OzGREEN is bringing its STEM Conference for Regional Girls to Coffs Harbour on 5 June to coincide with World Environment Day.
The conference at Yarilla Arts and Museum runs from 9.45am – 2.15pm and is the result of a partnership between 18 organisations including the Toyota Community Foundation, Arborgreen and Coffs Harbour City Library.
It is designed to inspire young people to pursue a future in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and will connect 125 Year 8 girls with professionals and industry opportunities.
“STEM skills are survival skills for the future,” OzGREEN Co-CEO and Conference Manager Kathleen Hannah said.
“They open doors to higher education, high-demand careers, and the solutions our world desperately needs.
“But in regional areas, students often don’t see STEM as relevant or accessible.
“STEM jobs are growing nearly twice as fast as other sectors, but the talent gap is widening.”
Mike Rausa, Director of Toyota Community Foundation Australia and Senior Advisor to BOD Chair Revolution Software Services, said both the Trust and the OzGreen initiative are “important in encouraging young girls in regional Australia to take up STEM subjects and explore opportunities to make the world a better place”.
According to the Invergowrie STEM Report, an estimated 75 percent of the fastest-growing occupations now demand STEM capabilities.
Critical thinking, problem-solving, analytic capabilities, curiosity and imagination are critical in the workplace of the future – and yet, participation in STEM is falling.
The STEM shortage isn’t just a skills crisis.
It’s a regional development challenge, the report states, a matter of equity and a key to driving national innovation and tackling global environmental issues.
Professionals in the industry say STEM skills are essential to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges – climate change, food security, health crises and sustainable energy.
Learn more about this event atwww.ozgreen.org/scfrg.
By Andrea FERRARI
