforce.
“A budget that acts on the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review offers a chance to grow representation from communities that are too often left out of the STEM workforce. This sector-wide investment goes a long way to providing the systemic change needed to meet global challenges.” said Dr Melanie Bagg GAICD, NYSF CEO.
“Programs such as the National Youth Science Forum show what science and technology jobs and people really look like and actively engage those who may not see themself as part of Australia’s STEM future in a very inclusive and supportive way. Showing Australia's young people that they can be STEM people, even if they don't fit the traditional mould or face challenges along the way, is at the heart of what we do. By bringing together young people from all parts of Australia and abilities, at scale in an immersive environment with others their own age, the NYSF fosters a STEM landscape that reflects the true diversity of Australia,” said Dr Bagg.
The NYSF also welcomed the announcement of funding for others in the science and technology sector, many of whom collaborate with and support NYSF.
The Gala culminated with a frenzy of bidding on donated artwork from the NYSF and STEM community, with proceeds going to the NYSF Access and Equity Scholarship Fund. Pieces included 'The H.Pylori Story' by Professor Barry Marshall AC FRACP FRS FAA, a comic recount of his Nobel Prize winning research journey, and 'Ballads of Dirt and Dynamite' by Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA.
NYSF was pleased to be named in the recently released National Science Statement. We welcome the Statement and the National Science and Research Priorities.
“They clearly signal science’s critical role in delivering future economic, social and environmental prosperity and they set out the key objectives and priorities (including a diverse skilled workforce) to get us there. The Statement and Priorities will provide important guidance for the work of science-oriented organisations such as the NYSF,” said Patricia Kelly, NYSF Board Chair.
NYSF was also pleased to see that one of the five national science priorities is elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems. Of approximately 90 delegates at this week’s NYSF National Youth STEM Summit, 18 of the registered delegates were Indigenous Australians. We would like to see that level of participation continue and grow and the message that these priorities send will encourage that,” said Kelly.
‘If we want to build our STEM workforce, we need more indigenous participants, more from regional and rural Australia, more women and more neurodiverse people. We have to broaden the diversity of participants in STEM education, leading to STEM careers, if we are to successfully grow our STEM workforce.”
The NYSF CEO, Chair, Alumni and STEM Summit delegates are available for interview.
Read Minister Husic’s full speech here.
About the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
The NYSF is a not-for-profit organisation whose vision is to inspire more young Australians to engage in science and technology futures. Operating since 1984, 15,000 young Australians have graduated from our flagship NYSF Year 12 Program, one of the best-known science and technology experiences in Australia. NYSF delivers a range of immersive youth-led programs for youth of different ages to inform, support and create opportunities to connect young Australians with diverse science and technology pathways.
The NYSF has proved effectiveness and is deeply committed to increasing diversity in our science and technology workforce by supporting inclusive pathways for women, First Nations people, and others typically underrepresented in STEM. Our programs consistently have over 60% participation of young women and over 40% of participants from remote and regional areas.
The new Government funding will support the NYSF’s suite of programs, the NYSF Year 12 Program, NYSF Year 12 Program Access and Equity Scholarships, NYSF Year 12 State Hubs and the NYSF National Youth STEM Summit.
Media Contact: Dr Catherine Wheller, NYSF: 0491 044 104 | catherine@nysf.edu.au, Leonie Keogh, NYSF: 0411 269 103
