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WISET — Government responses

by Diana Temple

Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Australian Democrat Senator for South Australia, has been active in Parliament on behalf of women scientists—and more interested, it seems, than any of her parliamentary colleagues. In July, Senator Stott Despoja asked the Minister representing Science and Technology four questions on notice.

  1. Has the department examined the report entitled Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (also known as the WISET report)?
     
  2. Will creating a broad, positive environment in which all Australians have the maximum opportunity to achieve their potential improve the participation of women in science, engineering and technology (S, T and E) careers?
     
  3. Are there any structural barriers to women participating in S, T and E careers?
     
  4. Are there any programs directed at the participation of women in S, T or E careers?

Senator Ellison, representing the Minister for Science and Technology in the Upper House, provided the following answers:

  1. Yes.
  2. Yes.
  3. The government is not aware of any structural barriers to women participating in S, T or E careers.
  4. There are a number of programs directed at women’s participation in S, T and E careers. Government programs include:
     
    • Higher Education. ...The Government is providing over $5 million per annum to Universities under the Higher Education Equity Program to support strategies to increase participation by the equity target groups, including women in non-traditional areas and post-graduate study. Typical strategies ....include re-entry scholarships, school liaison programs, support and mentoring programs, publications and bridging courses.
       
    • Vocational Education and Training. The National Women’s Vocational Education and Training Strategy...endorsed by all Ministers of Education ...ensure(s) that the needs of women are consistently addressed as a priority in... vocational education and training.
       
    • Primary and Secondary Education. The Commonwealth has provided funding for a number of programs...
      Gender Equity Needs Analysis....a package for schools.
      Gender and school Education.
      Who Wins at School: Boys and Girls in Australian secondary education... analyses the link between course selection, educational achievement and outcomes... relates higher retention rates for girls in Years 11 and 12 to more restricted post-school pathways for girls.
       
    • Science and Technology. The Science and Technology Awareness Projects Grants for 1996-97 supported two projects specifically aimed at increasing women¹s awareness of science and technology. One of these is aimed at attracting women to forestry sciences. ...The other is intended to raise the profile of science among young people, particularly schoolgirls, through production and distribution of a special schools edition of the WISENET journal.

Which of us has been aware of so much government commitment to women in science and technology?

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