By Eleanor Wilson
Australia’s jobs market is becoming increasingly digital, so much so that research by professional services network Deloitte estimates 250,000 new jobs will be created by digitalisation by 2025.
While technology workshops have become more common to catch older generations up to speed on their comupter literacy, it seems local programs are propelling kids ahead of the pack in anticipation of a digital future.
Casey locals Ashish Grover and his wife Seema are the founders of STEMBuddy – a company teaching computer STEM, coding and robotics to kids.
Qualified and experienced IT professionals, Mr and Mrs Grover began STEMBuddy in 2020, after running IT and academic classes overseas for the last 20 years.
“We are moving towards a world where in future we will talk with each other in coded language, so computer STEM, coding and robotics are necessary skills as we are moving towards a digital future,” Mr Grover said.
The company provides classes and camps delivering STEM technology to kids and teens around the Casey and Dandenong areas, as well as online.
But launching a business while the Covid pandemic was beginning to spread throughout Australia wasn’t easy, according to Mr Grover.
“It was quite challenging to run coding [classes] online with small children, but we received remarkable support from parents and families during that time to make it run smoothly,” he said.
Providing a very hands-on service that requires the use of expensive equipment, Mr Grover said lockdown made it difficult for parents to arrange appropriate computer systems for their kids to continue classes online.
But thankfully, this year STEMBuddy has enjoyed a return to in-person learning and is back to holding face-to-face classes and workshops.
The company is teaching a range of ‘holiday robotics camps’ at a number of Casey locations throughout the Easter school holidays to encourage technological innovation in kids.
At the camp, students in years one to eight can learn to build 3D computer animations, fly drones, develop games such as Roblox and Minecraft and perform science and electronic experiments.
“The classes and camps are receiving a good response and children and families are liking it ,” Mr Grover said.
“It’s a diverse group of children who come to our camps and classes. We always welcome all children, including children with special needs to support them through their technical learning journey.”
The STEMBuddy Holiday robotics camps are operating from 11 April to 22 April, at a range of locations across the Casey area, including Bunjil Place in Narre Warren on 22 April.
To book tickets, head to stembuddy.com.au/school-holiday-program.php
