Student Programme
The Student Programme is the primary focus of the GFG Foundation in Australia.
The programme helps and supports young people in the communities in which our businesses (Liberty Steel, InfraBuild, SIMEC to name a few) have a substantial presence. We look to give students an opportunity to learn outside the school constraints of timetable and curriculum by helping them understand the world of technology, engineering, maths and science and how it relates to life, business and industry in their own community.
In doing this, we also help our students with self-esteem, so they can become more confident as they near adulthood, are able to better interact with adults, communicate their ideas in a public forum and have a better sense of how they can contribute to the world and their community after they leave school.
Year 9 and 10 Programme
The programme runs for 20 weeks, over 2 school terms. Students meet once a week at an independent venue (such as a community space or local university campus) for 90 minute sessions.
The programme works with up to 4 carefully selected partner schools in the local area.
Each programme consists of around 30 students.
They are supported by 6 mentors. They work in small groups of 5, with the same allocated mentor every week.
They work on 6 STEM based inquiry project, based on local community needs.
They also have guest speakers from time to time, with specialist STEM experience.
The students go on 2 excursions to experience local industry first-hand.
The two terms culminates in a ‘Showcase and celebration’ event, where the students present what they have learned throughout the course to their fellow students and family members and carers.
Year 7 and 8 Programme
The programme runs for 10 weeks, over one school term. Students meet once a week at an independent venue (such as a community space or local university campus) for 90 minute sessions.
Each programme consists of around 30 students.
They are supported by 6 mentors. They work in small groups of 5, with the same allocated mentor every week.
The content is experiential STEM based and designed to feed into the Year 9 and 10 Programme for students to do the following year.
The students go on 1 excursion to experience local industry first-hand.