$5 million NSW Government grant to build new technology school facility in Western Sydney based on research: 3 in 4 parents want more STEM for kids

Sound Bites

1. ACC techschool - Sarah Mitchell MP Great opportunities to come

2. ACC techschool - Mark McCrindle Research introduction

3. ACC techschool - Mark McCrindle Students need strong tech skills to be prepared for the future

4. ACC techschool - Mark McCrindle Western Sydney parents know what tech skill they want their children to learn

5. ACC techschool - Mark McCrindle Integrating technology and critical thinking

6. ACC techschool - Mark McCrindle How likely are parents to send their children to a tech school

7. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr ACC given the green light

8. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr Delivering high tech experiences for our students

9. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr Infusing technology into the learning process

10. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr The architect’s drawings have been unveiled

11. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr I did a little happy dance that turned into a shimmy

12. ACC techschool - Brendan Corr Where to find more information about the grant and the tech school

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Media Release

Australian Christian College, Marsden Park (ACC) has been awarded an Education Infrastructure Fund (EIF) grant of $5 million to build a new three-storey technology facility on its K-12 campus in Greater Western Sydney.

An independent survey of greater Western Sydney-based parents of school-age children by social research firm, McCrindle Research, found three in four (76%) parents believe it is extremely/very important for a school like the proposed technology facility in Western Sydney to be available to children in their local area.

ACC Marsden Park Principal, Mr Brendan Corr, says he “did a happy dance” on receiving the acceptance letter from NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Education, and Local Member for Riverstone, Mr Kevin Conolly MP, who passed on the news from NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell MP.

The technology focused ACC Marsden Park building will be fully equipped with STEM learning facilities for students to get involved with cutting edge multimedia technology. This will include video editing rooms with green screens, podcasting rooms, prototyping rooms, robotics labs, virtual reality capability and animation studios.

“We are always asking ourselves how we at ACC can better serve our students and community over the long term. For our grant application, we partnered with a highly respected national social research firm, McCrindle Research. The findings confirmed for us that what we’re proposing is exactly what parents in greater Western Sydney want: high-tech STEM education facilities that truly prepare their children for a digital future,” said Mr Corr. "The College already has a technology focus, and this building will enhance our ability to teach students at an even higher level."

Mr Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Education said, “On behalf of the NSW Government and the people of the Riverstone electorate I wish ACC Marsden Park every success in the delivery of its innovative project. The approach of ACC to design and propose such a significant investment in technology education for our area based on research and feedback from the electorate is to be applauded.”

Research Findings

Notable findings from the 2020 McCrindle Research commissioned by ACC into parents’ views on technology education in the Greater Western Sydney area include:

• Four in five (80%) of parents from Great Western Sydney strongly/somewhat agree students with strong technology skills are better prepared for the future
• Three in four (76%) parents believe it is extremely/very important for a school like the proposed technology school in Western Sydney to be available to children in their local area.
• The majority of parents believe it is extremely/very important for their children to engage with emerging technologies like coding, video production, robotics, drones and virtual reality.

The research was gathered through an online survey of 503 parents of school-aged children in Greater Western Sydney. The survey was in field from the 22^nd to the 28^th of November 2019.

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MEDIA INFORMATION:

Concept drawings by MSK Architects available on request. To arrange an interview, site visit, images or more information please contact:

Heather Jones Public Relations Director m: 0400 394669 e: [email protected]

Jessica Grattan PR & Social Media Account Executive m: 0426 816 651 e: [email protected]

About Australian Christian College

The Australian Christian College Group is a network of ten Christian Schools in five states. The schools are inspired by a common vision and values that delivers educational experiences integrated into their respective local contexts. Most ACC schools provide on campus education but some have both on campus and online students - to the extent that ACC Group is now the largest provider of non-government, online distance education in Australia.

ACC is committed to transforming young people spiritually, academically and emotionally in preparation for lives of significance and service. ACC is committed to educating students to apply biblical principles by acting compassionately and graciously while thinking deeply.

ACC students are continually challenged but unconditionally loved. This is achieved by having teachers who notice them, ask about their interests, listen to them, laugh with them and believe in them. ACC students are well known, well-loved and well taught by teachers who want the very best for them.

Visit https://www.acc.edu.au/ for more information