Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship - Round 4

Australia must have a deeper STEM and entrepreneurship talent pool. Women are underrepresented in entrepreneurship and STEM education and careers, and participation of women from intersectional cohorts is particularly low. The persistent challenge of attracting and retaining girls and women in STEM studies and careers remains across the pathway from school and into careers and this program aims to address these challenges.

The program supports investment in gender equity initiatives that aim for lasting systemic change and eliminating barriers for women’s participation in STEM education and careers, and entrepreneurship, building on the Australian Government’s Advancing Women in STEM strategy and the Women in STEM Decadal Plan, which was developed by the Australian Academy of Science and Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.

The objectives of the program are to:

• increase awareness and participation of girls and women in STEM education and careers
• increase awareness and participation of girls and women in other parts of the innovation ecosystem including innovative businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurial activities and careers
• increase in the number of women in senior leadership and decision making positions in government, research organisations, industry and businesses

The program’s intended outcomes are:

• increased awareness of the range of opportunities in STEM for girls and women arising from STEM education
• increased number of girls and women participating in STEM education and careers, through primary and secondary school, higher education, and the workforce
• increased awareness and participation by girls and women in other parts of the innovation ecosystem such as innovative businesses, start-ups and other entrepreneurial activities and careers
• increased number of women role models in the STEM and entrepreneurial sectors
• increased evidence base for future policies by providing data on girls’ and women’s participation in STEM education and careers and entrepreneurship
• increased strategies for improving gender equity in STEM-based organisations.

Given the complex nature of the challenges this program is intended to address, it is likely that significant and measurable outcomes can only be delivered over the medium to long term. However, projects should be designed to contribute to these sustained outcomes.