Deadly Coders, IBM ANZ launch First Nations AI program

Deadly Coders and IBM ANZ have launched a national partnership to deliver AI skills training to First Nations high school students, combining technical learning with Indigenous perspectives on responsible technology use.

The IBM AI Skilling Workshop will roll out across Australian schools this week, targeting First Nations students in Years 8–10. The launch took place at Pendle Hill High School in Toongabbie, where students were introduced to the program’s goals and content.

Key Points

The initiative aims to build critical AI skills and literacy while addressing ethical considerations. It also centres an Indigenous perspective on data sovereignty and cultural responsibility, positioning these elements as integral to how students learn about and apply emerging technologies.

“Our National AI Plan is about making sure the benefits of AI are felt by everyone across Australia. That starts early — by building confidence and understanding of AI in our schools and communities and supporting people as these technologies become part of everyday life,” Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Dr Andrew Charlton said.

“Partnerships like this one between Deadly Coders and IBM are a great example of that in action.

“They help create real pathways into skills and jobs for First Nations communities, and they make sure the opportunities created by AI are shared more broadly, not just concentrated in a few places.”

Program content and delivery

The workshops will teach students about AI and its real-world applications, with content designed to build confidence and understanding of how AI operates in daily life. The curriculum also emphasises:

• AI literacy
• Ethical considerations in AI use
• Indigenous perspectives on data sovereignty
• Cultural responsibility in technology

Students will participate in a number of design sprints and workshops facilitated by Deadly Coders and informed by IBM’s AI experts. The delivery model is intended to be practical and accessible, aligning technical learning with cultural context.

“Programs that embed Indigenous knowledges do more than teach skills. They remove barriers, create a sense of belonging, and ensure Indigenous students are not just included but can play a leading role in Australia’s AI future,” Grant Maher, CEO of Deadly Coders said

Deadly Coders said it is working with IBM to design workshops that showcase an Indigenous perspective, ensuring cultural responsibility is reflected throughout the program’s design and delivery.

Student engagement and outcomes

Participants at Pendle Hill High School in Toongabbie engaged with early sessions focused on practical, real-world applications of AI. A student from the school said they were eager to learn how AI could support their schooling and how to use it safely.

Workshop activities are designed to help students see themselves as creators and problem-solvers. The program’s structure supports learning-by-doing, including design sprints that encourage teamwork and innovation.

IBM ANZ Managing Director Nick Flood said the workshops draw on IBM SkillsBuild’s program, a worldwide education and career-readiness platform that can be adapted to a wide range of social, economic and cultural environments. He noted the content is designed to appeal to student cohorts from different backgrounds and is about empowering students across Australia to develop solutions with positive social impact.

“This program is about more than technology — it’s about empowering students from locations across Australia to see themselves as creators of solutions that have a positive impact on society,” he said.

IBM said SkillsBuild, which is open to students and teachers, includes the following components:

• Tailored learning paths
• Hands-on projects
• Industry‑recognised certifications

IBM said it was it proud to roll out SkillsBuild as part of this initiative, aligning technical competencies with career-readiness tools accessible to diverse student communities.

About the partners

Deadly Coders empowers Indigenous youth to access impactful education and career pathways through passion, creativity and technology. Through fully funded, accessible and engaging coding and STEM programs, Deadly Coders is helping to close the gap for First Nations students across Australia.

IBM ANZ is contributing AI expertise and educational resources to the partnership. The workshops are informed by IBM’s AI experts and underpinned by IBM SkillsBuild, which is positioned as a platform that supports structured learning and recognisable credentials for students and teachers.

The partnership is intended to create sustained pathways by combining culturally grounded teaching with industry-aligned content. With a focus on national reach and practical outcomes, the program seeks to build confidence, literacy and ethical awareness in AI among First Nations students, while ensuring Indigenous perspectives shape how technology is learned and applied in classrooms.