Philanthropy spotlight: Atlassian Foundation

Across regional and remote Australia, some schools cannot offer certain maths and science subjects or rely on virtual delivery to make them available.

“Gonski Institute says that only 18% of Year 7 to 10 maths classes and 27% of science classes are led by specialist teachers. In these communities, students are 1.6 times more likely to be taught out-of-field, reducing their access to strong STEM teaching,” said Matt Smith, TFA Head of Philanthropy.

Since 2020, Atlassian Foundation’s investment has helped us respond to this challenge by bringing more expert STEM teachers into the communities that need them the most.

As part of our current three-year agreement, Atlassian Foundation has supported coaching and mentoring in our Leadership Development Program (LDP):

• 59 STEM teachers starting in 2024, including 24 women

• 65 STEM teachers starting in 2025, including 31 women

• 70 STEM teachers starting in 2026, including 40 women

We deploy teachers with high-level subject expertise in schools serving low socio-economic communities. This allows schools to run senior STEM subjects, including ATAR courses, giving students access to university and related careers.

From engineering to the classroom

First-year teacher Madalena ‘Maddy’ Russo is one of those supported through our partnership.

“I completed a Masters of Mechatronic Engineering and worked as an integration engineer for four and a half years before moving into teaching,” said Maddy. “I liked my old job, but I wanted something outside a corporate environment.”

“I relocated from Melbourne to Cobram, about three hours north on the Murray. I’m excited for a quieter lifestyle and to connect with a new community.”

Maddy’s transition into teaching reflects the kind of impact Atlassian Foundation is driving.

Why Atlassian Foundation invests in education

Atlassian is an Australian-founded global software company, building tools that help teams work smarter and solve complex problems. That same mindset shapes Atlassian’s approach to philanthropy. Education creates knowledge, builds confidence and breaks down barriers to opportunity. It is key to breaking cycles of poverty and disadvantage.

From its early days, founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar committed 1% of equity, profit and employee time to social impact.

Atlassian Foundation is not just funding change. They partner with us to expand opportunities for students in regional, rural and remote communities. This collaboration comes to life through hands-on experiences, industry engagement and real-world learning.

Opening students’ eyes to future careers

In March 2025, Year 8 students from La Salle Academy in Lithgow visited Atlassian’s Sydney headquarters.

Students took part in a Lego challenge and reimagined how technology might evolve. They joined a Q&A with Atlassian employees across engineering, product and privacy, then explored different career options through vision boards.

One student shared: “It widened my knowledge on the different jobs out there. I learnt about career paths I’d never heard of before and now I’m thinking more about my future and what’s possible.”

“Our students do not know what they do not know. Experiences like this open up a much broader world,” said Principal Glenn Carpenter.

Bringing the Future of Work to regional classrooms

In June 2025, we delivered a virtual Future of Work session to Year 12 Business Management students at Cobram Secondary School.

The session connected students with Atlassian professionals and focused on future careers, emerging technologies and entering the workforce.

Designed with a regional lens, the session encouraged reflection and open discussion. Students asked thoughtful questions and engaged strongly throughout.

Supporting the next generation of graduates

Atlassian staff also contributed to our Future Ready Graduate Summit in July 2025. The free online event helped university students and recent graduates build confidence and prepare for a changing job market.

Atlassian shared insights from their global experience and highlighted the importance of adaptability.

Workshops focused on using AI to improve productivity and building confidence in networking and communication.

Thank you

Atlassian Foundation is closing the gap in access to education.

“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, regional Year 12 students are less than half as likely to attend university compared to students in major cities. Your commitment helps more students access strong STEM learning and increase their choices,” said Matt Smith, TFA Head of Philanthropy.

For more information on supporting our work, please contact Olivia Oh at philanthropy@teachforaustralia.org.