Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Professionals
The NSW Government has opened the 2026 Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program (Program), which supports future scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians across the state to participate in STEM-related competitions, courses and events.
The Program is designed to improve equity in STEM education by helping secondary school students from under-represented backgrounds gain access to valuable educational opportunities, network-building experiences and professional development.
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said the program provided financial support for students to participate in STEM-related activities, both in Australia and internationally, and aimed to inspire our future research leaders to consider further education and a career in a STEM-related field.
“This program gives under-represented students the opportunity to discover their potential, build confidence and thrive in STEM, shaping our next generation of innovators and problem-solvers,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said.IN
Participation in STEM activities enables students to develop essential skills including teamwork, collaboration, creativity, communication and technical knowledge across science and engineering disciplines.
A team in the 2025 Program, Illawarra-based Project Bucephalus, returned from the international FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) held in the USA, as the global winner of the Impact Award.
This award is the highest honour in the FRC, recognising a team that serves as an international role model, champion of STEM education, and agent of positive community change.
The make-up of the team highlights the scope of this remarkable achievement. Project Bucephalus is a self-funded community team where 70 per cent of the students have a disability or disorder, and 30 per cent come from low-income backgrounds.
Project Bucephalus triumphed against 600 teams and 50,000 participants in an elite-level competition that pushed both students and their machines to their limits.
The first 2026 round of the Program is now accepting applications for activities taking place between January and June 2026 and is managed by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer. A second round will open in December 2025
The 2026 Program total funding pool is $120,000. Individual applicants can apply for grants between $2,500 and $5,000, while teams may be eligible for up to $10,000 to support their activity. Applications close on Tuesday 30 September 2025.
Further details about the Program including the guidelines, an application form and a video from Project Bucephalis are available at Supporting Young Scientists Equity and Access Program | Chief Scientist (nsw.gov.au)
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Bruce Ritchie | OCSE | 0429 412 426