A new pilot program aimed at connecting young girls from underrepresented backgrounds with local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) industries is making significant strides under the guidance of a dedicated local educator.
Sarah Chapman, a Townsville State High School teacher and 2013 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Science Teaching is the driving force behind STEM Changemakers – a pioneering two-month program that offers hands-on experiences and mentorship in STEM careers.
“As a teacher with 20 years of secondary state school experience, I’ve seen countless talented girls in STEM who lacked support at home or faced too many other life demands,” says Sarah, who is also the Co-Chair of Women in STEMM Australia.
“Some members also discouraged girls from a STEM pathway as it seems too hard or doesn’t lead to a secure job.
“That’s why six months ago I decided to be the change I wanted to see in the world and take a year off work to devote my time to changing opportunities for regional girls in STEM; that is where STEM Changemakers was developed.”
It’s no secret that Australia faces a significant shortage in STEM workforce capacity and critical capabilities. While 80% of the fastest-growing occupations require STEM skills, only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs in the country are held by women.
As Sarah points out, this disparity is even more pronounced for those in regional areas who lag 1.5 years behind their metropolitan counterparts in STEM education.
“Girls from regional Australia are the least likely to choose STEM professions,” says Sarah.
“STEM labels can often be a barrier in the form of the stereotypes that come to mind.
“STEM Changemakers provides girls with tangible experiences supported by role models to transform girls’ aspirations. It enables them to see a positive future for themselves on a STEM pathway, which is critical.”
A central focus of STEM Changemakers is its collaboration with local stakeholders and businesses, which connects the students with regional STEM experts through Engagement Days and Be What You See Panels.
These initiatives highlight the industries’ contributions to their communities while offering students the opportunity to solve real-world, community-based problems.
“We want to show girls the positive impact these experts make, focusing on their contributions rather than just their titles, which is the purpose of these panels,” says Sarah.
“The girls in the STEM Changemakers program walk away with a reinforced confidence in themselves. They have strengthened communication and networking skills and are able to collaborate with a range of stakeholders in the community.
“Local STEM industries presented a range of authentic local problems to the girls. These real problems enable the girls to explore a range of STEM industries, design thinking skills and influence industry decisions.”
Wilmar Sugar Australia was one such local organisation that presented a real-world industry challenge to the students, which involved finding ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when transporting sugarcane to factories.
Nina West, Manager of Design Engineering at Wilmar Sugar Australia, says this challenge not only gave the girls a practical problem to solve but also highlighted the relevance of STEM in addressing global issues.
“There have been amazing ideas resulting from the girls’ brainstorming phase, some of which we might not have considered without them, and that is exactly what we were hoping for,” says Nina.
“They’ve been really forthcoming with ideas, which shows they feel respected by both Sarah and the other industry representatives.
“No matter which career paths these girls end up choosing, the opportunities this program has offered will undoubtedly benefit them in the future and may lead to opportunities they might otherwise not have had.”
The program culminated with a presentation to industry professionals in June, combining all the networking and communication skills developed across the eight weeks.
Grade eight Ayr State High School student Jorja Ahern notes how the program has expanded her understanding of the diverse career opportunities available.
“This program has opened up opportunities for my future studies and career path because it has helped me understand the different types of engineering and what I could achieve as an engineer,” says Jorja.
“From this program, I have learned about the different engineering types, and I have found an interest in electrical engineering and environmental engineering.”
Fellow student Tiana Cameron agrees and says it has helped her get a glimpse into the problems a STEM career can contribute to solving.
“The program has opened up opportunities by giving us ideas, because at the end of the day, someone can be given all the opportunities and advantages in the world, but still not get there because of the unwillingness to try,” says the grade 10 student.
“Changemakers has brought me from a girl interested in science to a girl interested in a career in science, and I think that’s the biggest takeaway.”
Sarah has no intention of slowing down. Her future plans for the program include developing targeted workshops for girls across regional Queensland, as well as creating coaching programs for primary STEM teachers to support engagement in these areas.
She is encouraging industry stakeholders to reach out and help support the championing of regional STEM professionals.
“I want to review, improve and offer more engineering-focused STEM Changemaker programs, followed by other targeted STEM programs showcasing regional and rural STEM industries and their impacts, especially in areas like environmental sustainability,” says Sarah.
“Long-term, I am aiming to work with regional industry to provide targeted skills training that is flexible and responsible for young people’s needs, rapid technological change and industry demand to ensure Australia’s STEM skills workforce can be more dynamic and responsive to change and allow our young people to be the leaders in solving future STEM challenges.”
Main image: Sarah Chapman, the force behind the STEM Changemakers program.
Image credit: All images supplied by STEM Changemakers
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