New science and technology plan could make WA the state of tech

Let me ask you a question: how many women do you know that work in tech?

In Australia, girls have fallen behind boys in maths and science subjects at school, making Australia’s gender gap one of the worst in the world.

Girls have fallen behind boys in both maths and science subjects, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study has revealed.

So, when I was recently invited to attend the launch of Western Australia’s new 10-year Science and Technology Plan 2025-2035, this heartbreaking statistic was top of mind.

As the Women in Technology WA chair, this was a great privilege and an even greater privilege to have participated in the consultation process.

A who’s who of WA’s science and technology sector attended to learn about the Cook government’s vision to boost our scientific and technology capabilities for the next 10 years.

The plan has been designed to enable WA to capitalise on opportunities to create jobs; attract talent to our state and more importantly, retain them; and to support investment and economic growth.

Once successfully achieved, the plan has the potential to turn WA into a serious leader in the science and technology fields, empowering the state for future opportunities and challenges.

The plan aims to focus on six strategic action areas: 1. Talent, skills and workforce 2. Funding and investment 3. Physical and digital infrastructure 4. Leadership, collaboration and communication 5. Translation, commercialisation and procurement and 6. Policy, regulation and governance.

This will all be supported by a new science and technology council that is currently taking applications.

The importance of WiTWA being in the room from the beginning was critical, and it is heartening to see that a key focus of the talent, skills and workforce pillar will be directed to supporting under-represented groups, including women, people with disability and/or neurodiversity, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to pursue STEM careers.

Implementation cannot come soon enough because the gender gap in maths and science is nowhere near good enough for Australia.

Girls have fallen behind boys in both maths and science subjects, making Australia’s gender gap one of the worst among 58 countries tested in the four-yearly Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.

Countries from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas, all outperformed Australia, with the top-five list for maths dominated by our nearest neighbours Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.

And, according to Glenn Fahey from the Centre for Independent Studies, “Australia is really performing at a C-plus when it comes to the international comparisons in maths.”

A C-plus? As the current Chair of WiTWA, I know we can do better.

Technology and STEM careers present opportunities for girls and women that go beyond just increasing diversity in the sector.

In my experience, the language of tech is universal, and tech roles often have above-average salaries.

This enables women to not only achieve financial stability, it also enables women in carer roles to perform many tech roles from literally anywhere. Tech jobs are the very definition of remote careers working effectively.

Which makes me even more determined to increase the visibility of WiTWA and its members.

WiTWA has some of the most passionate and smart women in its volunteer group that you are ever likely to meet.

Cyber-security specialists, data analysts, project managers, tech lawyers, software developers, business analysts, security consultants, data scientists – you name it. If you can’t find a woman to fill a role, then you’re not looking hard enough.

I’m proud of the work that WiTWA is doing. Our Techtrails program is delivered to schools all over Western Australia; our STEMpower platform will soon be available Australia-wide for parents, career influencers and educators to learn about future jobs, and to find resources, events and role models; and our annual conference and awards celebrate the incredible women in industry in WA.

It seems more important than ever that we continue to work towards increasing the representation of girls and women in STEM.

Because if they can see her, they can be her.

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