Race to opportunity in the Albury-Wodonga area

A regular outreach initiative by the UNSW Redback Racing team focuses on attracting regional and rural talent to study engineering at UNSW. On 11-15 August, the team visited the Albury-Wodonga area for the first time, having last been on an outreach trip to two high schools in the NSW Central Coast in 2024.

The Redback Racing team is a group of 150 students from a range of disciplines who collaborate to design, build and race high-performance all-electric Formula Student race cars.

Given the recent surge in Formula One’s popularity, the opportunity to see a similar race car up close was a significant drawcard for high school students. The handmade car on show was entirely built by scratch by the Redback Racing team, and high school students were able to learn about all of the different skills involved in the process.

Senior Lecturer in School Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Redback Racing Outreach Project Leader Darson Li said, “At UNSW, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. That’s why our Progress for All strategy is focused on removing barriers for students from every postcode, including in regional NSW.”

“By visiting high schools in the Albury-Wodonga region, we were able to spark curiosity and show how exciting careers in engineering and STEM can be.”

Four schools were visited in total: The Scots School in Albury, Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Wodonga Middle Years College, Albury High School, and Trinity Anglican College.  The students not only learnt about the breadth of STEM, but also that university life offers more more than classroom learning, giving students the chance to explore projects that inspire and fulfill them.

Pathways to UNSW admission were also shared and discussed, helping those who are unsure to understand their options and the opportunities available.

 “Through our Gateway Program and Gateway Admission Pathway, we offer early university access, reduced ATAR requirements, and tailored support, along with scholarships, so students from regional areas can thrive at UNSW and, in time, bring those skills back to strengthen their local communities,” said Dr Li.

Redback Racing Outreach Manager Daniel Tang neatly summarised the drivers behind the outreach initiative, saying, “Our outreach efforts these past few years demonstrate that UNSW Redback Racing is not only just about building fast and impressive race cars. For us it is about giving back to the community and showcasing the endless possibilities STEM and Engineering pathways can take any one individual.”

"As the interest for Formula 1 and motorsport grows, so does STEM and Engineering, and so through the Gateway Admission Pathway students are given a great opportunity to explore that curiosity, by making that dream into a true reality."

The visit by the Redback Racing team attracted media attention and was covered in WIN News, The Border Mail and 7 News.