Development Hub Programs

Our Development Hub is a centre for innovation, design and development.

It enables us to work beyond our core programs, collaborating with our member companies and schools to pilot new programs and concepts. In this way, our program curriculum is responding to the greatest needs of the changing world of work to maximise impact.

Thanks to grants from our business partners, we collaborated on the following initiatives:

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is a key ABCN priority. In 2020 we launched a partnership with the NSW Department of Education to deliver tailored digital GOALS programs to First Nations Year 9 students at Mount Austin High School and Northlakes High School. ABCN is working closely with Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centres in schools throughout NSW to pilot programs that will support engagement, attendance, retention and HSC attainment. Hear from students and teachers in this video:

Financial Capability

Support from Ecstra Foundation allowed us to research and pilot financial capability content within our digital GOALS program, aimed at boosting the financial literacy of Year 9 students. Based on the strong results from this program, we are incorporating financial capability content across a number of our core programs. Read how one student is using the learnings here.

STEMpreneur

STEMpreneur, generously funded by nbn, aims to equip primary school students with STEM skills such as creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. Students develop innovative tech solutions to local and community challenges and bring their ideas to life through experimenting with technologies to create apps and other tech. Watch our video of a student showcase here:

SolveIT

SolveIT  is a partnership with EY that aims to create authentic learning experiences linked to the Year 9 mathematics curriculum.

Full STEAM Ahead

Full STEAM Ahead is a face-to-face program run in collaboration with Powerhouse Ultimo and sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to engage students in Years 5 to 8 with activities based on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).

My Career Rules

My Career Rules an initiative supported by Accenture to connect Years 10-11 students with a panel of professionals sharing their career stories and expertise in an interactive video conference environment.

AI for Good

AI for Good is an initiative run with Microsoft aimed at teaching students in Years 7-12 the basic concepts of artificial intelligence, followed by a design thinking hackathon using AI to make a positive difference.

Skills to Succeed

Skills to Succeed is an Accenture online program aimed at students in Years 9-12 which focuses on building confidence and identifying strengths in preparation for employment.

GoITGirls: Zara’s story

ABCN supports a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) work experience program aimed at female students in Years 10 and 11.

In 2017, during her final year at Sefton High School, Zara participated in a joint TCS/Westpac GoITGirls program. ‘It definitely changed my life,’ she says. ‘It’s given me amazing opportunities to work at incredible companies, build connections with great people and learn so many new things. I always look back on that program and reflect how far I’ve come just from that one-week work experience.’

Watch as Zara tells us more about her story below.