About the AustSTEM Foundation

What we are

The AustSTEM Foundation is a not-for-profit charity established in Australia in 2017. Our registered ABN is 36 622 569 626. 

Purpose

Our purpose is to promote education in Australia with an emphasis on the Natural
Environment and to foster an increased awareness and competence in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

How we intend to achieve our purpose

The Company aims to achieve its purpose by:

  • Facilitating the delivery to Australian schools education platforms
    and training to assist teachers, students, parents and guardians with
    the Natural Environment and STEM school education curriculum.
  • Working to ensure all students finish school with a strong foundation
    knowledge in the Natural Environment, STEM, and related skills
  • Facilitating effective partnerships with tertiary education partners,
    business and industry

Our Directors

Julian Dinsdale

Julian Dinsdale has a solid background in operating technology companies  and raised significant funds for investments in the private and public equity markets in Australia, UK, Europe and USA.

He was also a founder of the Australian Institute of Advanced Learning that has provided advanced learning techniques into schools, institutions, police, insurance industry, armed forces and company boards.

Julian, like John, wants to raise average STEM literacy across Australia - not just improve it in areas of high relative social advantage. For both Julian and John, this means concentrating on the Primary sector.

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John Phillips

John Phillips is a systems engineer with extensive international telecommunications project and employee relations experience. He managed education projects for The Warren Centre, and co-founded SLAM Education in Newcastle.

John was promoting STEM well before it entered mainstream consciousness, and is now actively supporting only those projects and initiatives which are sustainable over the long term, and have the potential to raise the level of STEM literacy.

Tony Strasser

Tony Strasser. Tony's 42 year domestic and international consultancy career spans manufacturing, engineering and information technology. Now retired to being a busy grandparent, he maintains an active interest in promoting learning, growth and excellence in engineering, computing and education.

Tony is the programming wizard developing applications for the Kookaberry SBC.

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Our Collaborators

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Damien George

Damien George is an Australian, living in Melbourne, who created MicroPython , a lean and fast implementation of the Python scripting language that is optimized to run on a microcontroller. It is the language used on the BBC micro:bit. Damien has implemented, and is currently optimising, MicroPython on the Kookaberry.

Rob McTaggart

Rob McTaggart is an education consultant and K-6 teacher specialising in digital technologies. He has developed flasgship design challenges including the Digital Sparks Technology Design Challenge for NSW public schools and the NRMA Future of Transport Challenge. Rob designed and is maintaining this website, and provides face-to-face Kookaberry professional learning.

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Evan Bonser

Evan Bonser coordinates STEM learning activities at the Junior School at Tara Anglican School for Girls in Sydney, with previous experience teaching at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, and as a game design facilitator and ICT integrator with the MacICT team at Macquarie University. Evan trials apps and has prepared Kookaberry video tutorials.

The Warren Centre

The Warren Centre (TWC) brings industry, government and academia together to create thought leadership in engineering, technology, and innovation. TWC has assisted AustSTEM through the provision of advice and meeting facilities

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SLAM Education

SLAM Education is a Newcastle based education services provider assisting  AustSTEM with its website development and the creation and delivery of professional learning for teachers using the Kookaberry.