AirTrunk Western Sydney Scholarship

The Orbispace Initiative, in partnership with AirTrunk, is offering fully funded scholarships for Year 8 girls and their teacher mentors to participate in TOI’s six-month, future-ready STEM and innovation program. Schools in Western Sydney are invited to express interest in accessing scholarships.

TOI Expands to Western Sydney with AirTrunk and The Western Sydney Startup Hub to Launch Scholarship-Funded Innovation Cohort

The Orbispace Initiative (TOI), in collaboration with AirTrunk and the Western Sydney Startup Hub, is expanding its footprint to Western Sydney with the launch of a new cohort and scholarship program in 2026.

The Western Sydney Startup Hub is a government-backed innovation precinct designed to help startups scale, collaborate, and access new opportunities. This expansion marks a significant step in decentralising access to high-quality STEM innovation experiences and bringing future-focused learning directly into one of Australia’s fastest-growing economic regions.

Leading hyperscale data centre specialist AirTrunk will fund hundreds of scholarships for Year 8 girls and their teacher mentors to participate in TOI’s flagship Innovation Program. Until now, the program has primarily brought schools into Sydney’s Tech Central precinct. This new chapter activates local infrastructure, industry networks, and innovation pathways in Parramatta, making participation more accessible for schools across Western Sydney.

Rob Bartrop, Associate Vice President Social Impact & Community at AirTrunk said: “We’re proud to support TOI’s powerful work and fund scholarships that give Western Sydney female school students the skills, confidence, and connections to thrive in tomorrow’s industries. This partnership is about unlocking potential and removing barriers to STEM education so every girl can see herself in the future of innovation. TOI is a long-term investment in equity, talent, and in the local community which we’re proud to be part of and to support this work under our Social Impact Program.”

Australia faces a critical STEM skills shortage. Women currently represent only 15% of the national STEM workforce, despite STEM occupations growing at nearly twice the rate of other sectors. Without targeted intervention to expand the female talent pipeline, workforce gaps will widen and women risk being excluded from shaping the technologies, industries, and economies of the future. This initiative directly addresses that imbalance.

TOI’s six-month immersive curriculum equips students with the skills, experience, and networks needed to thrive in future industries. Working in teams, participants tackle a real-world sustainability challenge, researching, designing, and pitching their own innovation solutions. Along the way, they are mentored by leading women across industry, venture capital, engineering, and sustainability, gaining firsthand exposure to real career pathways and innovation ecosystems.

Year 8 is a pivotal moment, just before students select their high school elective subjects. More than 80% of TOI alumni go on to choose a STEM elective, making them 50% more likely than their peers to do so (based on data aligned with the Australian STEM Equity Monitor, 2024). With TOI’s recent partnership announcement with the Delta Goodrem Foundation, naming Delta as Confidence, Creativity and Communication Ambassador, TOI continues to empower young women and reinforce its belief that every girl should be supported to reach her full potential.

Anna-Grace, Founder & Co-Chair at The Orbispace Initiative said: “This partnership means girls who might otherwise miss out will now have the chance to explore STEM and innovation with confidence. By removing barriers, we’re not only changing individual trajectories but strengthening the future of innovation in Australia.”

Working in partnership with the NSW Department of Education STEM Enrichment team, TOI is ensuring AirTrunk’s scholarships help make that vision a reality for girls from the state’s most high impact schools in Western Sydney.

Professor Scott Sleap, STEM Enrichment Coordinator, NSW Department of Education said: “The New South Wales Department of Education values its partnership with The Orbispace Initiative and welcomes the expansion of this program into Western Sydney. This initiative supports broader access to high quality STEM learning and aligns with the Department’s Plan for Public Education and our commitment to equitable opportunity. We are focused on ensuring students can engage in future focused STEM experiences, regardless of where they live.”