Students explore Australia's First Nation manufacturing and engineering concepts thanks to Industry Reconciliation Investment

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) has announced a partnership with School Community Industry Partnership Service (SCIPS) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned Cre8tive Nations, to bring First Nations engineering and manufacturing concepts to primary schools across the country. 

The program, called 'Cre8tive Dreamtime', aims to showcase culture through science and technology and history of Australia's First Nations people and their innovative engineering and manufacturing methods. 

Through the program, middle schools' students learn about the oldest technologies, instruments, weapons, and structures on earth, which were created and designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The program highlights the Boomerang as the first piece of Aerospace engineering and examine other examples, such as the Didgeridoo, Fish Traps, Caring for Country, Navigation and Transport and features world leading Virtual Reality (VR). 

The initiative aligns with the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) curriculum in schools, with the aim of inspiring and activating a greater depth of understanding and acknowledgment of the importance of First Nation cultural learning.

Presented by First Nations educational facilitators from Cre8tive Nations, the program will embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in classrooms across the country. The program hopes to promote true reconciliation and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Christine Rynne, Executive Officer, School Community Industry Partnership Service (SCIPS) said, “We are very proud to be partnering with both Cummins Inc and Cre8tive Nations to advance this innovative Indigenous STEAM program to a wider audience throughout Australia and look forward to witnessing firsthand the impact such a wonderful program will have on the young people it will be delivered to.” 

Cummins Corporate Responsibility Leadership Kristina Lambkin, said, "I'm amazed at how this program connects the history of innovation and creativity of First Nations peoples to current manufacturing and engineering concepts and inventions. I trust this program is fostering big dreams and inspiring action whilst assisting teachers and students across the country." 

The "Cre8tive Dreamtime' program has already been successfully implemented in Mackay and Townsville, and thanks to Cummins' sponsorship, will now go national. Cre8tive Nations spokesperson Dita Southwood said, "Our STEM educators are dedicated to sharing our First Nations perspectives and stories. We're excited to put a spotlight on and honor our 65,000 yearlong manufacturing and engineering history and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in classrooms across the country.