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BAE Systems Australia has confirmed that it has partnered with the Stars Foundation to support Indigenous education initiatives to help First Nations young women complete Year 12 and find further work opportunities.
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Stars Foundation was established by Andrea Goddard in 2015 and provides programs that are designed to help young Indigenous women attend school, complete Year 12 and support their move into full-time work or further education.
BAE Systems Australia’s two-year partnership will help provide financial support as well as work experience, tours, and educational experience to encourage young Indigenous students to contemplate future employment in STEM.
The partnership between BAE Systems Australia and the Stars Foundation is the company’s latest commitment to Australia’s First Nations people, having been the first defence industry company to sign a Reconciliation Action Plan in 2016.
“We’re uniquely positioned to raise the awareness of STEM among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Ben Hudson, chief executive officer of BAE Systems, said.
“We seek to inspire the next generation; educating and empowering girls has a powerful multiplier effect, benefitting not only the girls, but also their families, communities and future generations.
“Our aim is to provide equitable access to high-quality educational mentoring programs and improve outcomes for students.”
It is hoped that the partnership will help the Stars Foundation continue supporting female Indigenous education, which has achieved significant progress since the Foundation’s establishment.
“Stars was established in 2015 to address the gender gap in funding for support programs for Indigenous girls, compared to boys,” Andrea Goddard, founder of the Stars Foundation, said.
“Since then, Stars students has achieved outstanding outcomes, with more than 90 per cent of senior students completing Year 12 each year and more than 85 per cent of graduates moving successfully into employment, training or tertiary study.”
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