Apple partnership

Apple Foundation Program at ECU

ECU's Apple Foundation Program is inspiring the next generation of app developers, entrepreneurs, and digital innovators in the purpose-built Apple Foundation Space at ECU City.

Immerse yourself in an exciting, Challenge-Based Learning experience where you'll get the opportunity to create app-based solutions to real-world challenges.

The Apple Foundation Program empowers participants to become a world-class problem solver and app developer.

A mentor and a group of students talking

Develop Your Leadership Skills

The Apple Foundation Program teaches participants how to work in teams to design and prototype solutions to real-world problems. You'll learn how to communicate ideas, share responsibilities and integrate different perspectives to complete projects, enhancing your leadership capabilities.

Free and Accessible

The three-week Program is free and accessible to all with the program hosted in our purpose-built Apple technology-enabled space at ECU City Campus. And the best part? You don't need to have any technical or coding experience to participate and no assessments!

Future-Proof Your Career

According to the World Economic Forum, helping workers achieve the right mix of technical and human skills will be vital as the future of work continues to evolve. Skills of the future such as design thinking, creativity, critical thinking, and tech skills such as coding, prototyping and user-centric design are embedded in the Apple Foundation Program helping you get ahead of the crowd.

The skills you'll walk away with

This world-class program offers a taste of the journey to become an iOS developer with an introduction to the Swift Programming language (a powerful and intuitive programming language for iPhone, iPad, Mac) to prototype an original app idea! The highly transferrable skills you’ll be introduced to as an Apple Foundation Program student include:

Creative and Professional Skills

Creative thinking
Problem solving
Leadership
User‑centric research and design
Storytelling and pitching
Collaboration and adaptability

Technical Skills

UI and UX design
App prototyping
Swift programming
Xcode development
Apple Human Interface Guidelines
Testing and iteration

No Gear? No Fear!

We provide access to all the Apple devices you need throughout the program. Housed within the state-of-the-art Apple Foundation Space are the latest MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, and Apple accessories to support your creativity and innovative project.

Expressions of Interest

Want to find out more about the AFP? Submit an EOI to leave your details and a member of the Apple Foundation Program team will get back to you shortly.

ECU Apple Foundation Program Mentors

ECU's Apple Foundation Program Mentors are leaders in design, coding and app development and have all undergone exclusive Apple Foundation Program curriculum training with Apple.

ECU Mentors will facilitate the program, provide guidance and encouragement and support your personal and professional goals throughout the program.

Dr Lorraine Marshalsey

Senior Design Lecturer and Apple Foundation Program Coordinator / Design Mentor (Lead)

Dr Lorraine Marshalsey is a Senior Lecturer in Design and the Apple Foundation Program Coordinator. She is an interdisciplinary academic whose work spans Design, Education and Care. Her research focuses on studio pedagogy, sensory affect and learning spaces, and includes a monograph published by Routledge in 2023. Dr Marshalsey has held academic and leadership roles across universities in Australia and the United Kingdom, leading programs in design, visual arts, contemporary Indigenous art, digital media and photography. A collegial academic and strategic leader, she brings extensive experience in curriculum development, academic governance and research, with a sustained commitment to inclusive, high quality creative learning environments.

Richard Stals

Lecturer and Apple Foundation Program IT Mentor (Lead)

Richard Stals is a Lecturer and Technology Mentor in ECU's Apple Foundation Program, with a background in Computer Science and Education. He's passionate about designing learning environments where creativity, critical thinking, and technical skill grow together. He explores how learning environments shape confidence, identity, and belonging, especially for people who don't always see themselves as ‘technical'. Richard is particularly interested in justice in education and in helping people build tools that serve real communities. He brings a steady, reflective presence to shared learning spaces, taking ideas seriously and creating room for thoughtful experimentation and growth.

Daniel Brouse

Design Mentor

Daniel Brouse is a UI/UX designer, full-stack developer and educator whose career bridges award-winning digital agencies, freelance practice and tertiary teaching. Originally on a path toward aviation, he chose instead to pursue his enduring passion for design and technology, creating websites and applications since his early teens. His industry experience across leading studios informs his academic work, where he has lectured and coordinated UX and app design units, recognised with a Faculty of Humanities Excellence & Innovation in Teaching Award. Daniel teaches the complete product lifecycle — from user research and design to refined implementation — and brings a genuine passion for teaching, UX, Apple technologies and design education.

