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Thirty-four Year 10 Indigenous students from around the State spent their school holidays learning a raft of new skills from wheelchair basketball to building a strong bridge and making moulds of teeth.
The students were taking part in the 18th annual Indigenous Science Camp hosted by the School of Indigenous Studies at The University of Western Australia.

One of the highlights of this year’s camp included a session with Brad Ness, Australian Paralympic wheelchair basketballer and flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The students were able to experience what it was like to play wheelchair basketball and discuss how various aspects of science were involved in such a sport.

Other activities included exploring what lives in our soil, finding out about the Noongar six seasons, experimenting with liquid nitrogen and challenging their sporting abilities.

Many students who have enjoyed the secondary science camps run by UWA’s School of Indigenous Studies over the years have gone on to graduate from UWA and embark on careers in science, health and engineering.

Students travelled from towns including Albany, Broome, Carnarvon, Derby, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Manjimup, Mount Barker, Newman, Pinjarra and Tom Price as well as from the Perth metropolitan area.

While at UWA, they were able to explore the campus and take part in activities run by the School of Physics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Clinical Training and Evaluation Centre, Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health and student clubs such as Engineers Without Borders and the Science Union.

They also visited University Hall and St Thomas More as well as taking part in cultural science workshops with 2017 Perth NAIDOC Business of the Year, Bindi Bindi Dreaming, and leading Indigenous performer and educator Dr Richard Walley.

Indigenous medical, dental, science and engineering students currently studying at UWA were mentors to the Year 10 students. The camp is sponsored by Aspire UWA, an outreach program that encourages students from low socio-economic, Indigenous and regional backgrounds to access the lifelong benefits of higher education.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)                                   (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716