“The pace of change, supercharged by new and emerging technologies, has never been so great, nor so disruptive.” Australian Innovation Agenda (2015)

Since 2000, Australia’s PISA results and international ranking in Science and Mathematics have continued to decline. In the face of economic challenges and a digital revolution that’s reshaping business and the workforce, Ss Peter and Paul at Kiama are giving students the best opportunities to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), enabling them to create a better future, through participating in an innovative, productive and sustainable economy.

Last week the school launched their new state of the art Innovation Studio, a learning space providing students with the opportunity to become agents of change through innovative practices.  

The culture of innovation established at Ss Peter and Paul supports the Catholic Education Office STEM strategy, and the Australian Innovation Agenda, in engaging students with experiences in design, engineering, and technology. The launch of the Innovation Studio showcased some of the amazing ways that students of all ages are engaging with technology, including 3D printing, a wide range of robotics, virtual reality, electronics and a range of cutting edge and traditional workshop tools. Ss Peter and Paul is very grateful to have the wider Kiama community supporting this project, with sponsorship from Kells Lawyers and support from Kiama Toyworld.

Earlier this year, acclaimed Australian scientist Beth Jens, a Jet Propulsion Engineer for NASA, empowered students with the key message of the importance of innovation in discovering and improving the universe in which they live.

With the introduction of the Innovation Studio, students can now discover, invent and innovate in so many ways through a learning culture and framework which promotes and challenges them to:

1. modify, enhance and improve on a design
2. merge two ideas together to form a new design
3. create new, creative and original ideas