CoRE to Career: Sauban’s Path from Hands-On Learning to Cybersecurity

Sauban Kidwai’s time in the CoRE program at Kent Street Senior High School wasn’t just about learning facts - it was about discovering how to think, collaborate, and solve problems in ways that still guide him today. From Year 8 through Year 10, Sauban embraced the CoRE Learning Model, which connects science to real-world challenges and ultimately laid the foundation for his future study and career ambitions.

Discovering Science Through a New Lens

Reflecting on his experience, Sauban remembers one project that really brought science to life: “One of my favourite memories was a project where we grew crystals to analyse their structures, helping us understand how different crystal sizes can indicate whether a rock is extrusive or intrusive. It made science engaging and hands-on.”

This wasn’t just an isolated experiment; it was part of a bigger approach that emphasised learning by doing and encouraged students to explore deeply, ask questions, and engage with their surroundings.

Building Skills That Go Beyond the Classroom

What Sauban gained from CoRE went well beyond content. It reshaped the way he learns, solves problems, and works with others. 

“CoRE’s Project-Based Learning Model taught me how to collaborate and research effectively - two skills that have carried me through high school and now university. From referencing properly to avoiding plagiarism, the foundations laid in CoRE gave me a head start in report writing and academic integrity. It also taught me how to break problems into manageable parts. That approach is something I use today in computing - whenever I need to learn a new programming language, I build a project around it and tackle it component by component.”

From School Projects to Cybersecurity Ambitions

Now in his final semester of a Bachelor of Computing (Cybersecurity major) at Curtin University, Sauban has already tested his skills in real-world environments, including hackathons - placing 2nd nationally at ANSTO’s 2020 Hackathon. He’s focused on a future in defence cybersecurity, aiming to protect Australia from cyber threats at the national level, ideally within the Air Force.

Advice for Today’s Students

Sauban’s advice to current CoRE students highlights the mindset he developed through the program:

“Ask questions and focus on how you're learning - not just what you’re learning. Since CoRE, I haven’t touched a textbook; real learning happens through doing, experimenting, and reflecting.”

Through curiosity, confidence, and practical know-how, the CoRE Learning Model helped pave the way for Sauban’s future - a reminder of what’s possible when students are given the tools to thrive in STEM.