Girls from equity backgrounds will have more opportunities to participate in STEM learning activities such as the Junior Science Academy, thanks to Macquarie’s newly-funded Girls to Graduates program

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Close to $1 million in funding has been awarded to Macquarie University for a project that aims to address the under-representation of girls and women in STEM.

Macquarie’s Girls to Graduates (G2G) program was one of 17 projects nationwide to receive funding in the Australian Government’s Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) scheme announced in January.

Focusing on four principal objectives – engage, encourage, enable and empower – the project builds on the University’s award-winning initiatives in bringing together school, academic and industry partners to encourage participation of girls and women in STEM education and careers.

G2G is led by Pro Vice-Chancellor (Programs and Pathways) Professor Taryn Jones, 2019 Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion winner Associate Professor Joanne Jamie, and Head of Educational Services Dr Stuart Upton – all from the Faculty of Science and Engineering – and Widening Participation’s Senior Outreach Support Officer Jacinta Carruthers.

“We are elated to have funding for a project focused on breaking down barriers to women working in STEM at multiple stages of their educational journey,” says Jones. “It recognises Macquarie’s integrated and sustainable approach as we work towards increasing the proportion of women and girls choosing – and remaining in – STEM careers.

“We are particularly thrilled to be working with two of our top female experts on this project, Jacinta and Joanne – what better way to showcase women in STEM than that?”

A champion for STEM inclusion: Associate Professor Joanne Jamie was part of the Eureka Prize-winning team for STEM Inclusion in 2019.

Among the funded project initiatives will be:

• an extension of the popular Junior Science Academy holiday program to provide sponsored STEM holiday program placements for girls from equity backgrounds
• programs providing a breadth of STEM learning and leadership opportunities for high school girls from low socioeconomic status and regional and remote partner schools
• a new equity pathway and scholarship scheme to support entry into undergraduate STEM programs for female high school students from equity backgrounds
• mentoring, internship and summer industry placements for G2G program participants during their study at Macquarie to support their successful transition to STEM careers.

“Through these coordinated activities, we are anticipating an increase not only in the participation of girls and women in STEM, but also in their confidence and success across the different stages of their academic lifespan,” says Jamie. “As a university, we have such an important role to play in building Australia’s STEM capability and through our Girls to Graduates program we are ready to make that difference.”