Re-thinking Engagement for Underrepresented Youth in Northern Australia

Imagine growing up in rural Northern Australia amongst the sugarcane fields, having an interest in science, but struggling to connect with any opportunities. Imagine 30 years on from graduating high school, following a science and education degree, working as a secondary science educator, still seeing the disconnect for rural and regional girls to connect with opportunities in STEM. In the absence of a magic wand, working to drive change for rural and regional communities, leading a volunteer group called the Townsville STEM Hub, engaging over 10,000 young people, teachers and the community, still seeing the narrative for girls in STEM not change.

The statistics are alarming:
* Out of the ten lowest scoring local government areas in Australia, nine of them are in Northern Australia, generally, disadvantaged areas being in regional and remote communities, while advantaged areas tend to be in major cities.
* Women make up 29% of STEM industry and 15% of STEM-qualified jobs
* 14% of the engineering profession is women, only 3.8% are Australian-born
* State school girls make up only 1.7% of engineering university enrolments, AND
* Regional Australian girls are the least likely to choose STEM professions compared to low socioeconomic and culturally diverse groups.

With this knowledge and an expert in global best practice in engaging young people in STEM, particularly girls, I was driven to make a drive change. Taking 18 months off as a teacher, volunteering my time and energy to change the narrative for underrepresented regional girls in STEM, by developing STEM Changemakers.

STEM Changemakers leads the empowerment of underrepresented girls in regional Australia through authentic, sustained, place-based experiences. Changing Australia’s STEM workforce capability and potential through connecting regional communities and growing collaboration, by transforming girls’ aspirations and their family supporters’ perspectives.