The Geelong Manufacturing Council (GMC) has been successful in a grant application to strengthen pipelines to attract and retain women in manufacturing across regional Victorian centres.
The Australian Government yesterday announced $15.9 million in new grants for 17 successful projects that are supporting more women to study and build careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
GMC will expand its highly regarded Women in Manufacturing Network (WIMN) to new communities of women in Ballarat, Bendigo and Colac, and will continue to grow its program in Geelong.
This latest round of Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WiSE) grants provide between $500,000 and $1 million to expand successful projects that have increased awareness of STEM education and improved opportunities for girls or women to build skills and succeed in STEM careers.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the Albanese Government is committed to supporting more women into STEM careers, and to encouraging girls to study STEM subjects.
“We want to make sure that more women find lasting, rewarding and successful careers in STEM fields, regardless of their background,” Minister Husic said.
GMC Chair and convenor of WIMN, Lyn George OAM, said barriers to women’s and girls’ participation in STEM is a systemic issue in Australia and globally, spanning from primary school to senior careers. The proportion of women in STEM occupations remains low, and in fact fell to 13 per cent in 2020.
“The opportunities for women in the manufacturing sector are enormous. GMC is proud to be able to expand what has been a hugely successful mentoring program for women into new regional areas, and to increase awareness and understanding among regional secondary students of the inspiring careers available in manufacturing,” she said.
The GMC’s WIMN Program Manager, Leanne Nelson, said the new “Seed to STEM” expanded program would be developed over almost three years, and would promote pathways into rewarding manufacturing careers for as many as 230 regional women and girls.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to reach more women and girls and to expand our impact. This will ensure regional women and others facing barriers to workforce progression will have access to wider networks, opportunities, and mentoring,” she said.