Four female engineering students paving the way for possible STEM careers in the Pilbara

Four female engineering students from the University of Western Australia recently swapped lecture halls for the red dirt of the Pilbara to encourage local high school students into STEM careers. Students Kate Kelly, Sie-Anne Waisime, Narmeen Kashif and Stephanie Cabrera Saldana represented UWA at Tom Price and Newman Senior High Schools as part of the university’s student equity programs. The students participated in a range of activities during the week, including learning about the different types of engineering and Q&A sessions with UWA ambassadors. Engineering student Sie-Anne Waisime said she was passionate about changing perceptions girls had about engineering. “We as women face our own set of challenges and misconceptions that we need to break down,” she said. “With only 16 per cent of Australia’s STEM-skilled workforce being female, this stereotype has been reinforced, which is why role models for these regional visits are integral to successfully breaking down common barriers and misconceptions about STEM pathways.” Aspire UWA has engaged with local high schools in the Pilbara to address barriers to tertiary study since 2009 and in 2021 joined with Girls in Engineering to address gender diversity within STEM fields.