Students at Dripstone Middle School are set to benefit from a new $1.775 million STEAM centre, providing learning opportunities in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields.
The project will support contemporary teaching and learning across each discipline and will include a maker space, green room, robotics lab and an outdoor cultural learning space.
The state-of-the-art centre will support students to develop skills they need for employment opportunities now and into the future, as well as building the Territory workforce in each of these critical areas.
It comes on top of the Territory Labor Government’s investment in other state-of-the-art STEAM Centres at Taminmin College, Casuarina Senior College and Darwin High School.
Work will get underway on the new Dripstone STEAM Centre in December 2022 and is due for completion by May 2023.
The project is part of a $1.185 billion education budget in 2022/23, which includes several other infrastructure highlights:
A $4.4 million project, funding the first stage of a new masterplan for Yuendemu School, with the NT Government contributing $1.3 million and $3.084 million coming from external sources. Stage One works include a courtyard, play equipment, outdoor eating area, amphitheatre and cultural garden.$1.1m for master plans and design concepts for homeland learning centres.
The total 2022/23 Infrastructure Budget for Education is $55 million, with $11.8 million going towards major works, more than $13 million for minor works and more than $28 million on repairs and maintenance.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Lauren Moss
“Like the other STEAM Centres we have built, the Dripstone STEAM facility will equip our students for the jobs of the future, across a range of disciplines.
“I look forward to seeing what projects students complete in this fantastic, state-of-the-art facility.
“The Territory Labor Government continues to invest in building better schools for students right across the Territory.
“With 153 Government schools, the infrastructure needs are significant. We are systematically working to address these needs, whether they are small projects like replacing taps or upgrading playgrounds through to big projects like the new Dripstone STEAM Centre and major upgrades at Yuendemu school.
“Since 2016, we have invested some $445 million into building new and better schools for our students to improve learning outcomes.”
