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Empowering young minds through electricity safety and global impact

On 4th September, 150 Hunter Valley Grammar Year 4 and Year 5 students participated in Electricity Safety Week, an engaging program designed to teach young people how electricity works, how to use it safely, and how to identify electrical hazards. 


Claire Spinks from Ausgrid, (Summer School 2024 Alumni) delivered an interactive session that sparked curiosity and built essential safety awareness. 


In a powerful extension of the learning, students also built SolarBuddy lights, thanks to the generous sponsorship of 75 kits by the The Australian Power Institute. These solar lights will be sent to children living in energy poverty, providing a safe, renewable light source after sunset - and improving outcomes in education, health, and opportunity. 


This initiative reflects our commitment to global citizenship and meaningful, real-world learning. 


On 7th October, the API held our first Power Ambassador Information Session: 


⚡ About the Program 

The Australian Power Institute (API) Power Ambassador Program supports professionals and students to inspire school students about careers in the power and clean energy sectors. It’s a national initiative helping to grow a skilled, diverse, and future-ready electricity workforce for Australia.


 


🚀 How to Become a Power Ambassador 

  1. Sign up: Complete the Expression of Interest form. 

  2. Follow the email prompts and complete the online training: You’ll receive Thinkific login details for the API Power Ambassador Training module. 

  3. Find a school: Reach out to a local school and use the resources in the training to connect. 

  4. Complete the training requirements: 

  5. Fill in the School Intent Survey 

  6. Sign the Child Safe Code of Conduct (The API are a Child Safe Organisation) 

  7. Deliver your session: Use our ready-made slides, activities and classroom resources. 

  8. Wrap up: Complete the post-visit survey (in the training) to share your feedback and outcomes. 


Ambassadors receive an API credential recognising their leadership in promoting power careers 


🧰 Resources You’ll Get 

  • Email templates & photo consent forms 

  • Presentation slides & activities 

  • Checklists & run-sheet examples 

  • Ongoing support from the API team 


☀️ The API SolarBuddy Partnership 

Ambassadors can deliver a hands-on session using Junior Buddy Kits — small solar lights built by students and donated to children in energy-poor regions. 

  • Over 400 students have participated so far across four states and four API member organisations. 

  • API has 10 kits available for 2025–26 (priority for members and Power UP undergraduate students). 

  • These sessions are a great way to show students how engineering directly changes lives. 


💡 Answers of FAQs from the Session 

  • You can visit schools alone or in groups (ideal for sharing roles). 

  • Primary and secondary schools are both suitable. 

  • API can connect you with others in your region or organisation. 

  • Most ambassadors visit Years 3–5 or 10–12 — but all levels are welcome. 

  • You can also pair professionals and university students for joint visits. 


👣 Next Steps 

  1. Express interest to be a Power Ambassador and follow the steps above (if you haven't already) 

  2. If you’d like to use SolarBuddy kits, contact me directly at stephanie.somerville@api.edu.au  


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