Presents recommendations for Australia to take a strategic approach to science and its related fields, focusing on: building competitiveness, supporting high quality education and training, maximising research potential and strengthening international engagement. Introduction The global economy is changing. New technologies and smart companies lead. New industries and new sources of wealth are emerging. New skills...

To support the development of the Engineering workforce study (31), the Australian Workplace and Productivity Agency (AWPA) commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to conduct focus group consultations. The aim of the consultation was to investigate the participation of women and mature-aged workers in engineering occupations, and to examine ways to enhance the...

Building on research commissioned by Australia’s Chief Scientist to identify STEM skills shortages, this report critically examines existing solutions to the STEM skills shortage in comparable countries.

Key findings: More than 40 per cent of students surveyed did not feel encouraged to do well in maths and science by their teachers at high school. “That was also another influence with me with maths and biology. I did biology in year twelve but with maths I've always been very weak and with the...

This study is part funded by the NCCA and is undertaken by the National Centre as part of its brief to advise on matters related to Science and Mathematics teaching and learning.