Reports say automation will impact Australia's employment of up to 1.3 million by 2030, putting pressure on schools to ensure that young people have the digital skills they need to thrive in their future workforce.
To prepare the next generation for this earthquake shift, AI Australia Day, an annual event to educate students and educators on artificial intelligence, has joined forces with UNSW Sydney to develop a free, practical AI education programme for students and teachers across the country.
This initiative focused on building AI literacy offers students a free basic AI literacy program in years 1-10. Since partnering with UNSW in 2022, the program has reached over 100,000 students nationwide.
Leading the charge is Dr. Jake Renzela, Director of Computer Science Research and co-head of UNSW's Computing and Educational Research Group. Now, he and his team are designing immersive, real-world AI learning experiences tailored to classrooms across the country.
“Teacher PD is at the heart of our approach.”
When asked what specific skills or understandings would be gained from the day of AI professional development that teachers and school leaders had not gained from existing PDs, Dr. Renzela pointed to the unique focus of the programme on practical, future-focused learning experiences that directly support classroom implementation beyond theory.
“Teacher professional development is at the heart of an approach to providing AI literacy to hundreds of thousands of Australian school children across the country,” Dr. Renzera told educators.
“Google.org funding can expand existing initiatives, including teacher PD, low-ice sheet school intrusions, and device donations.”
Dr. Renzella said that in projects supported by Google.org, UNSW will develop several “safe, scaffolding, practical generation AI experiences.”
“These games complement existing days of existing Australian lessons, removing the curriculum in abstract, and in teachers and students' hands,” he said.
“In 2024, we provided teacher PD sessions in partnership with UNSW, Questacon and SA Department for Education. In 2025, we are expanding the number of sessions offered in terms 3 and 4 thanks to our partnership with Microsoft and additional support from Google.org.”
Helps bridge the digital divide
Dr. Renzela said he will support Australian school leaders in leading the AI literacy initiatives of staff and curriculum teams beyond teacher training sessions.
“Day of Ai Australia is working with some of our existing partners, like Microsoft, to develop a set of teacher and school leader/admin lessons to support our schools, and to better understand and integrate AI when needed,” he said.
“With the support of OfficeWorks and TDM Growth Partners, Day of Ai Australia has been running a device program for public schools since 2022. This Google.org funding will help expand the device contribution program and provide schools and students with the laptops they need most.”
Dr. Renzela said the key focus is “scalable and direct classroom delivery.”
“AI Australia Day, together with some of our partners, including Questacon, encourages and supports the community of practice,” he said.
“We want to meet teachers where they are. We already have an incredible network and community, and we want to go further and provide AI literacy to our teachers and school leaders.”
“Working for a more equitable and more innovative future”
Marie Efstathiou, senior program manager at Google.org Australia, along with her work at AI Australia's Day of Ai Austral, proves that AI is a “game changer” to tackle some of Australia's biggest social challenges.
“These programs are actively working on a more equitable and innovative future for everyone, and with the AI skills and hands-on experience essential to Australian students and teachers, they directly increase confidence and address the need for AI literacy in a rapidly evolving world,” she said.
“We are proud to support their efforts to prepare the next generation not only to understand AI, but also to use it proactively and proactively.”
