Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy

The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy is a national program delivered in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female-identifying students in high school, through higher education and onto graduate employment.

The STEM Academy aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women undertaking studies and careers in STEM through targeted, long-term support to help overcome the barriers that discourage First Nations women from pursuing STEM careers.

The STEM Academy is a 10-year investment funded by the Commonwealth Government.

Our Purpose

Australia needs more First Nations women leading in STEM, in labs, in boardrooms, in classrooms, in communities and across the industry.

The STEM Academy exists to:

• Champion the brilliance and potential of young Indigenous women
• Create culturally safe pathways into STEM study and careers
• Build leadership, confidence and professional networks
• Support students to succeed academically and personally
• Connect students with paid internships, mentors and industry opportunities
• Celebrate identity, culture and community as strengths in STEM

Who We Support

The STEM Academy walks alongside Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women from:

• Year 8–12 (CSIRO)
• University and early career (CareerTrackers)

Our students study across a huge range of disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, IT, health, psychology, maths, business, education, creative technologies and more. Every pathway is valued and every student is supported to define success on her own terms.

What We Offer

Visit the CSIRO High School Program for students in Year 8-12.

For university students studying STEM, CareerTrackers adds an extra level of support, training, professional development and mentoring to help them successfully transition to university and achieve success throughout their degree. 

In the tertiary program, students can access:

• Paid internships with 150+ industry partners
• Professional development and leadership training
• Monthly meetings and one‑on‑one support
• Executive keynote sessions and industry workshops
• Career coaching, CV support and interview preparation
• A national sisterhood of deadly young women in STEM

Our Impact

The STEM Academy is building a powerful pipeline of First Nations women entering and leading in STEM – and inspiring the next generation who follow. Through CareerTrackers alone, students have completed hundreds of paid internships, with many transitioning into graduate roles across engineering, technology, health, science, research and government.

Why the STEM Academy Matters

First Nations women bring knowledge systems, innovation, leadership and cultural strength that Australia’s STEM sectors urgently need. The STEM Academy aims to support, celebrate and equip them to step into those spaces with confidence.

Join the STEM Academy

If you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman in high school or university and you’re curious about a career in STEM, reach out for a yarn:

Merinda Walters, Program Manager: merinda.walters[at]careertrackers.org.au

Internship Program Registration