Minh Tran

IT Mentor

Minh Tran co-runs Hungry Sky, a creative partnership founded in 2011 that evolved from developing award-winning interactive exhibits for cultural institutions into an independent games studio. In 2023, the team released WA's first title on Apple Arcade, Nekograms+.Minh has worked across mobile, web, PC, VR/AR, and large-scale interactive projections. She co-founded Let's Make Games in 2009 to support WA's game development community, now known as WAGIC. With a PhD in Computer Science, she combines technical depth with industry experience, driven by a passion for problem solving, personal growth, and empowering others to do their best work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

More information about the Apple Foundation Program at ECU.

Who can apply?

The Apple Foundation Program will be made available to a variety of cohorts each year. In 2026, the program will be delivered to ECU students, high school students and selected community organisations. Interested organisations or High School educators should contact the Apple Foundation Program team via applefoundationprogram@ecu.edu.au to enquire about availability and enrolment.

How long is the program?

The Apple Foundation Program runs every day from Monday to Friday for 3 – 4 weeks. Students are required to commit to full attendance across the program period with a maximum of two missed sessions permitted.

How do I apply?

Please follow the application guidelines before submitting your application.

Is it really free?

Yes! Thanks to our industry partners the Apple Foundation Program is free to all participants. As a free program, we anticipate the demand will be high so we encourage you to work on your application and submit it before the due date. No late submissions will be reviewed.

Do I need any prior experience?

The Apple Foundation Program introduces participants to creative technologies, design, and app development using Apple's tools. You don't need any prior experience in design, app development or other technical skills to qualify.

Where will the program be held?

The Apple Foundation Program is hosted in the purpose-built Apple technology-enabled space at ECU City. This supports participants to gain a premium learning experience in ECU's state-of-the-art city campus.

Do I need to be an ECU student to apply?

No. The Apple Foundation Program is open to a variety of cohorts every year. From ECU students, to high school students, ECU staff to members of the community. To find out more about which cohorts are running for who and when, reach out to our team directly via applefoundationprogram@ecu.edu.au.

Do you work with high schools?

We offer high schools the opportunity to participate in the Apple Foundation Program by hosting dedicated cohorts for either their students or educators at certain times in the year. If you'd like your high school to get involved, reach out to our team directly via applefoundationprogram@ecu.edu.au.

What's the minimum/maximum age to participate?

Participants are required to be at least 16 years of age in the year of participation in the Apple Foundation Program.

Do I need to have my own Apple devices to participate?

All required devices to participate in the program have been supplied by Apple. Devices are issued via a loan agreement for the duration of the program, allowing you to take them home in between sessions.

Do I need to have an Apple Account to participate?

Each participant in the Apple Foundation Program will be required to create an Apple iCloud account in order to log in to working sessions and to use the Apple tech provided. If you do not have an existing Apple iCloud account you will be provided with instructions in advance to set one up ahead of the program.

Do you offer the program online?

A core component of the program experience is the opportunity to collaborate and experience the 'hands-on' nature of the program with your peers on campus at ECU City. For this reason, attendance in person of the Apple Foundation Program is required and online participation is not facilitated.

Can I use this program for credit towards my degree?

The Apple Foundation Program is 'non-accredited program' which means it does not provide you with credit towards an ECU degree however, participants will be provided with an official certificate of completion, recognized by Apple. There are several pathways at ECU that complement and build upon the skills learned in the AFP. Successful Apple Foundation Program graduates are encouraged to apply to the Apple Developer Academy in Bali. For more information on the Apple Developer Academy please get in touch.

Contact us

To get in touch please drop us a line: applefoundationprogram@ecu.edu.au

Creative thinkers made here.

Industry

Apple Foundation Program at ECU

Develop Your Leadership Skills

Free and Accessible

Future-Proof Your Career