Husic calls for ideas to tackle STEM’s lack of diversity

The government has called for further consultation on draft recommendations to help tackle tech’s lack of diversity.

Sally-Ann Williams chair of the Pathway to Diversity in Stem Review. Picture: John Feder

A diversity review seeking to tackle the long-term and structural issues in science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors has released four draft recommendations as it calls on the public for ideas.

Pathway to Diversity in Stem Review, launched by the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic last year, has also called for ideas on how to attract and retain First Nations people Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people, women and girls, people with a disability, LGBTQIA+ people, neurodiverse people, people facing age-based discrimination and people living in remote areas in the field of STEM.

The four draft recommendations included improving leader and establishing a government-backed council for diversity in STEM; running long-term advertising campaigns to broaden cultural perceptions of STEM; improving long-term opportunities for diverse populations and broadening successful gender initiatives in tertiary education; and changing the attraction and retention of STEM careers including a reassessment of overseas-earned qualifications.

Tackling issues in STEM could have a larger impact on all industries as all companies are increasingly becoming technology companies or implementing newer technology such as AI and automation, said Sally-Ann Williams, chair of the review.

“But I also think the reason that we don’t have great inclusion in STEM is not just because of the stem sector itself; it’s more broader societal challenges around inclusion in general,” she said.

In some industries such as mining, women still see a shortage of designated toilets and bathrooms, Ms Williams said. In research and academia, often universities or research organisations receive multi-year grants but hire staff in 12-month contracts which can often restrict those from diverse backgrounds from establishing themselves, she said.

Ms Williams and Mr Husic said there was one issue faced by STEM industries that was also adding to the nation’s labour and skills shortage: the lack of recognition of overseas qualifications.

“I think everyone has a moment where they’ve tried to work out why the person driving them in an Uber is an overseas trained engineer and not having their talents used in the national interest,” Mr Husic said.

“We do need to look at what may be holding that back. Sometimes there’s good reason and we need to be able to ensure that the way people are being trained up conforms with what is expected locally,” he said.

“But for a lot of people, they’re left scratching their head, wondering why aren’t we using people that have been trained up in complex areas to be applied in a really useful productive way.”

Ms Williams said she hoped people realised that intervention programs could only go so far without additional support.

“It’s really important to me that people understand that structural changes are needed alongside programmatic intervention because I think historically, we’ve missed tying these two conversations together,” she said.

Consultations are open to the public until September 6.

Originally published as Husic calls for ideas to tackle STEM’s lack of diversity