The Turnbull Government has announced $3.9 million in funding to 24 organisations to rollout projects that will encourage girls and women to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
The funding is the first round of the $8 million Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grant program under the National Innovation and Science Agenda.
Women are underrepresented in STEM related studies and professions.
Only one in four IT graduates and fewer than one in 10 engineering graduates are women.
Women occupy fewer than one in five senior researcher positions in Australian universities and research institutes, and are less than half the overall STEM workforce.
The Turnbull Government is committed to improving gender equity and boosting female participation in STEM fields.
A wide range of projects will receive funding, from building interest in STEM for primary school age students, to supporting post-graduates and women already pursuing STEM careers, and encouraging entrepreneurship among women.
Projects being funded include:
• Melbourne-based Girl Geek Academy – focusing on girls aged 5-8 years with one-day events, online training and ongoing support aligned with the National Digital Technologies Curriculum, increasing early awareness and participation in STEM and entrepreneurship education.
• Canberra-based CBR Innovation – for 10 week programs for girls in Canberra and the surrounding region that include skills workshops, career presentations, field trips and female STEM mentoring.
• Geelong Manufacturing Council – developing careers for women from the Geelong area in manufacturing and engineering through presentations, workshops, networking and mentor training as part of transitioning the region’s industrial base from fabrication to advanced manufacturing.
• Verco Engineering – from Clare, South Australia, will offer 11 workshops aimed at up to 1000 year 9 and 10 girls in regional SA. The project is built around applying STEM subjects and principles and new technologies to increasing productivity in rurally based jobs.
The projects are part of a concerted, national effort to overcome the cultural, institutional and organisational factors that discourage girls and women from studying STEM and choosing careers that require STEM skills.
Applications for a second round of the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship program will open in 2017.
For details on all projects funded see www.business.gov.au/womenSTEM
Serikali ya Turnbull imetangaza $ 3.9 milioni katika ufadhili kwa mashirika 24 kuzindua miradi ambayo itahimiza wasichana na wanawake kusoma na kufuatilia kazi katika sayansi, teknolojia, uhandisi na hisabati. Msaada huo ni wa kwanza wa dola milioni 8 kutoka kwa mpango wa ruzuku wa wanawake katika STEM na ujasiriamali chini ya Ajenda ya Kitaifa ya Ubunifu na Sayansi. Wanawake hawawakilishwa vya kutosha katika masomo na taaluma zinazohusiana na STEM. Ni mmoja tu kati ya wanne wa wahitimu wa IT na chini ya mmoja kati ya kumi wa wahitimu wa uhandisi ni wanawake. Wanawake wana nafasi ya chini ya moja kati ya tano ya watafiti wakuu katika vyuo vikuu na taasisi za utafiti za Australia, na ni chini ya nusu ya jumla ya wafanyikazi wa STEM. Serikali ya Turnbull imejitolea kuboresha usawa wa kijinsia na kuongeza ushiriki wa wanawake katika nyanja za STEM. Mifano mbalimbali itapokea fedha, kutoka kujenga maslahi katika STEM kwa wanafunzi wa umri wa shule ya msingi, kusaidia postgraduates na wanawake tayari kufuatilia STEM kazi, na kuhamasisha ujasiriamali miongoni mwa wanawake. Shirika la elimu la Australia, Girl Geek Academy, linawafundisha wasichana wenye umri wa miaka 5 hadi 8 na mafunzo ya mtandaoni na msaada wa kuendelea kulingana na Mpango wa Mafunzo wa Teknolojia ya Dijiti, kuongeza ufahamu wa mapema na ushiriki katika elimu ya STEM na ujasiriamali. Canberra: Programu ya wiki 10 kwa wasichana katika Canberra na mkoa wa jirani ambayo ni pamoja na warsha za ujuzi, maonyesho ya kazi, safari za shamba na ushauri wa STEM wa wanawake. • Baraza la Utayarishaji la Geelong <unk> kukuza kazi kwa wanawake kutoka eneo la Geelong katika utengenezaji na uhandisi kupitia maonyesho, warsha, mitandao na mafunzo ya washauri kama sehemu ya kuhamisha msingi wa viwanda wa mkoa kutoka utengenezaji hadi utengenezaji wa hali ya juu. Verco Engineering, kutoka Clare, Australia Kusini, itatoa warsha 11 zinazolenga hadi wasichana 1000 wa mwaka wa 9 na 10 katika mkoa wa SA. Mradi huo umejengwa kuzunguka kutumia masomo na kanuni za STEM na teknolojia mpya kuongeza uzalishaji katika kazi za vijijini. "Mipango hiyo ni sehemu ya juhudi za kitaifa za kukabiliana na mambo ya kitamaduni, taasisi na shirika ambayo yanawazuia wasichana na wanawake kujifunza STEM na kuchagua kazi ambazo zinahitaji ujuzi wa STEM. """ Maombi kwa raundi ya pili ya mpango wa Wanawake katika STEM na Biashara itafunguliwa mnamo 2017. Kwa maelezo juu ya miradi yote iliyofadhiliwa angalia www.business.gov.au/womenSTEM