Our after-school STEM club is an academic extension which takes place one day per week after school out of our STEM Centre. The program is run by WA Education Awards winner, Charan Pabla, who was named as the 2021 WA Premier’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.

The program offers the opportunity to students to be curious learners of the world around them. Through this club, we aim to instil an innovative mindset among the students and get them excited about learning. Students will work with outside agencies related to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, to collaborate on team projects, attend excursions, and compete in interschool competitions.

In the short time that this program has been running, students have achieved many incredible things. In 2021 and 2022, Girrawheen SHS teams won first place in the WA State Solar Car Challenge held at the University of Western Australia. In 2021, the winning team went on to compete in the International Solar Car Challenge, in Hobart, Tasmania, where they won first place again.

Just last year, the STEM Club participated in the Shell NXplorers Program in conjunction with Sci-Tech. The group split into 3 teams, where the each came up with a solution to a different real-life problem identified within the school and community. Students presented their research and solutions to the School Executive Team, and all student recommendations were implemented within the school. One team went on to win a global Bronze Inspiration Award for their work on the NXplorers Program, despite a competitive category with many teams from around the world entering their work in this competition.

Participants will develop their ability in problem solving, analytical and critical thinking, creativity, confidence, communication and collaboration. The skills developed through STEM will become their foundation to succeed at school and beyond. At Girrawheen SHS, we strongly believe that the STEM powered skills, projects and experiences will set our students apart in their future careers.