Last Friday 31 July Google Australia announced $1 million in cash grants aimed at introducing and inspiring 10,000 underrepresented students to careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

The funding will be split among three organisations – Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), Engineers Without Borders Australia, and FIRST® Robotics Australia, established at Macquarie University in 2010.

With its grant money, FIRST® Robotics Australia will introduce its FIRST® LEGO League and FIRST® Robotics program into 150 new schools, reaching more than 1500 students in low-SES areas and regional schools. This includes robotics sets, teacher mentoring and support to student groups, all aimed at building teamwork and inspiring young Australians in the fields of engineering and computer science.

“We will be going all the way from kindergarten to Year 12, taking students on that pathway, on that journey, getting them very excited about science and technology and then allowing them to continue so that they will end up having that passion and inspiration,” said Luan Heimlich, Director FIRST® Australia.

On its blog, Google Australia said: “Australia’s jobs of the future will require new skills, and it’s critical that students from all walks of life are introduced to this field and have the opportunity to shape it and benefit from it. We hope that these three organisations will create more moments that will inspire our kids.”