Hi, my name is Irene, one of the volunteer staff at the Adelaide City Robotics Club (ACRC) and I seek your support in helping to maintain the outstanding contributions given to technology enthusiasts in Adelaide. The ACRC is a not-for-profit club that maintains an outstanding contribution in laying down the learning foundations in STEM and contributes to building the skills needed for employees of the future.

Located in the basement at the WEA Learning Centre in the centre of the city of Adelaide, ACRC has been making a meaningful impact in the lives of local students and individuals from all walks of life for over 10 years. Every week the ACRC provides hands-on opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels to engage in projects that incorporate skills in engineering, coding, maths and electronics. These enthusiasts support each other, teach each other and troubleshoot together as they build and create robotics projects from personal ideas, club projects used in exhibitions and displays, and for STEM competitions.

Our club membership ranges from new members just beginning to explore these fields to those who have advanced skills and a broad knowledge in many areas of technology, who support and mentor those who need some direction. The ACRC offers all members a safe, engaging, inclusive and inspiring environment, with opportunities to learn, build, collaborate, invent and showcase their inventions.

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, early exposure to robotics and coding skills, engineering concepts and practical application of these is essential, not just for future employment opportunities, but to help young people think critically and creatively.

In the past, we ran Robotics Workshops in the city and metropolitan area, and the funds raised by these workshops would finance the running of the club. However, through the most difficult of economic times since 2020, we have struggled to keep the lights on. Small sponsorships and donations along with the workshops kept us going for a while, but this is no longer sustainable, no matter how hard we try.

The stories of how the club has positively shaped and molded individuals, how their skills have increased way beyond their years, the friendships, the confidence building and the feeling of fitting in, are absolutely endless. The caliber of skills in our clubrooms is like no other. Some of these stories can be seen on our website at Why Sponsor ACRC but there are so many more.

My own son started at the ACRC at the tender age of 9. After losing his father to brain cancer, this club gave him skills, role models, confidence and a place where he felt he finally fit in. With a high IQ and a thirst for learning, he struggled in main stream schools, but the club gave him opportunities to challenge himself, learn and be mentored. He is 16 years old now, and he is paying-it-forward by mentoring and teaching the new generation of kids who are now attending the club.

Club fees are kept affordable, as many families find themselves in difficult times. We offer equipment and technology support to ensure everyone is included. We exhibit at science shows such as Science Alive and are well respected by our peers for our professionalism and diversity in our members. We are currently preparing for Science Alive and the Royal Adelaide Show in the next few months, but our funds will run out by the end of October and we hope that these events will not be our last.

We have approached local government and industry but we are not sure if these attempts will provide any funding. If they do however, it will mean that we can future-proof our fully volunteer run club and continue to provide outstanding opportunities to those who attend. We hope you can help us to keep our club open!