Demand for STEM skills in Australia is high and cannot be met over the coming decade unless cohesive and collective action is taken to maximise the attraction, participation and retention of men and women in the workforce. Women in particular face barriers at all levels of the pipeline including in their years of education and at all levels in the workforce, with pronounced barriers presenting at senior levels.

Attracting women and girls to STEM, providing an environment for them to thrive and progress is a shared responsibility of government, academia, the education system, industry, and the community.

The Women in STEM Decadal Plan, developed in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, offers a vision and opportunities to guide all stakeholders as they go about identifying and agreeing specific actions they must take to build the strongest STEM workforce possible to support Australia’s prosperity.

The opportunity to achieve a transformative, systematic and sustained change in Australia’s STEM sector begins with this plan.