Amazon & university host event to boost girls in STEM careers

Amazon has joined forces with Western Sydney University and Camden Council to host Girls' Tech Day, an event designed to encourage girls and young women in Western Sydney to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Up to 900 students from Years 3 to 12 will participate in interactive workshops and activities at Camden Civic Centre, with the aim of strengthening the region's potential as a technology talent corridor.

Regional investment

The partnership comes as the government's National AI Plan highlights workforce development as key to enabling more Australians to benefit from artificial intelligence. Camden's Mayor, Therese Fedeli, said the region is poised to become a centre for STEM-related employment.

"Camden is one of the fastest growing local government areas in the state and we're set to become a growth corridor for STEM jobs," said Fedeli. "This event will support local students to develop the skills they need to flourish in careers of the future and booming industries. We're so excited to host this event and support girls and young women in aiming high."

Workforce gaps

According to recent research from Amazon and Amazon Web Services, Australian employers face significant challenges in recruiting AI talent. Three-quarters of surveyed employers report they are unable to find suitable candidates. The demand for workers with AI competencies is reflected in higher earning potential-such employees are paid up to 29% more than their peers in similar roles.

Despite significant employer demand, participation in STEM remains uneven. Just 33% of students surveyed said they have a role model in STEM, yet exposure to such figures makes students far more likely to consider technology careers. At Girls' Tech Day, students will hear from women working in technology, including Associate Professor Anupama Ginige, Deputy Dean at Western Sydney University's School of Computer, Data & Mathematical Sciences.

"Girls' Tech Day is about showing young women that they don't just belong in STEM, we need their ideas, experiences and leadership to solve real-world problems. No matter where you begin, a future in STEM as a female can take you further than you ever imagined, and we're here to welcome you on that journey," said Ginige.

Education initiatives

The collaboration between Amazon and Western Sydney University goes beyond the event itself. Both organisations are co-developing a teaching resource for schools in Western Sydney, using the technologies showcased at Girls' Tech Day. This resource, led by Associate Professor Ginige, will focus on practical AI applications in health science. It will be made available to all schools in the region, including those unable to attend the event in person.

Sophie Partridge, Director, Future Student Engagement at Western Sydney University, said the university places a strong emphasis on encouraging women in STEM. "In our university, we feel empowering women in STEM is particularly crucial, as their contributions shape innovation and inspire the next generation of leaders in science and technology."

Hands-on experience

Girls' Tech Day features a range of exhibitors and workshops designed to foster curiosity and confidence in technology. Activities include robotics demonstrations by Amazon Robotics, hands-on coding with the Girls' Programmeming Network, digital music production with Ableton, autonomous racing car design, and podcast recording with Amazon Music. Design studio Blackbird will also demonstrate the importance of design thinking in entrepreneurship and highlight female founders in Australia.

The initiative addresses the gap highlighted by Amazon's national research, which found that while almost all Australian secondary students study STEM subjects, nearly a third are unsure about career options available to them. The organisers aim to extend the impact of the event by providing educators with resources and connecting students with female role models in the sector.

Long-term impact

Now in its seventh year, Girls' Tech Day has reached more than 20,000 girls globally, including 4,500 in Australia. This marks the first year of collaboration between Amazon and Western Sydney University to deepen local engagement.

Janet Menzies, Country Manager of Amazon Australia, said, "Enabling girls to engage with STEM early is essential to building their confidence, expanding their career pathways, and strengthening diversity across Australia's technology sector. Girls' Tech Day is designed to ignite that interest, help address the nation's digital skills gap, and demonstrate that girls absolutely belong in technology careers."