Sarah J. Baker Email & Phone Number

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

After 6 years in Corporate Education I am very excited to be back in a school with my new role at Hamilton Secondary College - Space School as Assistant Principal - Space, STEM and Innovation. Hamilton Secondary College is an innovative year 7-12 South Australian government school with a vision that is focused on Space and Astronomy and founded on two pillars: Educating students about space across years 5-12 and linking education to the Space Industry. Our space academy and space education curriculum equips students with the necessary scientific, technical, engineering and mathematical skills to be innovative, entrepreneurial and become globally competitive and our newly built Planetarium will challenge students and develop their understanding of the Universe, Physics, Mathematics and emerging Technologies. The academic teachings are then 'put into practice' through Hamilton's Mike Roach Space Education Centre. It is here that students from schools across Australia obtain practical and unique skills by experiencing real-life Martian explorations while being challenged to reach evidence based conclusions about Mars habitability in the 'Mission to Mars' student excursion (we acknowledge the support, generosity and collaboration of VSSEC (Victorian Space Science Education Centre) for the software and initial development of this program). As part of the Hamilton Secondary College - Space Schools 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan to be "South Australia's leader in Space Education and equip future generations with the passion, knowledge and skill to be innovative, entrepreneurial and globally competitive in the space sector workforce, my position is responsible for further development and implementation of Space linked curriculum, Space Professional Learning and Communications, community linked Space information events and Scientific Research and Development Projects with my amazing 'Space and STEM team' and Space Industry/Research connections I've made in my previous role.

I was in the Department for Education Corporate Office since 2016 as the Advanced Technology Program Manager for 6 years funded as part of the Commonwealth Defence Industry Skilling and STEM strategy. The ATP aimed to help reduce skills shortages in defence industry by increasing the pool of STEM educated students, informing Australia’s youth about employment opportunities and pathways into defence industry and increase student awareness of defence industry as an employer of choice. Working with 24 core ATP schools across all 3 educational sectors to assist development of their STEM programs has been a fantastic way to look at best practice for STEM and Industry links in South Australia. It’s exciting to see the current and future opportunities in Advanced manufacturing, Aerospace, Cyber & Technology, Shipbuilding, Science and Space available in locally, nationally and worldwide for our students. I have moved on but the program continues within the Industry Engagement Directorate, Student Pathways and Careers, SA Department for Education as 'Pathways to Defence Industry'. Fantastic opportunities for South Australian schools to connect with Defence Industry will continue on the Student Pathways website https://studentpathways.sa.edu.au and I hope the program will continue to be funded in the future.

Valley View Secondary School

Para Vista, South Australia

Certificate Iii In Food Technologies

Masters In Education, (Digital Technologies)

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Molecular Microbiology

Balaklava High School, 1989 Graduated Bachelor of Science (hons) University of Adelaide 1993 PhD, University of Adelaide 2000. Graduate.

Education record