Advancing Women in STEM

Student Edge and YouthInsight are proud to help the Australian Government progress its commitment to improving gender equity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In 2020, the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources (DISR) released the first edition of the STEM Equity Monitor on International Women’s Day, 8 March. DISR has now published the third edition of the Monitor, which will be updated annually until 2029.

The STEM Equity Monitor provides national data on girls’ and women’s participation in and engagement with STEM across 4 stages of the pathway:

Primary and secondary school;
Higher education;
Graduation outcomes;
The workforce.

The STEM Equity Monitor collects data from a range of sources, integrating them into a single interactive online tool. To date, YouthInsight has contributed to the Youth in STEM 2019 and 2020 data, along with Influencer research results in 2021, 2022 and 2023 – with these data focusing on young peoples’ key influencers, their parents and educators, to understand their perceptions of STEM and gender biases.

We look forward to continue working with DISR toward Australia’s vision of equal opportunity for people of all genders to learn, work and engage in STEM.

2022 – 2023: STEM influencer report

We are pleased to announce the release of the STEM Influencer Reports: Parents, Teachers and Career Advisers surveys 2022–23!

With earlier research results indicating that parents and teachers are the greatest influencers of young people’s education and career decisions, Australia’s second STEM influencer study surveyed 730 teachers and career advisers, and 1,500 parents about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This 2022–23 study builds on the 2020–21 parents, and teachers and career advisors surveys.

View the full STEM Equity Monitor here: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/stem-equity-monitor

STEM Influencer Report: Parent Survey 2022–23

STEM Influencer Report: Teacher and Career Adviser Survey 2022–23

2021: youth in stem

We are pleased to announce the release of 2021 Youth in STEM report.

Building on our Youth in STEM research, first commissioned in 2018, The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) has continued the collection and reporting of attitudes and perceptions of young Australians toward STEM.

The principal objective of the study is to track changes in awareness and perceptions of STEM subjects and STEM-related careers held by young Australians compared to the previous two waves. The underlying theme of the research is to uncover key gender differences.

View the full STEM Equity Monitor here: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/stem-equity-monitor

Youth in STEM 2021 Report

YouthInsight had the honour of sharing our insights at the 2021 Global STEM Leadership Alliance Summit. The Summit included some of the top STEM leaders from around the globe, including renowned professors, senior executives from a range of STEM associations, government officials and leaders from the NASA Johnson Space Center – click here for the full list of speakers. The YouthInsight research collates the Youth in STEM research findings across Australia and the Philippines and includes insights from the youth influencer research, which focuses on the influence parents, teachers, and career advisors have on young people’s decisions on STEM education and careers.

Please click below if you would like to download the presentation slides, and if you want to know more information, please get in touch with us at support@youthinsight.com.au.

2021 Global STEM Leadership Alliance Summit Presentation

2020

View the full STEM Equity Monitor here: https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/stem-equity-monitor

View the Parents perceptions and attitudes data here: https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/stem-equity-monitor/parents-perceptions-and-attitudes-to-stem

View the Educators perceptions and attitudes data here: https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/stem-equity-monitor/primary-and-secondary-school-data/teachers-and-career-advisers-perceptions-and-attitudes-stem

STEM Equity Monitor Data Highlights

STEM Equity Monitor Summary Report