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Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) and technology partner Amadeus have hosted a group of female high school students to encourage more women into aviation and STEM careers.
Held on 30 June, the “Come Fly With Me” program saw 35 Year 10 and 11 students from Western Sydney participate in workshops at Amadeus’ lab, including robotics, 3D printing, and applications for technology in the aviation industry.
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“Empowering young women to pursue careers in technology is an important step for driving innovation and building a more inclusive travel industry,” said Michelle Wilson, head of site Pacific at Amadeus.
According to WSI CEO Simon Hickey, the program gave the students insight into the breadth of STEM careers open to them, including in aviation.
“Western Sydney International has created thousands of jobs during construction and it will continue to be a jobs creator and catalyst for investment for decades to come, and that’s the key for students coming through high school today who are beginning to consider tertiary studies and career opportunities,” he said.
“Hands-on workshops like this give students real insights into the type of education and skills required to work in industries like aviation, but also smart manufacturing, science, and technology, which can have many applications that will grow exponentially over the course of these young people’s professional lives.
“We’ll continue to engage local high schools through initiatives like this, and we’re working with training institutions like TAFE NSW and Western Sydney University to map the job opportunities required and see how we can best ensure people are getting trained with the right skills for the right jobs at the right time.”
It comes after Virgin Australia offered a similar tour of its Brisbane facilities to high school girls for International Women’s Day in March, and the Federal Government last year awarded $1.3 million in funding to four projects aimed at boosting female participation in Australia’s aviation industry.
A series of reports has shown the STEM sector is lagging behind others regarding gender disparity, and alongside a talent shortage critics say can only be overcome with a more diverse intake.
The STEM Career Pathways report, for example, which can be read here, found only 58 per cent of women surveyed were on permanent full-time contracts, compared to 78 per cent of men.
