Australia Wants STEM Diversity For Job Growth

STEM

Australia may not be able to take advantage of opportunities in fields like quantum technology and renewable energy as easily as it could because there are not enough people who are good at STEM topics. In answer, the government put out the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, which has ideas for how to make the workforce more diverse and open to everyone.

The study, which was led by Minister of Industry and Science Ed Husic, focused on the important goal of increasing diversity and inclusion. This is seen as the first step towards creating a dynamic, STEM-savvy workforce that will drive Australia’s future innovation. Moreover, these programmes support the government’s goal of 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030.

The recommendations include creating a specialised advisory council to direct government policies and spark revolutionary change, updating grant and procurement procedures for STEM-related initiatives, and strengthening the Women in science, technology, engineering and maths programmes already in place while launching similar initiatives for other underrepresented groups in STEM education and careers.

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The Review Panel received 300 written comments, spoke with around 385 people and 94 organisations, and reviewed research studies, such as the STEM Career Pathways report that the National Science and Technology Council had commissioned.

The STEM Career Pathways research identifies obstacles to science, technology, engineering and maths professions and proposes solutions such as better access to experiential learning opportunities, increased collaboration between the university and industry, and employee upskilling initiatives through micro-credentialing.

Moreover, it emphasises how crucial it is to help businesses have a better grasp of foreign qualifications and graduates’ employment rights in order to better integrate skilled migrants and international graduates on post-study work visas into the workforce.

These studies suggest fresh avenues for encouraging women and people from different backgrounds to pursue jobs in STEM. To take full advantage of the potential in the expanding market for science and technology occupations, we need more competent workers, Husic said.