SCOTS All Saints College (SASC) will be able to proceed with its plans for a second innovation centre thanks to the support of the Federal Government.
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On Thursday, Member for Calare Andrew Gee announced that the college was a recipient of $950,000 in funding from the Australian Government's Capital Grants Program.
The money will be used alongside the college's own funds to build an innovation centre on the Scots campus of SASC, which will help senior students pursue high-quality hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
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Mr Gee said the Capital Grants Program was very competitive, so the SASC proposal had to stand out to be successful.
"It's a big investment from the Federal Government, but I think it speaks to the quality and the importance of the programs that SASC are developing for country students in this region," he said.
The Senior School STEM Centre will include four modern science laboratories and will be linked to a refurbished Design and Technology building.
A similar project is already under construction on the All Saints' campus, where junior and middle school students attend.
Mr Gee was given the opportunity to tour the site on Thursday when he made the announcement about the funding for the second centre.
The centre currently under construction was also made possible by federal funding, with the college receiving $700,000 in 2019.
"We want to thank the Federal Government for the support of the two projects and, also, it's really clear from Federal Government policy and State Government policy that STEM education is a high priority," SASC head of college John Weeks said.
The college conducted research into other STEM centres around the world to guide in the development of the two in Bathurst.
Mr Weeks said having another innovation centre on the senior school campus will allow for a continuation of study as students get older.
"What we wanted to do is prepare students right now when they were just getting on their journey [at the All Saints' campus], and then to continue them across that journey," he said.
The centre on the All Saints' campus is getting close to completion, with local company Hines Constructions carrying out the project.
While there has been no agreement made, David Hines said his company, which employs several former All Saints' College students, would like to be able to construct the Scots project as well.
