Students from The Rivers Secondary College have assembled 10 prosthetic hands to be distributed to recipients in countries including India, Ethiopia and the Philippines.  

Helping Hands is an Australian-based social enterprise program that has facilitated the creation of almost 25,000 prosthetic hands since 2011.   

Under the guidance of Rivers Academy of STEM Excellence project officers, Zane Van den Berg and Karen Ramsay, 30 year 7 to 12 students from The Rivers Secondary College followed the Helping Hands program to assemble 10 LN-4 prosthetic limbs.  

 The prosthetics will be fitted by international agencies at no cost to the recipient. 

Mr Van den Berg said the program was an opportunity for students to help those in need and develop solutions to authentic problems with a focus on collaboration, teamwork and communication. 

Program participant Izzy McLean said students constructed the prosthetic limbs while holding one of their hands in a stubby holder, with the exercise focused on teaching patience.

“It came together slowly – every bit that we succeed makes me happy,” Izzy said.
Students were given the opportunity to participate in the STEM initiative thanks to funding from Google through an Australian Schools Plus grant. 

Participants are led through the prosthetic limb assembly process and decorate a vinyl pouch with pictures and messages for the recipient. 

“The program covers the prevalence and impact of hand injuries, the basic functions and anatomic structure of the hand, and demonstrates the contribution that science, technology and engineering can make to addressing global challenges,” Mr Van den Berg said. 

“It normally costs about $4000 to create an entry-level prosthetic, but through the Helping Hands program, the students can create a prosthetic hand for $495.” 

Helping Hands founder and organisational psychologist, Dr Matt Henricks, said the program was beneficial for students because it made them step outside their comfort zone.  

“It is my hope the activity prompts a lifelong curiosity and love for STEM, and helps each student realise how powerful they are to make a difference every day,” Dr Hendricks said.  

“The activity will give each student a taste of how it feels to truly make a difference on a global stage, so I expect for some of the students, it will be the first of many steps they take towards shaping the kind of world that they wish to inherit.” 
 
The Rivers Academy of STEM Excellence is a collaborative project between Northern Rivers public high schools, primary schools and industry, and aims to provide students with access to innovative and real-world learning experiences.