Future STEM Jobs & Skills Initiative

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Project Overview

In early 2022 WiTWA was awarded Australian Government grant funding as part of the National Careers Institute Grant to contribute to better outcomes for young women, in relation to improving STEM Gender Equity. The funding enabled WiTWA to deliver a further 12 months of Techtrails incursions to high school students in metro and regional Western Australia.

The WiTWA team delivered:

  • 2 x STEM industry collaboration workshops
  • 2 x Research Reports
  • 7 x Techtrails Incursions

Collaboration Between Industry and Education

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INTERESTED IN THE WORKSHOP OUTCOMES?

Download the Press Release & Report

What is a Techtrail?

Techtrails are designed to generate passion, excitement and interest in STEM based education and careers to motivate secondary students, and particularly girls living in regional, remote, and mid to lower ICSEA areas, to pursue STEM related study and career opportunities. 

Techtrails incursions to secondary Schools bring guest speakers (role models) from STEM Industries and jobs to discuss their careers, their involvement in STEM education, the benefits of STEM education and the role models personal stories and career pathways.

Participating Schools

We visited seven schools across metropolitan and regional Western Australia and were able to positively impact over 1,200 students.

Read more about the schools visits through a our blog posts. 

 

STEM Champions visit Champion Bay

The Techtrails team spend the day at Champion Bay…

Techtrails bring Women STEM Role models to the Pilbara

The WiTWA team spend the day at Karratha Senior…

Techtrails visit Geraldton Senior High School in 2023

Schools have once again welcomed our Techtrails STEM and…

Techtrails visits Karratha Senior High School

Our Techtrails STEM & Future Skills Program is back…

Techtrails visits Esperance Senior High School

Our Techtrails STEM & Future Skills Program is making…

Techtrails comes to Manjimup SHS

On Thursday 22 November the WITWA team had the…
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Our Role Models

The Techtrails Incursions program would not exist without our role models and speakers. All of whom are STEM industry leaders, knowledge powerhouses and selflessly dedicate their time to bring about positive change.

Dior Etherton

Senior Consultant/Researcher at Deltares

Clarissa Luk

Mechanical Engineering Intern - Space Industries

Petra Trinke

Education Lead

Karen Stewart

Data Practice Manager

Jelena Ceranic

Site Engineer

Emma Eltringham

Product Studio Manager

Cecily Rawlinson

Director

Charis Campbell

Corporate Product Manager

Dr Paola Magni

Forensic Scientist

Tara Bennett-Connell

Digital|Product Management

Lyn Beazley

Adjunct Professor

Lacey Filipich

Financial Educator, Author and Entrepreneur

Sarah James

Technologist

Michelle Sandford

Developer Engagement Lead

Rimma Shafikova

Senior Data Scientist

Komal Gandhi

Lead Consultant

Laura Kuhar

Research Team Leader

Dr Rina Fu

Lecturer, scientist, author, artist

Dr Vanessa Rauland

Founder & CEO ClimateClever

Esther Oh

Founder & CEO

Cait McGowan

CFO for Global Operations + Managing Partner AUS

Trish Rossides

Drone Tech Specialist and Cabin Crew High Flyer

Caitriona Forde

Cybersecurity Awareness & Culture Expert

Hayley van Waas

Senior Engineer and Developer Mentor at Envato

Michelle Radley

Chief Advisor - Information Systems & Technology

Tina Ambrose

Co-chair WiTWA

Emily Major-Goldsmith

Cyber Security Manager

Jo Minney

Nerd in Charge

Ashleigh Lydon

Development Officer - Livestock

Kasonde Ng’andu

Data Science

Cherish McNamara

Training and Delivery Manager

Emma Tongue

Principal Naval Architect

Lisa Kirkendale

Head of Aquatic Zoology and Curator of Molluscs

Karen Cheng

Principal Designer

Karina Price

Founder of the Virtual Plant Cell, UWA

Gry Stene

Founder & Chief Orchestrator at STEAM Engine Global

Nabila Farah

Cyber Security Consultant at KPMG

Samantha Moody

Director Cyber Security at KPMG

Deepmala Sharma

Senior Consultant - Deloitte

Nancy Haddaden

Senior Consultant/Researcher at Deltares

Donna Lawler

Principal at Azimuth Advisory

Chenoa Tremblay

Researcher - SETI Institute

Jenni Harrison

Director of Strategic Technology within NHS Scotland

Navdeep Dhami

Environmental Microbiologist at Curtin University

Stephanie Smith

Manager City Growth at City of Karratha

Donna Stace

Support Superintendent Signals Rio Tinto

Cassie Beattie

Business Consultant Digital - Woodside

Storm Nuttall

Marine Manager at Rio Tinto

Tracy Rothery

Software IBM

Charlene Clarke

Founding Partner & Chief Vision Officer Exodus Tech

Michael North

CEO of KineticIT

Jo Minney

Nerd In Charge at House Digital

Lucy Cooke

Founder/CEO of SpaceDraft

Brigette McDowell

Founder of Cheeditha Energy group
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Real Data, Real Impact

The WiTWA STEM Future Jobs and Skills Initiative achieved significant improvements for STEM gender equity. Read our research report that details what project outcomes were achieved, and how to incorporate project recommendations into future initiatives. 

Project Partners

Sincere thanks go out to our project partners. Who commit their time, energy and funding to support the delivery of the WiTWA STEM Future Jobs and Skills Initiative. Many of which have been long term supporters of WiTWA and are a voice of inspiration for women and girls looking to pursue education and careers in STEM.

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Our Volunteers

WiTWA would not be able to deliver the programs that have such a significant impact without the support of our dedicated and passionate volunteer team.

Teagen McEwan

Techtrails Project Manager

Kay Hargreaves

Co-chair WiTWA
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Funding Source

The National Careers Institute Partnership Grants program provided grants from $20,000 to $350,000 for up to 12 months to enhance partnerships with industry, employers, schools and tertiary institutions to deliver innovative career advisory products and services for people at all stages of their careers. 

WiTWA was one of 42 recipients nationally, and only 5 in Western Australia to receive the federal funding. 

 

The objectives for round 3 of the program were to:

  • create greater awareness of career pathways and career information for women with a focus on women returning to work from a career break, women in non-traditional industries and occupations, or industries where women are under-represented (including at senior levels)
  • contribute to an evidence base for addressing the needs of women undertaking training and apprenticeships
  • enhance partnerships between industry, employers, schools and tertiary providers that support women through traditional and non-traditional career pathways.

 

The intended outcomes of the program:

  • enhanced career pathways that help women of working age to reach their full career potential
  • increased understanding by women of skills and attributes sought by employers including in new and emerging industries
  • stronger local collaboration in the delivery of career guidance to women of working age
  • improved quality of locally based career guidance to women of working age.

WiTWA was proudly able to contribute to the goals of the program and thank the Australian Government for the grant funding that enabled our project to bring a positive STEM message to over 1,200 participants throughout

 

Find out more about STEM and Technology initiatives our funding partners are involved in:

National Careers Institute https://www.dewr.gov.au/nci 

Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources https://www.industry.gov.au/ 

Department of Education, Skills and Employment https://www.dese.gov.au/ Western Australia.