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Aurukun Advance Queensland

Published: Monday, 26 March 2018

As part of my Advance Queensland Hot Desq tenure, I was granted the unique opportunity to visit a remote Aboriginal community, Aurukun, to encourage kids into STEM and enterprise.  Aurukun is in Far North Queensland, a 2 hour flight north of Cairns.  Here's a famous Aurukun dog, which the men make at the Men's Arts Centre.

Aurukun Dog

 

I travelled with Anna Guenther, Chief Bubble Blower of PledgeMe from the Hot Desq program, and others from the community.

Aurukun Small Group

 

We were there for two days and one night.  On the first day, we spoke with a women’s group about starting their own business, and visited the Women’s Craft Centre.

Aurukun Women's Arts Centre

Aurukun Artwork 1 Aurukun Artwork 3

Aurukun Artwork 2

Aurukun Women's Arts Centre

 

We then played with drones and gave the kids the chance to experience VR at the Regional Community Centre.

Drones Aurukun Regional Centre


On the second day, we went to the local school and simultaneously held a VR experience, Ozobot activity drone sessions, videography skills, and most excitingly, the kids used the National Broadband Network connection to Teleport into the Aubot R&D office in Melbourne.

Aurukun VR

Aurukun Ozobot

 

The kids were super respectful and well-behaved and tried their best to navigate Teleport through the sea of robots.  It was fantastic!

Aurukun Teleport

 

Thank you Advance Queensland for the amazing opportunity!

Aurukun Group

About Me

Marita ChengForbes named me a world's top 50 woman in tech & 30 Under 30. I founded Robogals and Aipoly and was Young Australian of the Year 2012. Currently working on robotics company Aubot. I'm the youngest Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and I give speeches around the world.

I tweet @maritacheng and I'm on Facebook.

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