STEM offering extended to boys

MALE students from high schools throughout the region saw out their final round of activities last week as part of the inaugural Boys in STEM program.

Learning about maintaining renewable energy infrastructure at Federation University’s Mount Helen campus on Wednesday last week to building cardboard robots the day after at Ballarat Tech School, the week saw 50 year 8 and 9 boys from 14 local high schools participating.

Ballarat Tech School STEM pathways and partnerships manager Kirstyn Hall said the new addition is bringing more equity to their annual offering after eight years of Girls in STEM.

“The reality is these boys are the same as the girls,” she said.

“They don’t know what jobs are out there and how STEM can be used. Their knowledge is the same as the girls.

“People often say the boys don’t need these extra programs but they do because they don’t know the answers either. We need them to go into these roles as well because STEM roles are dropping everywhere.”

The program overall mirrored this year’s Girls in STEM offering, which included eight days of activities including a treasure hunt and a trip to a waste water treatment plant in earlier school terms, with each initiative supported by an industry partner.

The robot-building showcase was followed up with a presentation from Federation University and TAFE’s Dr Adam Bignold, who won the 2024 Best Victorian TAFE Teacher Award

Ballarat High School year 10 student Jai Giri was the sole male student leader in the inaugural program after putting his hand up for the role while undertaking work experience at Ballarat Tech School.

Joining the program in term two, he said he’s been able to share in the opportunities given to his younger colleagues.

“Seeing what they’re learning, I get to learn a lot of that as well, and the students ask a lot of great questions,” he said.

“I’ve found I’m considerably better at public speaking now and I get to help a lot of people learn things they’re interested in.”

Ms Hall said she plans to see the networking opportunities between the programs’ leadership initiative’s extend between genders.

“Our plan next year is still to run two parallel [in STEM] programs but our leadership program will come together,” she said.

“We’ll have six girls and six boys having their leadership day together but we’ll keep the two gender programs separate at this stage.

“Once they’ve done Boys or Girls in STEM, we’ll offer them academies which’ll be mixed genders. It’s about opening up their network and going here’s your next step.”