AWS & Code for Schools launch AI literacy for one million
AWS and not-for-profit education technology provider Code for Schools have announced the development of a new AI literacy programme targeting Australian students, teachers, parents, and carers.
Australia is facing a significant gap in AI skills, with recent AWS survey data showing that 39% of businesses attribute the limited adoption of artificial intelligence to a shortage of relevant talent. This challenge comes at a time when the Department of Industry and Science projects that up to 200,000 AI-related jobs could be created nationally by 2030, with AI forecast to add between AUD $170 billion and AUD $600 billion to Australia's GDP.
Programme details
The new AI education programme aims to reach one million Australian K-12 students over the next three years. AWS and Code for Schools said the curriculum will be developed in partnership with industry experts, educators and students, and is designed for public, independent, and Catholic school communities.
Central focus areas include ethical foundations (safe, responsible, and ethical use of AI), practical skills (hands-on engagement with AI tools), industry insights (case studies from various sectors), and critical thinking (problem-solving with AI in real-world contexts). Modules will be tailored for different age groups and provided to teachers and parents to ensure a comprehensive approach to AI literacy.
The programme's initial development phase will involve feedback from selected schools through a pilot initiative. Nationwide rollout is planned to begin in the first school term of 2026, delivered via a national learning management system. AWS and Code for Schools will co-develop, update, and deliver curriculum-aligned content, ensuring it meets the requirements of Australia's education standards across all three of its targeted streams: students, teachers, and parents/carers.
Industry responses
Without a doubt AI is the most transformative technology of our generation. If Australia is going to unlock the full potential of AI through innovative solutions and responsible adoption, it will be crucial to make AI education accessible to build our literacy, confidence and trust in the technology, from the ground up. – Louise Stigwood, Director of ANZ Public Sector, AWS
Younger students will start with the fundamentals of AI, such as understanding what AI is, and learning about responsible and safe usage. As students progress through the programme, they will gain practical skills interacting with AI services, learn from real-world case studies, and participate in applied problem-solving scenarios.
Through this partnership with Code for Schools, we are aiming to reach one million Australian students in the first three years of the program. – Megan Woff, CEO, Code for Schools
The partnership stresses the importance of involving parents and carers, offering them resources to demystify AI, understand responsible generative AI use, and support children's AI literacy at home. The intent is to facilitate open, informed conversations about AI between parents and children, fostering greater confidence in the technology across Australian communities.
Support for educators
Another focal point of the programme is professional development for teachers, supporting their own learning and wellbeing outcomes through AI tools. The programme is intended to help teachers employ AI to develop tailored lesson plans, create inclusive learning materials, and build their own competence, so they are well equipped to support student learning and adapt to technological change in the classroom.
Teachers play a critical role in ongoing responsible AI adoption and innovation in Australian schools, but time constraints and a lack of mandated professional development for building AI literacy presents challenges in building a solid foundation on confidence and trust in the tech. – Megan Woff, CEO, Code for Schools
According to AWS, this initiative is part of a broader effort to address skills shortages and support economic growth across Australia. Since 2017, AWS reports training over 400,000 people in Australia through programmes such as its Work-Based Learning Programme and AI Ready initiative, the latter having globally trained two million people ahead of schedule. The company also provides over 100 AI, machine learning, and generative AI courses via its AWS Skills Builder and AWS Educate platforms.
Broader context
The new school-based AI literacy initiative is part of AWS's AI Spring programme, aimed at supporting Australia's economic objectives and fostering a pipeline of AI-capable talent. AI Spring comprises a range of additional efforts, such as the AWS Generative AI Accelerator for early-stage startups and the AWS AI Launchpad for established enterprises. AWS has announced a planned investment of AUD $20 billion in cloud infrastructure across Sydney and Melbourne by 2029.
AWS stated that its approach combines infrastructure, expertise, and security with safeguards to foster responsible AI adoption. The partners emphasise the importance of building AI skills from an early educational level through to professional practice, with the objective of improving productivity and maintaining Australia's global competitiveness in technology-based sectors.
