Inspiring Australia

[8] In May 2011, Minister Carr announced that "Australians will be encouraged to study and excel in science and research through a new Inspiring Australia program in the 2011-12 Budget."

According to the departmental media release, the three-year $21 million Inspiring Australia program was designed to "help bring science to every Australian, regardless of geography, ethnicity, age or social condition".

[9] In 2012, the new Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, announced $5 million in grants for Inspiring Australia projects across the country.

[12] In June 2013, the Inspiring Australia funded BIG Science Communication Summit was held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

[17] Professor Graham Durant, Director of Questacon in Canberra, a lead author of the report, said the consultation around the strategy had found "many excellent science communication initiatives from a vibrant and talented mix of participants across the country", suggesting Inspiring Australia would help coordinate these activities.

Dr Cathy Foley, physicist and President of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies, said Inspiring Australia would unite the sector.

[18] Associate Professor Sue Stocklmayer, Director of the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at Australian National University, said while Inspiring Australia provided "an agenda for sharing best practice, more focused outreach, and serious research into communication strategies", this rhetoric needed to be appropriately resourced.