Increasing AI Literacy in the Regions

At the beginning of May 2026, we collaborated with the Department of Education and Day of AI Australia to deliver two dedicated days of professional development to over 60 teachers from regional Western Australia. The sessions took place in Geraldton and Karratha, timed to coincide with the regions' Leadership Conferences, and form part of the Fogarty Foundation's broader commitment to ensuring that innovation in education reaches every corner of the state. 

In 2025, the Fogarty Foundation launched a new strategic initiative examining the impact of artificial intelligence on K-12 education. Grounded in our belief that high-quality education underpins lasting impact, this work focuses on building educators' capability, supporting future-focused skills such as AI literacy, and ensuring that progress in education is guided by equity, ethics, and evidence. As AI rapidly reshapes how knowledge is created and accessed, strengthening teaching and leadership is central to ensuring every student can access transformative learning experiences. 

To support this, the Fogarty Foundation has collaborated with Day of AI Australia to begin delivery of professional development across the state. Day of AI Australia is a nationwide initiative created by MIT, i2Learning, UNSW, and CS in Schools, and forms part of a broader global movement to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to understand and engage with AI technologies. The program offers free, curriculum-aligned lesson plans for students from Years 1 to 10, exploring what AI is, how it works, its real-world applications, and its ethical implications. Activities are hands-on and accessible to teachers without a computing background, making it straightforward to bring AI education into regular classroom practice. 

''One of the most rewarding things about the partnership between the Fogarty Foundation and Day of AI Australia is connecting with teachers in regional and remote communities. Spending time in Geraldton and Karratha reinforced the incredible dedication, creativity and resilience of educators working in diverse contexts. The conversations were rich, practical and optimistic, centred on ensuring every teacher and student can benefit from the opportunities AI presents.'' Jacqueline Manison, Curriculum and Teacher Trainer Lead, Day of AI Australia 

Reaching regional communities is a key priority. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, each session is adapted to align with the local context, with Day of AI Australia working closely with school and regional representatives to ensure the design is relevant and effective. This work, combined with our State of AI in WA Schools Forum, means we have now provided AI literacy professional development to over 300 WA teachers and school leaders.