Why we need a year of Engineering

We, the Women in Engineering National Committee of Engineers Australia, believe this campaign is incredibly important and timely. With women engineers currently representing less than 10% of engineering in Australia (one of the lowest participation rates of women across all professions). This campaign will highlight the fact engineering can change your life and the lives of others.

The fundamental objective of the campaign is to increase awareness amongst the profession and wider community of the role and contribution women make to engineering. It will tell young girls and women about the different engineering disciplines and the personal and professional opportunities it offers. We want engineering to be a sought after profession that offers a sustainable and fulfilling career for women.

Our committee, made up of a group of dedicated women who love their work and recognise the unique aspects women bring to the workplace, has been working on developing worthwhile events for the year. Some of the activities currently planned include networking opportunities, talks and seminars that address retention and diversity, as well as profiles of leading women members.

So while planning has started, we really want to know what you want from the year. What are the issues you face? What do workplaces and your profession need to do to retain women? If you have an opinion on how things could be improved for women in engineering, now is the time to speak up and be heard. We encourage you to provide comment.

Comments

[Sabrina]

I am a 2nd year Chem Eng student.

When is the campaign going to be? Maybe a guide book/presentation to show women engineers what are their rights in their field? And ways of facing problems?

[Martha]

I'm a 3rd year communications engineering student. Most of us at uni right now are trying to find vacation employment within industry related feilds to gain experience and enhance our careers, getting a solid foundation of what engineering is like while studying. These programs are usually online based, but they're incredibly competitive, and stressful! Unfortuneatly very determined and keen students miss out. I think its great we have a 'women in engineering' year, but tink it's vital that this committee devote time and effort to help women in engineering disciplines find work, or perhaps be mentors for them as it can be a tough environment to cope with. I myself find it very hard at times to cope with the amount of work at uni and pressure of finding employment that it would be great to get regular assistance and encouragement from other female engineers and their experiences. Some of my female engineering friends dropped out after first year or second year because of the lack of attention and discouragement sometimes faced.
Please think about providing mentoring and/or helping undergraduate and graduate female students find industry based vacation employment and work.
Thanks.