Engineers Australia has welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review, describing it as an important step toward building a more inclusive and innovative workforce across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In a statement, Engineers Australia said it supports the government’s commitment to improving diversity in STEM and emphasised the need for coordinated action between government, industry, and education sectors to ensure lasting change.
Engineers Australia Chief Engineer Katherine Richards AM CSC commended the government’s funding for the Diversity in STEM (DiSTEM) Monitor, describing it as a critical mechanism to measure and guide progress.
“The DiSTEM Monitor is a vital tool to track progress and ensure decisions are guided by evidence,” Richards said.
“This visibility must lead to measurable outcomes. We need clear accountability and shared responsibility across government, education and industry to deliver lasting change.”
Richards said improving diversity was not only an issue of fairness but also one of national importance.
“Diversity in STEM is not only about fairness – it’s fundamental to Australia’s innovation capability and global competitiveness,” she said. “A more diverse and inclusive workforce drives better problem-solving, productivity, improved outcomes and stronger national resilience.”
In its 2024 submission to the review, Engineers Australia outlined several diversity challenges facing the profession.
According to the data, engineering remains the least gender-balanced of all STEM fields, with women making up around 16 per cent of graduates and 14 per cent of the workforce. Of those qualified, only 38 per cent of female engineers are currently employed in an engineering role.
Engineers Australia revealed the submission also noted Australia’s significant reliance on migrant engineers, who account for about 60 per cent of the engineering workforce but face higher rates of underemployment and unemployment than Australian-born engineers.
To address these issues, Engineers Australia has called for a coordinated national response and measurable targets, such as achieving gender parity in mathematics and engineering enrolments, alongside transparent reporting of progress.
“We know what gets measured gets managed,” Richards said. “Setting clear targets and measuring performance against them will help ensure the engineering profession better reflects the community it serves — and that Australia’s future workforce is equipped to deliver on our ambitions.”
