Murdoch University is tackling one of the technology industry's biggest challenges with a new initiative aimed at increasing the number of women in the workforce.
Young girls from high schools across Western Australia were invited to participate in the Murdoch University School of IT's second annual CodeCrush event last week.
Thirty Year 8 and 9 students attended the three-day immersive program alongside their teachers.
Hands-on learning experiences
Workshops, expert talks, panel discussions and industry site visits were on this year's agenda. The girls learned about real-world uses of coding, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, mining technology and software development.
CodeCrush program coordinator Associate Professor Polychronis Koutsakis said the event built on last year's successful debut.
"Through hands-on workshops, real-world industry experiences and meaningful conversations with leading academics and professionals, students were able to see how technology connects to real careers and global challenges," he said.
"Initiatives like CodeCrush are critical in inspiring the next generation of young women to pursue studies and careers in technology, and to build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world."
Addressing the gender gap
Women currently form 30 per cent of the Australian technology workforce, compared with 44 per cent in the broader professional workforce.
Aspiring students were able to connect with female role models in the industry, such as WA 2024 Young Australian of the Year Kate Kirwin. Ms Kirwin founded She Codes Australia, an organisation dedicated to teaching women how to program, and taught a beginner-friendly coding workshop through the metaphor of a cupcake recipe.
Staff from WA drone programming start-up Squadrone led a hands-on workshop exploring how drones are used in professional industries. Students were able to fly the drones in a simulator, and program their own flight missions with block coding.
Industry exposure
The students also visited industry leaders including Immersive Technologies, where they experienced mining simulation technology, and Bankwest, where they learned about corporate technology career pathways.
Associate Professor Koutsakis said the goal was to inspire young girls to consider their options in the technology field, and encourage them to pursue further studies.
