ATSE welcomes today’s announced review by Minister Ed Husic of Government programs and efforts underway which are supporting greater diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
More diversity at all levels of STEM will significantly enhance Australia’s entire economy and is key to addressing the current skills shortages. Diversity in STEM also brings new ideas and new ways of approaching some of the greatest challenges faced from climate change to building a technology centred economy.
Kylie Walker, CEO of ATSE said that diversity in STEM remains a critical and under-addressed issue. This review is timely and welcome, and has the potential to help Australia fill its skills gap across sectors and industries which are vital for shaping out future.
“Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people are insufficiently recognised and are underrepresented. We require genuine reform and applaud this effort to address systemic and cultural biases which inhibit diversity in STEM.”
“Now more than ever, we need the strength of diverse perspectives to solve our urgent challenges. We need the skills and experiences of diverse change-makers to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, respond to international instability and confront the already devastating impacts of climate change,” said Kylie Walker.
ATSE is pleased to partner with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to help shape a future focused STEM workforce. The Academy’s Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM program, aims to address gender inequities in STEM through fostering more women-led industry-academia collaborations in applied research and business, growing professional skills of women in STEM and by propelling women into leadership.
As a co-author of the Women in STEM Decadal Plan ATSE stands ready to support the review and efforts to increase action to address cultural and structural barriers that limit the participation and potential of women and other under-represented groups in STEM.