A massive $6.7 million in funding for women in STEM was announced on International Day of Women and Girls in Science… And we’re cheering!
That’s in addition to the $147 million of investments to support gender equity in STEM that have already been made.
Melissa Prince, the Minister for Science and Technology, says the government is determined to break down barriers that stand in the way of girls and women studying STEM subjects and excelling in the careers that follow, and acknowledged the study of STEM subjects and pursuit of STEM careers is essential to our national prosperity and for growing our economy.
“Supporting girls and women with opportunities to excel in these areas is not only an important issue of equity, but it bolsters the pool of available STEM-skilled workers,” says Minister Price.
- Continue the success of the Superstars of STEM program
- Back the work of the Women in STEM Ambassador, including the national awareness raising initiative – Future You
- Ensure Women in STEM Ambassador Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith can continue to advocate for gender equity in STEM
We can’t wait to see more women and girls in STEM! Did you know that only 20% of girls reported being interested in STEM jobs before 2018, but today upwards of 68% are now interested in a STEM career? We’ve made amazing progress, but let’s keep pushing this percentage up!
Looking for role models? Meet some amazing women in STEM
We’re proud to have profiled hundreds of women in STEM combining STEM with their ‘X’ – their passion, interest or another field. Check out the incredible work of four of these women below!
Science
Louise Schoneveld, research scientist
Louise Schoneveld landed her dream job at CSIRO and shoots rocks with lasers to find new reserves of critical minerals.
Yes, you read that right!
Check out how an inspiring Earth science teacher set her on the path to STEM success here.
Technology
Divya Sharma, client onboarding manager
Divya Sharma is the Client Onboarding Manager for Faethm AI – an artificial intelligence platform that provides data on the impact of automation.
In her STEM gig, Divya helps clients on their data journey to Faethm’s SaaS platform.
“I enable them to generate useful insights from their data and ensure they are getting maximum value out of this partnership,” she explains.
Take a peek at her impressive CV here!
Engineering
Veronica Corinaldi, pavement engineer
Inspired by Italy’s ancient infrastructure, Veronica is using her engineering skills to help people and communities across Australia while working for engineering consultancy, GHD.
Read her STEM journey here.
Maths
Mingmei Teo, epidemic modeller
Mingmei Teo works for the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and says a love of problem-solving led to her career that mixes maths and the military.
“I wanted a career where I could make an impact or contribute to society,” she says.
Find out more about her important M in STEM gig here.
Want more role models? Head on over to our Women in STEM profile hub.
Author: Louise Meers
Louise is Careers with STEM’s digital content strategist. She has a journalism degree from the University of Technology, Sydney and has spent over a decade writing for youth. She is passionate about inspiring young people to achieve their biggest goals and build a better future.
