A new AI education program for around 900 high school students in regional NSW, Victoria and Queensland will kick off in 2027 thanks to support from Toyota Community Trust.
The Toyota AI Literacy Lab is the country’s first large-scale AI literacy program designed specifically for low-SES (socioeconomic status) regional high schoolers and is run by the Australian School of Entrepreneurship (ASE).
The free program will deliver in-school workshops to around 900 regional students across the three states next year.
ASE CEO Jahin Tanvir said access to AI and STEM education increasingly becomes an important part of preparing young people for further study and the workforce, and the Toyota AI Literacy Lab will give regional students practical exposure to AI and build their confidence to use it.
“We believe AI literacy is a life skill now, just like reading and writing,” he said.
“Every young Australian deserves access to it regardless of their postcode. The Toyota AI Literacy Lab is how we make that happen for regional students across Australia”
Alongside boosting their confidence and understanding of AI, the program hope to increase retention in and completion of STEM subjects by the students, and then further STEM study or work after school.
ASE has already worked with more than 301,000 students across 1,200 schools and institutions nationally, with 51% of alumni coming from regional, remote and rural communities.
Toyota Community Trust director Sean Hanley said STEM is the trust’s focus.
“We believe boosting students’ ability to access these subjects will benefit them and society. We are proud to support ASE delivering programs to students in the regions,” he said
More details at ase.edu.au/entrepreneurship
