2019 Indigenous STEM Awards winners

'The Indigenous STEM Awards recognise the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM professionals and students as well as schools, teachers and mentors working in Indigenous STEM Education.'

Below are the winners. For a complete profile of each winner, see 2019 Indigenous STEM Awards winners on the CSIRO website.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Professional Career Achievement Award

Bradley Moggridge - University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Bradley is a proud Murri from the Kamilaroi Nation who holds a Master of Science (Hydrogeology & Groundwater Management) 2005 from UTS and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) 1997 from ACU.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Professional Early Career Award

Rikki Bruce - INPEX, Northern Territory

Rikki is a Jawoyn and Waanyi woman from Katherine and North Queensland, respectively. She graduated in a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Charles Darwin University in 2017.

Josh Loyd - WSP, Victoria

Josh is a proud Wajarri Yamatji who grew up in Margaret River, Western Australia, and has lived in Brisbane, Sydney and now resides in Melbourne. Josh holds a bachelor's degree in engineering (Civil and Environmental) and currently works as a senior advisor, in a pioneering team of Indigenous professionals, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and designs into some of Australia's most iconic infrastructure projects.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Student STEM Achievement Award

Jamie Graham-Blair - University of Tasmania, Tasmania

Jamie is a Trawlwoolway Pakana man from the North-East of lutruwita (Tasmania). He is soon to graduate from the University of Tasmania as a Marine and Antarctic Scientist.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Secondary Student STEM Achievement Award

Alana Dooley - Warwick Senior High School, Western Australia

Alana is a Nunga woman whose family ties are in South Australia. Growing up on Noongar land (Perth), she embraces every opportunity to learn more about culture, such as through traditional dance.

Tamia Blackwell - Woodville High School, South Australia

Tamia is a Narungga woman from Point Pearce who attends Woodville High School. Inspired by Indigenous mathematician Dr Chris Matthews, Tamia formed a workshop based on an alternative way of teaching maths to Indigenous children using culture-based storytelling through a combination of Indigenous story, dance and maths.

The School Award

Thuringowa State High School - Townsville, Queensland

Thuringowa State High School in Townsville is recognised for its innovative STEM program, the Global Tropics Future (GTF) project, which provides STEM enrichment learning experiences for rural and remote North Queensland Years 5 to 9 students.

The Teacher Award

Makhdoom Bhatti - Ntaria Community School, Northern Territory

Makhdoom is a teacher at P-12 Ntaria Community School, located 150 km west of Alice Springs. Ninety-nine percent of students are Indigenous, with English being their third or fourth language. The students are often left behind by conventional Western teaching practices due to literacy and numeracy challenges.

The STEM Champion Award

Corey Tutt - Deadly Science, New South Wales

A series of Deadly Junior Scientist Awards are being initiated by Corey, which will no doubt continue to inspire Indigenous students to continue to engage with STEM and to explore their questions about local wildlife and land in a scientific way.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Maths Award

Shaylah Tighe-Holden - Kirwan State High School, Queensland

Shaylah is a student at Kirwan State High School in Year 9. Shaylah was identified at the end of Year 7 as a student who had incredible potential. This was based on not just her results, but also her persistence, enthusiasm, growth mindset and genuine love of mathematics after having lost confidence in the subject previously.

Taylah Duffin-Wenban - Earnshaw State College, Queensland

Taylah is a motivated, independent and enthusiastic Year 9 student at Earnshaw State College, Banyo, doing both Year 9 and Year 10 mathematics. Taylah consistently demonstrates both her passion for mathematics and a strong achievement orientation.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Science Award

Ruby Van Tongeren - Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, Queensland

Ruby is a student at Mackay Northern Beaches State High School who says she has always had a love for science. Ruby knows that to be a lifelong learner, she must always be asking questions and accepting new information and feedback.

Djai Hunter - Gilmore College, Western Australia

Djai is a student at Gilmore College, Kwinana in Western Australia who is enrolled in science and mathematics extension classes. This year she received the City of Kwinana LyriK Achievement Award and was granted a Chevron Aboriginal Scholarship.