The Diversity in STEM Review aims to assess the barriers limiting the participation of women, girls, and underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, supports the review and believes it will help identify ways to increase participation in STEM. The gender gap in STEM fields is significant, with women comprising just 27% of the workforce in STEM-related industries. The review will also consider broader issues of representation in the tech sector, including barriers to participation facing people from First Nations backgrounds, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTI community. Industry players, including Indigital founder Mikaela Jade, have welcomed the review as an opportunity to review current practices and reinvest in effective programs. While some, such as Girl Geek Academy’s Sarah Moran, have criticized the decision to pause funding, Husic believes that the review will facilitate better and more informed decision-making in the long run.
Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, supports the Diversity in STEM Review, which aims to identify the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The review will investigate the effectiveness of existing programs for women in STEM and will table its final report in Q4 2023. While some existing grant programs will continue to receive $100 million in funding, no new funding will be announced until after the final report is released. Husic has defended the decision to pause new grants, stating that announcing new grants before the final report would be premature. He assured applicants that the funding is available, and the grant programs will continue to operate as before. The gender gap in STEM-related industries is significant, with women comprising just 27% of the workforce. While some individuals, such as Sarah Moran, founder of Girl Geek Academy, have criticized the decision to pause funding, Husic believes that the review will facilitate better and more informed decision-making in the long run.
Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, has emphasized the importance of addressing the underrepresentation of women in Australia’s tech sector. The Diversity in STEM Review will investigate the factors contributing to the low percentage of women in STEM fields and assess the effectiveness of existing women in STEM programs. The review’s terms of reference also include the participation of people from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations, those living with disabilities, and the LGBTI community. Husic believes that the government’s role is to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the STEM sector, and that the review will identify ways to achieve this goal. The tech industry has welcomed the review, with some experts noting that it is a timely opportunity to review current practices and reinvest in effective programs. Industry players such as Indigital founder Mikaela Jade, who missed out on government grants in the past, will be part of the expert panel conducting the review. The review is a step towards a future where the STEM sector draws on Australia’s full talent pool, eliminating barriers to participation for women and underrepresented groups.
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