Encouraging Victorian high school girls to get excited about careers in ESTEAM
Go Girl, Get Real with It is a new inaugural event launched by Vic ICT for Women in Victoria, Australia. It is designed for Victorian students in Years 5-12 and aims to inspire and encourage girls aged 10 to 18 to pursue careers in ESTEAM (environmental, science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) fields. The event will take place at Deakin University’s Burwood campus in Melbourne on 21 June 2023.
The United Nations has recognized the previous Go Girl, Go for IT event as a world-first initiative for the development of young female talent. This year, the event will feature a special seminar by NAB’s Chief Technology Officer, Steve Day.
The event is completely free for students to attend, and it has attracted thousands of girls from various schools, including those from regional areas who are willing to make a long journey to attend. The day will offer different activities for registered attendees, including practical and hands-on immersion sessions, an interactive trade show, a careers fair, and small group workshops showcasing ESTEAM careers and pathways.
The goal of the event is to provide a realistic view of ESTEAM disciplines and highlight relatable role models that girls can aspire to. Despite being the first generation born as digital natives, Gen Z females have not shown a strong inclination towards ESTEAM careers, which makes events like Go Girl, Get Real with It important to bridge that gap and inspire young girls.
Several influential role models from various ESTEAM fields will be participating in the event, including Dr. Jenine Beekhuyzen OAM from Tech Girls, Renata Sguario from Maxme and Future First Technology, Sarah Moran from Girl Geek Academy, Sharon Samson from ANZ, and Carina Parisella from ANZ, among others. Attendees can expect to hear from these role models, engage with the latest technology topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and 3D printing, and learn about the diverse career options available in ESTEAM.
The event aims to address the underrepresentation of women in ESTEAM fields. Currently, women make up less than a quarter of students studying ESTEAM, and there is poor retention of women in ESTEAM positions. The event aims to overcome stereotypes and misconceptions and highlight the fact that girls can bring their authentic selves into ESTEAM careers and make significant contributions.
The event is made possible through the support of a volunteer workforce of over 40 people working in technology, who generously donate their time to help run the event. Sponsors for the event include ANZ, Deakin University, ASD, The University of Melbourne, NAB, JOST & Co, TPG Telecom, Carsales, and others.
In summary, Go Girl, Get Real with It is an exciting event organized by Vic ICT for Women, focused on inspiring girls in Victoria to pursue careers in ESTEAM. It will feature renowned role models, hands-on activities, and interactive sessions to help young girls explore and become passionate about ESTEAM fields.
