Authorities urge more girls to study STEM and work on Victoria’s major project pipeline
A new generation of young Victorian women has begun to pursue engineering careers but they still make up just 12 per cent of the nation’s workforce. Now the Andrews Government is pushing for more women to get into the field.
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Two decades ago, Nicola Stoddart was one of just a few female engineers and often the only woman on a worksite.
Now the times have changed and a new generation of young Victorian women are pursuing careers in engineering while governments make unprecedented investments in new projects.
But more workers are needed and the Andrews Government will on Thursday use this year’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day to urge more women to get into the field.
Women make up just 12 per cent of the nation’s engineering workforce.
Ms Stoddart, who helped manage construction of St Pancras Station in London, now leads the team tasked with designing the railway for the Suburban Rail Loop.
More than 25 years of experience will be used deliver plans for a 90km rail line that connects Melbourne’s middle suburbs and adopts the latest in transport technologies.
She said science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) had opened many doors across her career.
“It’s enabled me to travel all over the world and work on some of the biggest projects around,” she said.
“In high school I really enjoyed STEM subjects, but I’d never considered engineering until a careers councillor suggested it to me.
“When I first started out I was usually the only woman on the worksite – but I’ve never felt that being a woman has held me back.”
Ms Stoddart said she encouraged young women to explore a career in engineering through lectures, mentors and other available opportunities.
Last October, the Andrews Government also published its Women in Construction Strategy as it works to diversify the workforce building its major projects.
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Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said she was excited by the new generation of women appearing in engineering courses.
”We’re lucky to have so many of them working on our major transport projects across Victoria,” she said.
“I’d encourage all young women who are interested in STEM to get involved and pursue a career in the field – with an unprecedented number of projects under construction across the state, there are endless opportunities to kick off your career in Victoria.”