In 2023, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer (OCSE) launched a new program to replace the former Supporting Young Scientists Program (SYSP).
A key objective of the program is to support high school students wishing to further their STEM learning opportunities and enable them to participate in an activity, regardless of their circumstances, background or location.
The program aims to maximise STEM education opportunities for NSW high school students who are:
experiencing financial hardship
from a low socio-economic background
from regional or remote locations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
from any other backgrounds that might need support.
The intended outcomes of the program are to:
provide opportunities for a diverse sector of students to develop essential skills such as teamwork, collaboration, creativity, communication, and technical science and engineering knowledge
help students to explore their potential, expand their perspectives, and future ambitions
build participation from students under-represented in STEM education and related industries.
align with policies and initiatives, such as the Australian Government’s draft recommendations in the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, to advance a resilient and diverse STEM workforce in NSW that meets future innovation needs and broader global technological change.
This program is administered by Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
This program is funded by .
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply for the grant?
Grants will be available to NSW high school students undertaking STEM-related activities between November 2023 and December 2024.
Grant funding will be considered for students who identify with at least 1 of the following groups. For student teams, composition must reflect diversity, equity and inclusion which can include participants who identify with at least 1 of the following groups:
experiencing financial hardship
from remote or regional areas
from a low socio-economic background
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
from any other background that might need support.
Applicants must be either:
a relevant teacher or principal at a NSW high school applying on behalf of a secondary school student or group of secondary school students, or
a relevant teacher, principal or agent of a NSW high school or other NSW educational institution or association, in their capacity as organiser of a student team or group, which involves secondary school student entries from more than one NSW high school.
Who is not eligible to apply for the grant?
You are not eligible to apply for the program if you are:
coordinating the activity which you are applying for students to attend
insolvent
an individual
a partnership
an unincorporated association
a trust (however, an unincorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).
You are not eligible if you receive more than 50% of the total amount of estimated funding (total budget) for the activity from NSW Government agencies other than the department. Expenses from additional sources must be acknowledged in the application form.
The OCSE, at its sole discretion, may decide that an application is ineligible for funding. This may include any person or business activity that could cause reputational and/or other risks to the NSW Government.
Where an application is identified as not meeting the above eligibility criteria, the application may be set aside from further consideration at the absolute discretion of the department. The department may also seek clarification from any applicant in relation to its application, including seeking further information on the eligibility or assessment criteria.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The intended eligible activity must fall into at least 1 of the following STEM-related areas:
mathematical, information and computing sciences
physical, chemical and earth sciences
engineering, environmental sciences and energy innovation
biological and biotechnological sciences.
Most recent recipients
Rutherford Technology High School
$10,000
The OrbiSpace Initiative Women in STEM Competition
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What was approved
Approved for Rutherford Technology High School
$10,000
For 20 students to participate in The Orbispace Initiative (TOI), a twenty-week STEM Innovation program for Year 8 female high school students.
$10,000 was approved by
Director, Policy - Science and Research, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Date approved
May 2024
Location of the project
Sydney
Location of the recipient
Maitland
About the grant
Applications approved
11
Applications received
11
Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program
Program term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement execution
Embers Robotics Incorporated
$4,739
Embers Robotics attendance at FIRST Robotics Competition Regional
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What was approved
Approved for Embers Robotics Incorporated
$4,739
For the Embers Robotics team of 17 students to participate in a 3-day FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) event in Windsor, NSW.
$4,739 was approved by
Director, Policy - Science and Research, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Date approved
April 2024
Location of the project
Hawkesbury
Location of the recipient
Wollongong
About the grant
Applications approved
11
Applications received
11
Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program
Program term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement execution
Bomaderry High School
$10,000
The Orbispace Initiative - sponsorship
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What was approved
Approved for Bomaderry High School
$10,000
For ten students to participate in The Orbispace Initiative (TOI), a twenty-week STEM Innovation program for Year 8 female high school students. TOI students apply STEM skills critically, creatively and collaboratively to solve real world problems.
$10,000 was approved by
Director, Policy - Science and Research, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Date approved
April 2024
Location of the project
Sydney
Location of the recipient
Shoalhaven
About the grant
Applications approved
11
Applications received
11
Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program
Program term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement execution
Ulladulla High School
$5,000
Students to compete at Robotics World Championships
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What was approved
Approved for Ulladulla High School
$5,000
For one nominated team member to travel to Houston, Texas
USA to participate in the Robotics World Championships. The FIRST World Championships run in the USA and represent the ultimate test for FRC teams. Students interact with the best robotics teams in the world and engage with major Educational Institutions and STEM companies. Students experience other cultures in an atmosphere of encouragement and camaraderie.
$5,000 was approved by
Director, Policy - Science and Research, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Date approved
April 2024
Location of the project
Out of NSW
Location of the recipient
Shoalhaven
About the grant
Applications approved
11
Applications received
11
Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program
Program term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement execution
Willyama High School
$10,000
Biology Fieldwork Depth Study – mandatory component of the NSW Yr11 Biology syllabus
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What was approved
Approved for Willyama High School
$10,000
To fulfill the fieldwork requirement outlined in the NSW Year 11 Biology syllabus while providing students with a hands-on learning experience. This excursion aims to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of biological concepts spanning from molecular to systemic levels and the intricate interplay between organisms and their environments.
$10,000 was approved by
Director, Policy - Science and Research, the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer
Date approved
March 2024
Location of the project
Out of NSW
Location of the recipient
Broken Hill
About the grant
Applications approved
11
Applications received
11
Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program
Program term
Invoices must be submitted within 12 months of agreement execution
Grants will be available to NSW high school students undertaking STEM-related activities between November 2023 and December 2024.
Grant funding will be considered for students who identify with at least 1 of the following groups:
experiencing financial hardship
from remote or regional areas
from a low socio-economic background
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
from any other background that might need support.
For student teams, composition must reflect diversity, equity and inclusion which can include participants who identify with at least 1 of these groups.
The OCSE cannot consider your application if it does not satisfy all the eligibility criteria.
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The assessment panel will make recommendations for funding against the assessment criteria:
Demonstrate equity and/or access circumstances that may impact on the student’s ability to participate in the STEM activity proposed in the program application. A relevant teacher, advisor or school principal must complete the Letter of Support for each student in the application.
Demonstrate benefits of the funding and the value of providing improved STEM skills and knowledge to the student(s) who participate in the eligible Activity.
Benefits to the community arising from the eligible Activity (for example: outreach to students, teachers, industry) and the wider significance of involvement in the Activity.
Demonstrate alignment with the purpose of this program and the OCSE’s core function of science outreach and education About | Chief Scientist (nsw.gov.au)
Demonstrate need for funding through a budget breakdown, including matched or co-funding contributions / support (e.g. from the applicant’s high school, parents, philanthropists or industry partners), which will leverage the department’s investment).
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: the Director, Policy - Science and Research, Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer, with consideration of recommendations by the assessment panel and the availability of funds for the program.
Your application will be evaluated against eligibility and assessment criteria, and you will be notified of the outcome 30 days after your application is received.
