STEM SKILLS

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. Can the minister inform the house about what the state government is doing to make the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics more appealing as a career path for young Australians?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:47): I thank the member for Ramsay for her question. I have spent quite a bit of time with her going over ways in which we can improve the levels of education in her electorate and I thank her for her involvement in those matters.

Our state's future prosperity will rely on nurturing a culture of innovation, and this means investing in skills which lead to jobs in the science, technology, engineering and maths fields. That is why the Weatherill Labor government has in place a strategy to do just that. Our science, technology, engineering and maths strategy (STEM strategy) aims to increase the number of people taking up STEM occupations to meet the needs of our local industries, including resources and defence.

Members would already be aware that under the state government's Skills for All initiative, STEM vocational education courses identified as priorities for the state are now fee free. We know that training people in these fields for future jobs is an investment in the future of South Australia, but equally important is encouraging interest in these fields at an early age. That is why the work of our teachers is so important.

I am delighted to be able to tell the house that one of our South Australian teachers has won the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools. Mrs Anita Trenwith, a teacher at Salisbury High School, was presented with the prize in Canberra last night. It includes a silver medallion, a lapel pin and a cash prize of $50,000.

The Hon. C.C. Fox: Fifty thousand?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Quite a good prize. Mrs Trenwith has been teaching science for 15 years and changed teaching practices at her school to give students hands-on experience and valuable life skills. She has taken understanding science to a whole new level by rewriting the special education curriculum for science and agriculture at her school to incorporate real-life skills and experiences.

Educators like Mrs Trenwith are vitally important, as they are the people who make science interesting, innovative and exciting for the next generation. Teachers who go that extra mile and are genuinely passionate about their subject area make science come alive. They make a huge difference in inspiring our future scientists and researchers. I would like to place on record my congratulations to Mrs Trenwith as well as my appreciation for her hard work and dedication in encouraging interest among young people in the sciences as a career path. In doing so, she is helping to create the skilled workforce for a future that will deliver benefits for our state and for future generations.