Engineering Indigenous communities

15 November 2005

Indigenous students who want to steer the future of their communities have the chance to find out how becoming an engineer can help. The University of New South Wales is running an Indigenous Summer School to provide a taste of the profession.

The Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School (IAESS) is an annual event, established nine years ago by non-profit organisation Engineering Aid. It will be held again from the 15-21 January 2006 for 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, male and female, entering Years 11 and 12 in 2006.

Travel, meals and accommodation costs are covered for successful applicants through the sponsorship of many organisations and individuals.

The school is a hands-on experience involving trips to engineering companies and major projects. Participants will also have the chance to mix with engineers and university staff and to attend a reception at the Sydney residence of the Governor General.

A highlight of the trip is climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to see first-hand a superb example of engineering.

Program patron, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, said many students have told him the school was a life-changing experience.

"It shows the exciting and varied career opportunities that are available to young men and women in the engineering profession," he said. "Engineering has an exciting future as Australia increasingly develops and applies its technological skills to improving the quality of life for all its people."

Engineers design and advise on drinking water, roads, hospitals, schools, radio, television, communication networks and the fabric of modern society.

Former Summer School participant and senior peer mentor for IAESS, Ben Lange, graduated from UNSW last year as Australia's first Indigenous electrical engineer.

For further enquiries: Donna Bailey, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW, tel. 9385 6437,
email iaess@eng.unsw.edu.au, website www.eng.unsw.edu.au/iaess

Media contact: Mary O'Malley, UNSW Media unit, tel. 9385 2873, mob 043 888 1124, email m.omalley@unsw.edu.au

Date issued: 15 November 2005