Meeting industry needs for a highly trained quantum workforce is critical, especially in a climate of intense global competition for talent.

Queensland must be equipped to train home-grown talent, attract interstate and international talent, and increase the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in quantum. Development of jobs and entrepreneurial business pathways for the various quantum service industries is required to participate in quantum and advanced technologies.

Participation in quantum and advanced technologies will require the development of the jobs and entrepreneurial business pathways for the various quantum service industries.

Launched in 2019, Queensland’s Deadly Innovation Strategy aims to drive economic growth and job creation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, also referred to as First Nations peoples. The strategy is part of the broader Advance Queensland initiative and focuses on creating pathways for Indigenous businesses and innovators to turn their ideas into reality.

Queensland’s history has been shaped by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' ingenuity in addressing and adapting to environmental and other challenges.

The aim of the Deadly Innovation Strategy is to empower communities to activate their traditional values of participation and innovation, through embracing positions of current strength in culture, land, water and business for the benefit of all.

To support participation of First Nations people in quantum and advanced technologies workforce, Deadly Innovation is exploring new, creative, and culturally appropriate ways to educate and upskill communities by focusing on the building blocks of digital literacy, artificial intelligence, drones, XR/VR, advanced manufacturing, robotics and beyond.

Empowering First Nations peoples to be technical suppliers in the transition economy, and ultimately the Quantum economy.

This can be achieved through the following objectives:

• providing training and support to improve digital literacy and skills
• encouraging the creation and growth of digital businesses and startups
• curate and collaborate on industry opportunities for First Nations people by structured effort to link supply, demand, and talent in commercial pathways.
• identifying real jobs pathways for the quantum and advanced technologies sector, focusing on analogous or complementary career paths into digital, manufacturing and service industries.
• investing in digital infrastructure to ensure that Indigenous communities have the connectivity and tools needed to fully engage with digital opportunities.

Queensland is committed to advancing these objectives by investing into key Deadly Innovation initiatives to ensure that all Queenslanders are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the future quantum economy.

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Collaboration with Deadly Coders

Deadly Coders is an Indigenous owned and managed charity on a mission to ignite learning and career pathways in STEM and digital technologies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students nationwide.

The Deadly Coders’ vision is to provide access for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student to digital technologies programs within the next ten years. The goal is to remove barriers to participation, and level the playing field by delivering culturally grounded educational programs in digital technologies, imparting fundamental 21^st century skills to set Indigenous students up for success in STEM related fields.

Deadly Coders and the Quantum Academy

For First Nations students, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation are working with the Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group, alongside Deadly Coders and Junior Engineers to deliver a comprehensive digital education program targeting up to 4,000 students across Queensland, empowering Indigenous youths with STEM skills today for the jobs of tomorrow. The Queensland Government has funded the delivery of eight two-day face-to-face coding programs, helping 506 primary school students experience hands-on, engaging coding exposure for the first time.

With the support of the Queensland Government, Deadly Coders is also pioneering a new online learning platform, which provides ongoing access to self-paced, bite-sized teaching modules in coding and digital technologies. The program includes interactive learning programs with defined learning pathways, practical “picture in picture” coding lessons, quizzes, and progression through different levels of difficulty for participants.

Lessons with Deadly Coders online are facilitated by Indigenous educators and are tailored to ensure cultural appropriateness and storytelling by leading Indigenous education experts. The curriculum includes over 50 videos grouped into Scratch, JavaScript and Python curriculum, with ongoing lessons being recorded to ensure graded learning opportunities for students of all ages.

These initiatives are building the foundation to scale the Deadly Coders program reach to more Indigenous students across Queensland. It is envisaged that these programs will build a pipeline of talented young Queenslanders who will go on to be the next quantum scientists and technologists of the future.