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Women in STEM
Friday 28th Aug Helping more women enter, stay, thrive and lead in science, technology, engineering and maths.Australia is at a turning point. Demand for STEM skills is accelerating — yet women remain underrepresented at every stage of the journey. Women made up just 23.5% of higher education STEM enrolments in 2023, hold only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs, and fill just 8% of CEO roles in STEM industries. It starts early, with fewer than one in four Year 12 girls choosing advanced STEM subjects.
And attracting women to STEM isn't enough. Too many leave through the "leaky pipeline" — a pattern of attrition driven by a lack of mentorship, cultural bias, and the challenge of balancing work and family. That's not just a personal loss; it's a national one, constraining innovation, discovery and economic growth.
The Women in STEM Futures Fund is Swinburne's flagship response — a bold investment in equity designed to attract, retain and elevate women across every STEM field. It's a mission rooted in our history: Swinburne was founded in 1908 by George and Ethel Swinburne, and Ethel believed technical education should empower young women just as much as young men. Today, ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide, we're carrying that founding conviction forward.
Your gift helps break down barriers, build confidence and create the role models, mentors and leaders who will reshape STEM to reflect the full diversity of our nation.
"Investing in women in STEM is investing in Australia's brightest future." — Professor Virginia Kilborn, Chief Scientist, Swinburne University of Technology, and Women in STEM Futures Fund Ambassador
The Women in STEM Futures Fund supports women at every stage of the pipeline through five priorities:
Early Outreach — inspiring school-aged girls to see themselves as future scientists, engineers and innovators.
Targeted Scholarships & Recruitment — creating pathways into university and research through named scholarships.
Mentorship, Leadership & Network Development — building professional communities that nurture confidence and connection.
Early Career Researcher Gender Diversity — supporting female researchers as they establish and lead research careers.
Partnership with the Australian Academy of Science — aligning with the national Decadal Plan for Women in STEM to help turn bold policy into lasting change.
You can also choose to fund a named prize, celebrating a woman in STEM who excels in her field and inspires those who follow.
