In the summer of 2023, Deadly Coders created a radical new model. It aimed to improve the training of Indigenous students with critical education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills. Andrew Brodie, Co-Founder and General Manager, founded Deadly Coders. They have the coolest, most creative program to inspire this creativity and technical skill. The program has room for 30 students. It places a heavy focus on hands-on learning experiences, bridging technology to real-world applications.
One of the leading figures behind this initiative, like so many others, is Dan Carter, Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser at Monash Health. The organization has recognized the need for a robust Aboriginal employment plan that focuses on recruitment, retention, and career development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. This strategic approach is a natural fit with Deadly Coders’ aims. It’s intended to introduce students to the most interesting and fastest-growing career tracks in our economy, particularly in healthcare and health IT.
One of the most outstanding examples of the program’s success is 16-year-old Akia, an Aboriginal high school student. In her three-day immersion with Deadly Coders, she learned to troubleshoot tech and prototype new ways of using technology, plus pathing out careers in health care. The TPSI program provides a powerful design thinking framework, which inspires creativity. Along the way, it offers students a crash course in app prototyping software, giving them valuable theoretical underpinnings and practical skills.
On the second day of the program, Akia and her fellow participants zeroed in on developing their concepts and plans for their app ideas. They spent time fleshing out their ideas on paper before moving into the real-world application. On day three, students were deep in the classical coding trenches, putting the finishing touches on their apps.
Akia created an app, Mindset, designed to give students who are falling behind the extra help they need. Led by their schoolyard, a second student developed an app called “Magical Mangarrayi country,” which explores the history and attractions of their hometown. This groundbreaking app includes local fishing locations, fish suppliers and cultural information about Mangarrayi country.
During the culmination of this program, students will have the opportunity to pitch their apps. A panel from Monash Health will be on hand to judge their ideas! The panel will judge which app most creatively solves real-world challenges, giving participants a stage to demonstrate their creativity.
“The students essentially will have some time learning about a design thinking framework. So essentially at big businesses, how tech groups within those big businesses work together to solve problems.” – Dan Carter
The enthusiasm among participants was palpable. Akia reflected on her experience, stating, “This has opened my eyes. I think there are a lot of opportunities through STEM and I might try them.” Her perspectives always shed light on how the program is exposing more Indigenous youth to the possibilities of a STEM career.
The framework for Deadly Coders focuses on participation, learning and having fun through developing digital solutions to health-related challenges. Carter noted, “The kids have just really enjoyed engaging with a bit of a fun program to tackle digital solutions to digital problems in a health setting.” The program is designed to encourage students at the high school level and below to see technology as a realistic career path.
During a recent webinar, T4America’s Andrew Brodie discussed the program’s bigger picture impact. He said Deadly Coders gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students the experience of STEM career pathways. By working directly with these health services, which are home to many STEM careers, they plan to grow their Aboriginal workforce sustainably.
“My app I choose is called the Magical Mangarrayi country; it’s for back home. So when you go swimming in the tourist attraction places, there will be a little QR code that you can scan. And when you scan it, it shows you the history of Mangarrayi country and all about Mataranka photos and fishing places and shops.” – Akia
We’ve built the online Deadly Coders platform to expand access to these learning experiences. It’s full of rich content, from digital literacy, to financial literacy, to coding tutorials. When it comes to technology, this platform was intentionally built by Indigenous educators and tech experts explicitly for Indigenous students.
Carter told us that digital health systems are key to empowering and supporting healthcare delivery. He remarked, “Digital Health is really the information and communication structure systems that sit behind our health services that really support us to deliver or tackle health problems.”
Brodie is passionate about the positive impacts early exposure to STEM education can have on Indigenous children. He continued that all of the programs are intentionally gamified and project-based. Not only are they designed to align with how Indigenous children learn best, but they work to break down barriers to engagement.
“We always have some students that just take to technology like a duck to water, and it’s really nice watching young people who just… something clicks for them.” – Andrew Brodie
Through coding and development activities, Deadly Coders gives Indigenous youth the skills, opportunities, and confidence needed to pursue a future in technology. Through these experiences, they learn about vibrant career pathways that they never knew existed. The program has taken proactive measures to create a diverse workforce in STEM fields. It fosters cultural pride and pride of place and deepens civic engagement.
