The Newcastle Academy of STEM Excellence (NASE), established in 2023, is located on Awabakal and Worimi Country at the Hunter School of Performing Arts. As a regional hub for STEM education, the academy fosters innovation by continuously evolving, adapting, and seeking new opportunities to connect students and teachers with real-world STEM experiences. Through strong industry partnerships and hands-on learning initiatives, the academy plays a vital role in preparing students for future STEM careers.
Newcastle, a coastal city with a population exceeding 320,000, has a rich history of industrial innovation and is now a leader in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and renewable energy. The Newcastle Academy actively supports the region’s transition to a technology-driven economy by aligning STEM education with industry needs and expanding access to high-quality STEM learning.
Programs and partnerships include:
- Stage 4: iSTEM & Technology Mandatory Curriculum Development – ongoing enhancement of resources designed for seamless integration into Canvas LMS, ensuring widespread accessibility and engagement.
- Stage 4-5: STEM Racing iSTEM Unit (with Engineers Australia & RIEP) – an inquiry-driven engineering program that builds skills in aerodynamics, forces, and industry-standard design processes, culminating in an industry-supported regional competition.
- STEM Teacher Professional Learning – structured professional development that empowers teachers to embed STEM pedagogy across multiple disciplines, strengthening cross-curricular learning and student engagement.
- HSPA STEM Hub (with support from RDA Hunter) – a shared regional STEM resource, offering students and teachers across academy schools’ access to specialist equipment, workshops, and industry-aligned learning experiences.
- Engineers Australia and Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) – delivering the STEM Racing iSTEM unit, where students engage in engineering challenges with mentors from Engineers Australia. The program culminates in the Hunter Regional Final, judged by industry experts.
Achievements & Recognition
- HSPA STEM Hub established as a shared regional STEM resource, providing schools with specialist equipment and hands-on learning experiences.
- Successful industry collaboration – partnerships with Engineers Australia and RIEP have provided mentorship, industry judges, and real-world project experiences for students.
- Recognition within regional and state education networks for advancing STEM education, industry engagement, and workforce readiness in the Newcastle region.
