Australian students from rural, remote, disadvantaged and Indigenous schools stand to benefit from a $6.9 million Turnbull Government initiative to improve digital technologies training for teachers.

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne and Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham announced the additional funding would provide access to a unique University of Adelaide online course for teachers of some of the most vulnerable Australians and equip them with the skills and confidence needed to better embrace the use of new technologies.

Minister Pyne said today’s announcement is part of nearly $16 million to ensure vulnerable Australians can take advantage of the National Innovation and Science agenda.

“Today’s announcement under the National Innovation and Science Agenda goes to the Turnbull Government’s vision of creating a modern, dynamic 21st century economy for Australia,” Minister Pyne said.

“This $6.9 million commitment allows the University of Adelaide to expand a program that is having a real impact on the skills of teachers in disadvantaged and Indigenous schools to implement digital technologies in their everyday teaching.

“As a key pillar of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, this funding means teachers can take advantage of cutting-edge professional development sessions that the University has developed in collaboration with international partners including Google.”

Minister Birmingham said the expansion of the University of Adelaide course came on top of a $7.9 million commitment for schools in disadvantaged areas to access specialist ICT teachers and $1 million that would see computer science summer schools target Year 9 and 10 students from low socio-economic areas.

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