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Defence has announced its work towards implementing a 50 per cent target for women’s participation across key research and innovation career pathways to better leverage the diversity of talent across the country.
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This momentuous change will apply to Defence’s Australian Public Service (APS) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) entry level programs, including the STEM Cadetship Program and the Research and Innovation Pathway of the Defence Graduate Program.
Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite, welcomed this announcement and the implications for helping to encourage more women into the nation’s Defence STEM environment.
“Increased STEM targets at Defence open significant opportunities for women to amplify our Force’s capabilities,” Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite said.
These entry level programs currently have a women’s participation rate of 25 per cent — the target would double the participation rate and demonstrates a serious commitment to increasing the number of women working in STEM.
Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite added, “We’re backing efforts to attract STEM talent to Defence’s challenging yet rewarding field of innovation and technology. NAVIGATE is our mechanism to build a team of topnotch specialists. NAVIGATE, launched with explicit gender goals, underscores that determined participation targets bring tangible results.”
In addition to boosting women’s participation in entry level programs, Defence will also set a 50 per cent target for women’s participation for the successful pilot, the NAVIGATE program. Based on the success of the pilot in 2022, NAVIGATE will now be an ongoing program in the Department of Defence.
The NAVIGATE program brings experienced STEM professionals into Defence from industry and academia. This broadens the diversity of Defence’s APS workforce while also providing participants with a unique experience and supporting them to thrive as STEM leaders.
Chief Defence scientist, Professor Tanya Monro, expanded on the comments of the assistant minister, saying, “By setting targets for women’s participation in our STEM entry programs, we draw more fully on our nation’s talent pool, allowing Defence science to deliver greater impact to the ADF. Continuing to ensure the success of women requires strong leadership and a commitment to change, so I’m incredibly proud of these bold targets.”
Participants typically complete two six-month rotations in different areas of Defence before securing their ongoing placement within Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). This builds Defence-specific skills and supports individuals in discovering how they can contribute within the Defence context.
“Defence’s transformation agenda includes becoming an exemplar in attracting, training, retaining, and providing career opportunities for women. These measures demonstrate in practical terms how we are taking steps to achieve this,” Professor Monro explained.
The NAVIGATE program received over 800 applications from the public and private sector STEM community in 2022. Defence set a target of 40 per cent women’s participation rate and achieved a rate of 43 percent. Defence will work towards a 50 per cent women’s participation rate.
More information about NAVIGATE, the Defence Graduate Program and STEM Cadetship can be found at these links.
