Media - COEMinerals team members get a shout out for participation in COEMinerals' school outreach initiatives at Uni of Newcastle

(University of Newcastle) Children’s University on-campus discovery days largest to date

artcile excerpt:

UNI STEPS allows our staff to directly connect with schools and local communities through outreach activities and events. UNI STEPS, at its core, aims to improve access to higher education for communities that have typically been underrepresented. Incorporating the Children’s University Newcastle program, UNI STEPS engages with primary students, secondary students and community members to help them explore their options throughout their educational journey.

Over two weeks in June, Children’s University (CU) Newcastle and the new UNI STEPS widening participation initiative supported 40 partner primary schools inclusive of 1,500 children and 250 family members participate in 80 faculty-based workshops at Ourimbah, Muswellbrook, Callaghan, NUspace, the Conservatorium of Music and the Q Building.

This year for the first time, we extended the invitation to our new UNI STEPS partner high schools so that their Year 7 and 8 students could also gain an insight into life at university with 140 high school students from nine partner high schools in attendance. 

To all the amazing University staff that created content and delivered fascinating hands-on student-centred workshops we are truly grateful. Additional to our university Academic staff we were able to connect 47 current University students to share their lived experience of being a student with the children and their families helping our families understand what their days looked like and their diverse paths they have taken since leaving high school to get here.

Thank you to the following staff for your involvement


College of Engineering, Science and Environment

School of Engineering: Mrs Sian Parkes; Meolla Yvon; Peipei Wang; Margaret Ekua Amosah; Syamsundar Menon Murali Mohan

(+Comment by Kim Stockham: The COEMinerals team loved being involved in this activity, as well as other school outreach to to share insights into minerals for our future, and minerals processing innovation :)Shout out to others involved in the Centre’s school outreach team (based at University of Newcastle);@Luke Crompton @Sonia Khandaker @Josh Starrett @Virat Gurung @Erhan Noyan Palabiyik @Elham Doroodchi @Annemarie Fawkner)
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Feedback comments from schools involved:

* Thank you so much for another fantastic CU on Campus event! It was wonderful to be able to engage with the children and their parents/​carers, share some knowledge and have some fun! It was particularly valuable for my two student volunteer helpers who really appreciated the opportunity to interact and engage with the children and have the opportunity to present one of the sessions. (Christina Batey (Nutrition ‑FAC)

* It was a huge day of learning experiences for EVPS. Our Children’s University students had a great day of learning and experiencing the university at the NuSpace campus. An interactive day full of new experiences (Elermore Vale Public School)

* We had the best time at NU Space today as part of our Discovery Day with Children’s University. Construction & engineering, financial literacy, badge making, history and artefacts, architecture and 3D design and printing. Such a vast array of interesting, engaging and fun activities. 👩‍🎓Uni students in the making 😀🖤💛(Cessnock Public School)

* My daughter went today and had THE BEST time, she’s so inspired- Thankyou (Ourimbah parent)

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Children’s University on-campus discovery days largest to date (share​point​.com)