SiMERR Australia is an Australia-wide research body. Its National Centre is located at the

University of New England University of New England may refer to: * University of New England (Australia), in New South Wales, with about 18,000 students * University of New England (United States), in Biddeford, Maine, with about 3,000 students See also *New England Colle ...

Armidale Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 24,504 as of June 2018. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands, New South ...

, NSW, Australia. SiMERR Australia's main goal is to improve learning outcomes for students in regional and rural areas, particularly in the areas of

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

, mathematics and

Information and Communication Technology Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers ...

(ICT).

History

The National Centre of Science, ICT, and Mathematics Education for Regional and Rural Australia (SiMERR) grew out of the Centre for Cognition Research into Learning and Teaching (CRiLT), which was part of the School of Education at the

. Unlike CRiLT, SiMERR focused on the curriculum areas of science, mathematics and ICT. SiMERR opened its doors on 1 July 2004, with branches, or ''hubs'' opening in each state of Australia in the twelve months that followed in partnership universities, such as the

University of Tasmania The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is a public research university, primarily located in Tasmania, Australia. Founded in 1890, it is Australia's fourth oldest university. Christ College (University of Tasmania), Christ College, one of the unive ...

and the

Deakin University Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1974, the university was named after Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia. Its main campuses are in Melbourne's Burwood suburb, Geelong Waurn P ...

in Victoria. The SiMERR National summit in 2005 brought together educators and other stakeholders for the first national meeting of its kind since the National Centre opening. The two-day summit brought together people from diverse bodies, such as teacher associations, Federal Government departments, universities, parent groups and educational authorities. Delegates discussed ways in which the educational disadvantage experienced by students in rural and regional areas may be addressed

Structure

SiMERR Australia consists of a series of ''hubs'' located in each state in Australia.

Aims

SiMERR Australia's vision is to work to improve outcomes for students in science, ICT and mathematics so that: * Parents can send their children to rural and regional schools and know they will experience equal opportunities for a quality education; *Students can attend rural or regional schools and realise their academic potential in Science, ICT and Mathematics; and *Teachers can work in rural and regional schools and be professionally connected and supported.{{Cite web, url=http://www.une.edu.au/simerr/pages/aboutus_aims.php, title=SiMERR – National Research Centre

References

Scientific organisations based in Australia Information technology education