Located on Wiradjuri Country, the Murrumbidgee Academy of STEM Excellence (MASE) was established in 2019 at Murrumbidgee Regional High School – Griffith (MRHS – Griffith) in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Situated in an agricultural powerhouse spanning 80,545 square kilometres, the Riverina is home to approximately 200,000 people, with its economy driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, and hosting the largest Agri-Tech expansion in NSW.
MASE is dedicated to equipping students with future-ready STEM skills and enriching their learning experiences. The MASE Lending Library provides schools with access to cutting-edge STEM equipment, including robotics kits, engineering tools, and coding materials, ensuring hands-on learning opportunities for students, including those in remote areas.
With strong partnerships across local, national, and international industries, MASE connects students and educators with world-class STEM opportunities, offering mentoring, hands-on experiences, and career pathway insights to prepare students for the evolving workforce.
Programs and partnerships include:
- NSW Virtual STEM Academy (NSWVSA) – the NSWVSA was founded by MASE SPO, Ian Preston, in 2021 and has since expanded to become a state-wide initiative, providing high-quality STEM enrichment programs to students across regional, rural, and remote NSW. NSWVSA delivers online, interactive STEM courses that connect students with expert educators, industry mentors, and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to explore real-world STEM challenges beyond the traditional classroom.
- Providing High-Quality STEM Opportunities – Engaging students in real-world STEM applications through hands-on challenges, competitions, and industry partnerships.
- Building STEM Educator Capacity – Professional learning and mentoring programs that empower teachers to deliver integrated, cross-curricular STEM education.
- Science and Engineering Challenge – A hands-on competition that fosters problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation.
- Aeronautical Velocity Challenge – A STEM-based aerospace engineering competition.
- FIRST LEGO League – A robotics and coding challenge that encourages students to explore real-world engineering problems.
- Orbispace Initiative – A national STEM innovation program empowering female students to develop solutions for a sustainable future.
Awards and recognition
- Recognised for its commitment to STEM education, MASE has received multiple NSW Department of Education Secretary’s Awards for Outstanding School Initiatives:
- 2021 – Australia-New Zealand STEM Education Alliance (ANZSEA)
- 2022 – Murrumbidgee Academy of STEM Excellence (MASE)
- 2023 – NSW Virtual STEM Academy (NSWVSA)
Through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, MASE continues to shape the future of STEM education, empowering students and educators across regional NSW.
