STEM is an umbrella term for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics subjects. Children taking these subjects at school focus on problem-solving, critical analysis, and technical skills—all essential skills in the modern world. If you’ve recently moved Down Under, you’ll discover that the Australian curriculum incorporates STEM programs for kids, offering them specialisation options from high school.
We’ve prepared this Remitly guide on popular STEM programs for kids to help you make an informed decision about which may be the right one.
Overview of STEM education in Australia
Australia is a modern, highly developed nation with a very fast-growing tech sector. In a move that reflects how important STEM subjects are in modern life, the country’s National STEM School Education Strategy was established to:
- Improve the performance of Australia’s students against international benchmarks.
- Overcome the cultural norm that some people are just “bad at mathematics and numbers.”
- Promote a positive attitude towards STEM by including it in the national curriculum from early years.
- Prepare learners for the modern job market, which requires numeracy and tech skills.
- Promote innovation across all industries.
- Reduce inequality in STEM subjects. Previously, girls and students from low-income backgrounds have been disadvantaged.
- Improve teachers’ knowledge and exposure to real-life STEM activities to improve how they teach STEM and related subjects.
- Partner with employers in STEM jobs to help Australian students get real-life, on-the-job experience after completing their studies.
The current STEM landscape in Australia
So far, results of the strategy have been positive—certainly more females and students from low-income backgrounds are choosing to study STEM subjects in Australia. However, the gender gap still exists. With employers struggling to fill positions in STEM fields due to a low supply of suitable graduates, any child in Australia who’s interested in the subjects and takes a related course certainly has a good chance of landing a great job.
Employers and teachers in Australia are encouraged to collaborate to expose students to the latest trends and help them enhance their skills, to later find well-paying jobs and flourish in the STEM sector.
STEM programs in Australia
In Australia’s curriculum, STEM subjects are taught right from the start of children’s education, getting more complex and specialised as they get older:
Foundation year and primary school
Mathematics, science and technologies
Secondary school
Biology, chemistry, physics, more complex mathematics, computer science and technology
University/college
In higher education, a number of specialised STEM degrees exist in, for example:
- Software/chemical/mechanical/electronic/civil engineering
- Architecture and urban planning
- Environmental studies
- Food science
- Computer science, information technology (IT), and related disciplines like cybersecurity and data science
- Astronomy
- Statistics
- Robotics
Fun STEM activities kids can do at home
You can engage your young ones in STEM activities at home to get them immersed in the subjects and find out if they might have a passion for these subjects.
For foundation year and primary school
• Make a cloud in a jar to demonstrate the water cycle and rain formation.
• Making an oil spill and cleaning it up is a great activity to show how engineers clean up oil spills in water to save animals like fish and birds.
• Use Lego to learn coding.
• Balance scales to understand weight. For example, why one kilogram of cotton wool weighs the same as one kilogram of stones.
For high-school students
- Filter dirty water to learn the technologies used to provide clean water for people in areas that lack it.
- Make a solar oven to learn how to use renewable energy from sources like the sun for cooking.
- Build a robot.
- Build a pulley machine.
Benefits of enrolling kids in STEM programs
Those projects are great fun and can reveal if a young one has a flair for STEM subjects from quite a young age. But it can be just the start. The skills that kids will gain if they’re enrolled in formal STEM education programs will stand them in very good stead for their later careers:
- Enhanced critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong foundation for careers in STEM, with plenty of job opportunities.
- Increased innovative thinking. They’ll think outside the box. You never know, they may invent the next big thing.
- Practical experience. In education, most STEM subjects are quite hands-on. So, your kids will be in the lab testing ideas, proving theories, and explaining why things work as they do.
- Ability to solve their problems independently. A physics class, for example, might involve showing how to use rollers to move very heavy objects—a useful skill in any house.
- Connecting theoretical knowledge with real issues.
- Teamwork and collaboration; STEM subjects often require collaborative work to solve problems. For example, a student trying to develop a shopping app might need insight from a psychologist to understand how consumers think, and a data analyst to show them when and where they spend their money. They can then design an app that really takes off.
Many of these skills are applicable to any sector, so even if a young graduate chooses not to actually look for STEM-related work, they’ll still have skills they can take into any other profession.
Factors to consider when choosing a STEM program in Australia
STEM subjects are mandatory for all students in Australia, from Foundation Year to Year 10. Depending on where you live, your children may decide to drop or continue with STEM subjects in Years 11 and 12.
