TAMBORINE Mountain State High School students put their minds to the test at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program Senior Secondary State Final and came home on top.
ATSIAP is a state-wide academic program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in year 7-12 to build creative thinking and investigate solutions that apply towards real-world challenges.
The state final challenge titled From Culture to Commerce invited students to explore the power of entrepreneurship through a cultural lens.
It encouraged them to ground their business ideas in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ways of knowing, being and doing.
As the overall winners against more than five schools, TMSHS received the highest score across all the state final challenge categories – Long-term challenge, Persuasive speech, Improvisation, and Visual Improvisation.
Teams of students identified real-world issues or opportunities within their community through research, consultation and critical thinking to create business concepts that were both viable and culturally responsive.
The teams then delivered a persuasive pitch to the panel of judges that showcased their vision, passion and cultural connection, while convincing them of the value of their business solution.
Judges looked for innovation, teamwork, and the ability to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their solution.
Through completing this program, ATSIAP hopes to raise students’ expectations of themselves as learners and enhance post-school aspirations to include tertiary pathways.
ATSIAP congratulate Tamborine Mountain State High School for their win and hope to see more students take part in the opportunity to apply next year.
