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About the initiative

The award-winning Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy is the first program of its kind in the world.

It is an investment in a generation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander female leaders, role models and game changers in STEM fields. To set young women up for a successful STEM career, we provide tailored support from high school through various tertiary pathways, including university and into graduate employment.

The STEM Academy is part of the movement to increase the representation of Indigenous women in STEM careers, especially for those living in regional and remote areas who normally may not be able to access quality STEM opportunities in their home communities.

How industry can get involved

Investing in Australia’s next generation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander female leaders and community role models will empower them to reach their full potential through hands-on, practical knowledge, networks and STEM experiences.

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If you are a student, teacher, or parent, please use our Education and Outreach contact form

Find out about how organisations and STEM professionals can collaborate with CSIRO Education & Outreach.

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Young Indigenous Womens STEM Academy Program

The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy is a program for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Talk to us about the Academy

Curious about the Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy? Want to know more?

The challenge

At CSIRO, we believe that embracing diversity and unique perspectives can help solve some of Australia’s greatest STEM challenges. Despite concerted efforts to diversify our STEM pipeline over the last decade, women's representation in STEM has only marginally improved. Data shows that Australia's STEM-skilled workforce is only 16% women. We also know that only 0.5% of Australia’s Indigenous population have a university STEM qualification, opposed to 5.2% of the non-Indigenous population. 

This is a significant issue for Indigenous women's prosperity and economic standing, considering half of all future jobs will require STEM skills. To address this challenge, our goal is to empower more Indigenous women to access STEM pathways and help them recognise their legacy as the world’s first scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.

The solution

Building on the outcomes of our Eureka prize winning Indigenous STEM Education Project, the STEM Academy was created to provide a space to empower and mentor young Indigenous women who have been unrepresented in STEM at steady rates over generations. Removing barriers to participation and providing tailored guidance from a dedicated Academic Coordinator is one way we are empowering these young people to see their place in STEM fields.

The STEM Academy offers a culturally enriched space for the exploration of STEM interests, identity and cultural confidence. Access to resources and tools enable young women and their families to pursue academic endeavours that may not otherwise be possible.

Our model offers targeted, long-term, holistic support, to empower young Indigenous women to pursue STEM education and careers.

Our impact

Since its inception in 2019, the STEM Academy has rapidly increased the number of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young women undertaking studies and careers in STEM. To date, we've supported over 600 students nation-wide, with thanks to an initial $20million fund from the National Indigenous Australians Agency. It was received as part of the Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fund, the Government's 1967 Referendum – 50th Anniversary Indigenous Education Package.

We’re proud of our impact on the lives of the young women and their communities:

  • Over 600 total participants
  • Hold a 96% participation retention rate from Year 8 to Year 12, compared to 63% national average for Indigenous female students attending school/study
  • Delivered over 100 individual STEM experiences
  • Led by a team of Indigenous women, including Alumni in steering committee leadership roles
  • Created space for Indigenous young women and staff to present and speak at prominent conferences and events
  • Winners 2023 The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Impact Excellence Medal
  • Winners of People's Choice Award 2023 Northern Territory Science Week Awards 2023
  • Winners Women in Technology Prizes - 2024 Public Sector Excellence Award and 2024 First Nations Change Maker Award
  • Winners of 2026 National NAIDOC Innovation Award. 

Read more about our impact with student stories below.

Our partners

If you are an organisation that would like to support this award-winning program and inspire more young Indigenous women to pursue STEM, please reach out. We’d love to hear from Industry supporters looking to co-design or deliver opportunities. There are one-off sponsorship opportunities available that can be tailored to your local region, or we welcome national investment.

If you are a STEM professional who would like to offer your time to meet and inspire young Indigenous women from across Australia, we’d also like to hear from you.

Child safety checks will apply.

 

Our news stories

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Got a question about the Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy? Fill in our contact form and we'll get back to you.