The inaugural ACT Women in Engineering and Computer Sciences (WINGS) event has been attended by 150 female secondary students.
WINGS is aimed at encouraging female students to explore opportunities in non-traditional areas.
Minister for Women, Yvette Berry said the full participation of women and girls in all aspects of society was critical to the wellbeing of the whole community.
“Women are under-represented in the engineering and computer science fields so events like this play an important role in inspiring young women to consider learning and working in these fields,” Ms Berry said.
Designed by Hawker College’s engineering and IT teachers, the all-day interactive learning experience featured two hands-on modules and an expert panel session.
The first module focused on coding and mechatronics, while the second was a prosthetic leg engineering workshop.
The expert panel session featured university students and professionals answering questions about how to enter the field and what it was like to work within it.
Students from across Canberra High School, Belconnen High School, Kingsford Smith, Lyneham, and Campbell High School attended and were guided by Hawker College students as well as ANU Student Ambassadors.
Ms Berry said the Government was driving greater gender equality through the ACT Women’s Plan, which provided support and empowerment to women to participate in all aspects of community.
“One highlight of the plan is the Women in Trade Grants, which has just finalised its first recruitment round,” Ms Berry said.
“This grant provides both financial and social support to help attract and retain women into male dominated trades within the vocational sector,” she said.
