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UNSW Sydney researchers, in collaboration with Day of AI Australia, will develop new tools to teach AI literacy to children after receiving a Google grant.

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly powerful and pervasive, making AI literacy one of the most in-demand skills globally. But it’s currently not part of Australia’s national school curriculum. Without hands-on experience using AI, guided by informed teachers, young Australians risk becoming passive users rather than capable creators.

To bridge the education gap, Google is backing UNSW Sydney, along with partner charity Day of AI Australia, to provide a free, hands-on AI literacy program for school students and teachers across the country.

The program equips students with the knowledge, confidence, and practical experience they need to thrive in an AI-powered future. The initiative aims to ensure Australians aren’t just AI users, but global leaders in developing and ethically deploying it. 

UNSW and Day of AI Australia are among 20 organisations that are sharing in $US30 million from Google.org to roll out similar AI literacy programs worldwide. 

Director of Studies (Computer Science) and Co-Head of the Computing and Education research group at UNSW’s School of Computer Science and Engineering, Dr Jake Renzella, will lead a team to develop new hands-on AI experiences for students. 

“We want to empower teachers and students with the tools and knowledge to use AI responsibly and creatively,” said Dr Renzella. “Participating in the Generative AI Accelerator will help us to build engaging, hands-on learning experiences that bring generative AI out of the abstract.”

Australian initiative receives Big Tech backing

As the only Australian recipient, the UNSW-Day of AI partnership will receive funding and technical expertise as part of . The global initiative donates to organisations using generative AI to address major societal challenges. 

The support will allow the team to expand their reach and co-develop new interactive AI experiences for children that are safe, engaging, ethical and educational. It will also facilitate professional learning opportunities for teachers and boost Day of AI Australia’s device donation program for schools and students in need. 

“This is about giving young Australians the opportunity to shape the AI-powered world they’re growing up in,” said Day of AI Australia Program Director, Natasha Banks. “By helping students understand what AI is, how it works, and its limitations, we’re giving them the tools to use it safely and creatively.”  

Google.org Australia’s Senior Program Manager, Marie Efstathiou, said UNSW and Day of AI Australia's work proved how generative AI could be a game-changer for tackling some of the biggest social challenges. 

“Their programs are about actively working towards a fairer and more innovative future for everyone,” she said. “By equipping Australian students and teachers with essential AI skills and hands-on experiences, they are directly boosting confidence and addressing the need for AI literacy in a rapidly evolving world. We are proud to support their efforts to prepare the next generation to not only understand AI, but to actively leverage it for positive change.” 

About UNSW’s Computing and Education research group: Driving the agenda

Technology’s impact on education is vast and ever evolving. At the UNSW Computing and Education research group, experts are exploring, creating and driving technology’s effect on teaching and learning. The group has worked with millions of students, enabling hands on experiences to better support education in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science and cybersecurity.

About Day of AI Australia

Day of AI Australia provides free foundational AI literacy programs to students in Years 1 to 10. Since launching in partnership with UNSW in 2022, the program has reached more than 100,000 students nationwide. Day of AI focuses on reaching students in government schools, those in regional areas, First Nations children, and those from low-socioeconomic areas.