Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Alex transforms his education
16 January 2025
Stepping into a work environment of machines and robots for the first time, Alex’s eyes grew wide with the possibilities. As a Year 9 student, this was a universe he was yet to explore – and from then, Alex was determined to make it his.
Early in his education, Alex had struggled at school. The barriers created by poverty prevented him from seeing the possibilities of future careers. He hadn’t heard about the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. Without knowing about STEM, Alex may never have reached his potential.
Then in Year 9 Alex participated in our out-of-school work experience program Work Inspiration. Through Work Inspiration students spend 2 to 3 days at a workplace, connecting with the staff and getting hands-on experiences. This gives young people a positive, meaningful and inspiring first go at work.
Knowing more about what careers are possible, students can make plans for their future. They’re more likely to stay engaged with school and work hard to reach the goals they’ve set for themselves.
I went from getting lower grades at school to an engineering student working on uni projects, It shows that kids have a lot of potential. It is important they can unlock it and break generational cycles.
Alex had his first taste of STEM careers through our Work Inspiration program, visiting a Sanofi pharmaceutical facility. “It was the first time I went to a place like that and was a driving force of my STEM inspiration and studies,” Alex says. “During my education I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was a bit lost and felt self-conscious as a child. I didn’t know what specific professionals did, no one in my family had a STEM background.”
Because you support programs like Work Inspiration, students like Alex can set goals for what they want to do. Alex wanted to learn more and was determined to transform his education to achieve his post-school dreams.
Alex is now soaring through his second year of Mechanical Engineering and leading a university rocketry project. He has confidence that he’ll land in a career in space, aerospace or defence.
Thank you for being a champion for students like Alex. You help increase access to opportunities he may not otherwise have had.
As he takes off in his career, Alex says having the same access to education and career information as his peers has been important, “Thanks for levelling the playing field. It is a huge thing for young people. It has enabled me to be on the path I am, which I'm really grateful for.”