At this stage, their choice depends on their interests and possible career pathways. They then proceed to university for specialised STEM courses.
There’s plenty to consider before they decide:
- Compulsory STEM subjects for high school students in your state/territory. Australia is a huge country and each state or territory might do things slightly differently. So in Year 11, for example, what might be optional in Victoria could be compulsory in Western Australia.
- Age-specific, tailored learning opportunities. For high-school students, for example, the best programs will expose students to science fairs, research projects, mentorship programs, and career clinics.
- The quality of instructors and mentors. They should be easy to work with, and well-updated on the latest industry trends and best practices.
- The entry requirements for your preferred program.
- At university, the program’s cost and whether you’re eligible for a scholarship will come into play.
- Location—especially in the more remote areas. The distances in Australia can be vast once you’re outside the major cities. Is transport available, or will you or they have to drive if it’s far from home?
- Industry connections after the program. Some universities negotiate internship opportunities for their students to guarantee you real-world experience.
- Job opportunities—plenty of STEM fields need people urgently. But it’s a sector that evolves really quickly, so bear in mind that some subjects may be obsolete, or at least in much less demand, by the time your young one graduates.
- The institution’s academic strength in your desired STEM field. Monash University, for example, is among the best for data analytics in Australia.
Key STEM programs in top Australian universities to consider
Australia has some very fine universities offering STEM programs. Some of the most popular universities are particularly well-regarded in specific fields:
| University | Key programs |
| The University of Queensland | Mathematics; architecture; chemical, civil, and electrical engineering. |
| Monash University | Computer science; mathematics; biomedical science; data analytics; robotics and mechatronics engineering. |
| The University of Sydney | Computer science; aerospace, mechanical, mechatronic, biomedical, chemical, and civil engineering. |
| Australian National University (ANU) | Computer science; mathematics; civil engineering; astrophysics; chemistry. |
| The University of New South Wales | Data science; biotechnology; environmental science; physics; material science and engineering |
| Griffith University | Environmental science; architecture; urban planning; engineering |
| University of Melbourne | Computer science; mathematics; physics; electrical engineering |
| The University of Adelaide | Engineering; actuarial science; computer science; mathematics |
Resources and support for parents and educators in STEM
The government has a National STEM education resources toolkit. This online platform provides resources and support for parents, educators, school administrators, and STEM employers alike, to help them design and implement above-standard STEM initiatives.
There are plenty of other resources, too, showing just how seriously Australia takes STEM education:
- Digital Technologies Hub, an online platform with resources for students, parents, families, and teachers to understand the digital technologies curriculum.
- CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools, a free volunteer program facilitating partnership between STEM teachers and industry professionals. It teaches them in-demand skills, best practices and hands-on experiences. They also organise career talks at school.
- myfuture, the nation’s career information service. Not solely devoted to STEM, but it provides important information and resources about career paths in Australia, STEM among them.
- The Australian Academy of Science provides teaching material and other resources to help improve the delivery of STEM classes.
- Australia’s Department of Education also has resources that guide schools in engaging parents in STEM activities and initiatives for all school ages. You’ll also be able to read about some success stories, with case studies to encourage you to support your children in STEM.
Scholarships for immigrants in STEM
Australia has a high cost of living, and STEM programs at private universities can be very expensive. If you don’t have the money to pay upfront, and prefer not to take out a bank loan to cover tuition fees, there are plenty of scholarships to consider, some of which are specifically targeted at immigrants:
- Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS)
- Australian Government Research and Training Program (RTP)
- University of Sydney International Scholarships
- Australia for ASEAN scholarships
- University of Adelaide Scholarship
- Melbourne Research Scholarships
- Australian Development Scholarships
However your young ones get into STEM, it’s a fascinating area of study which offers some great prospects for their future careers in Australia.
FAQ
Which school has the best STEM program?
Australian institutions deliver different STEM programs, and some do better than others in certain areas. You’ll need to know your specialisation first to find the school that ranks the highest for that course.
What is the best course for STEM students?
It depends what most excites your young one about the subject. It’s a wide-ranging discipline, so let your children pick which one interests them.
What is the STEM grant for schools in Australia in 2025?
The grant is a scholarship by the Australian government to support STEM students and their participation in domestic and international events and competitions.
What curriculum do Australian schools use?
Aussie kids are taught in eight learning areas—English, mathematics, science, health and physical education, humanities and social sciences, the arts, technologies, and languages.