Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro (third from left) and Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite with female Defence STEM staff. Photo: ADF.
The Department of Defence has announced a drive it hopes will lead to greater participation of up to 50 per cent by women in many of its key research and innovation roles.
The new effort will be applied to Defence’s Australian Public Service (APS) science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) entry-level programs, including the STEM Cadetship Program, the Research and Innovation Pathway of the Defence Graduate Program, and its NAVIGATE program.
Defence says these programs currently have a participation rate of about 25 per cent from women, and believes that increasing diversity and representation in STEM can only help strengthen Defence’s capabilities.
“Increased STEM targets at Defence open significant opportunities for women to amplify our force’s capabilities,” Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite explained in an 8 June statement.
“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 top-notch specialists.
“NAVIGATE, launched with explicit gender goals, underscores that determined participation targets bring tangible results.”
Originally a pilot program designed to bring experienced STEM workers from industry and academia across to bolster Defence’s mid-career workforce capability and to broaden the diversity of its workforce, NAVIGATE will now be an ongoing program in Defence.
NAVIGATE participants would complete two six-month rotations in different areas of Defence before moving to a permanent role within the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group. This builds Defence-specific skills and supports staff in discovering how they can contribute within the Defence context.
The NAVIGATE program received more than 800 applications from the public and private sector STEM community in 2022 and, despite setting a target of a 40 per cent women’s participation rate, it surpassed that with 43 per cent.
“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,” Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro said.
“Continuing to ensure the success of women requires strong leadership and a commitment to change, so I’m incredibly proud of these bold targets.
“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.”
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