West Tech Fest Launch
YEAWA officially launched at the West Tech Fest on December the 6th. Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, the Hon Stephen Dawson, was in attendance and reiterated that finding new ways to encourage innovation is critical to building a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in Western Australia.
The launch also provided an opportunity to announce the appointment of Mr Cameron Thorn as the inaugural Director of the Academy. Cameron’s breadth and depth of experience across both the K-12 and tertiary systems will set up the Academy for immediate impact.
YEAWA brings together key stakeholders in the entrepreneurial landscape. The YEAWA consortium includes Curtin, the Malka Foundation, Spacecubed, St Catherine’s College, All Saints’ Beyond Boundaries Institute and the Education Department.
YEAWA will be a focal point for the coordination and collaboration of entrepreneurial education in Western Australia. Key strategies include:
- Pre-service teacher training in entrepreneurship facilitation;
- Connecting schools to the entrepreneurial ecosystem;
- Creation of a community of practice for educators;
- Advocacy for enterprise skills to be embedded across the curriculum; and
- Inspiring future-focused careers.
YEAWA’s overarching objective is to cultivate a generation of critical thinkers with essential problem-solving skills and a mindset geared for success, empowering them to initiate and manage real-world businesses confidently.