$4.9 Million Investment Fuels the Future of Women in Tech

A groundbreaking $4.9 million investment under the Australian Government’s Building Women’s Careers Program is set to reshape the tech industry by creating safer, more accessible career pathways for women and girls. The funding, secured by Girl Geek Academy, will support women from high school through to leadership roles, addressing the systemic barriers that have long hindered female representation in STEM.

Investing in Women: A Step Towards Economic Growth

The FemTech project, backed by Girl Geek Academy, will partner with Professionals Australia, TAFE Queensland, Gender Lens Australia, Koorie Women Mean Business, Women’s Agenda, and the Telstra Foundation to create a sustainable talent pipeline for women in technology.

With the tech industry contributing $167 billion to Australia’s GDP, the nation needs 52,000 new technology workers annually to remain competitive in the global digital economy. Sarah Moran, co-founder of Girl Geek Academy, sees this initiative as a crucial step in ensuring that women are part of this future.

“This is not just about educating a few more Girl Geeks – this is about the future of our economy. We welcome Minister Ed Husic’s commitment to implementing every recommendation from the Diversity in STEM Review, and his recognition that there’s no time to ‘stuff around’.”

While this funding is a positive step, Moran stresses that sustained investment is necessary to drive meaningful change.

“With the National Gender Equality Strategy Discussion Paper showing that women’s underrepresentation costs our economy $30.7 billion, we can’t afford to treat diversity as a box-ticking exercise.”

Building Careers, Breaking Barriers

The FemTech program will run over three years, introducing multiple initiatives to support women at every stage of their career journey:

Tech @ TAFE: Developing Early Talent

224 high school students will be enrolled in VET digital and tech courses tailored for young women.
168 students will complete a one-unit program, while 56 students will complete a Certificate II in Autonomous Technologies over one year.
A Diploma of Applied Technologies will be offered to help women quickly return to work or secure employment.

Addressing Workplace Culture and Safety

500 women in tech will undergo gender-based workplace health and safety and leadership training.
Professionals Australia and Gender Lens Australia will implement workplace training focused on gender equality and violence prevention.
The initiative aligns with Safe@Work recommendations to combat workplace harassment and improve employer accountability.

SheHacks: Connecting Women in Tech

Girl Geek Academy will relaunch SheHacks in 2026 and 2027, an initiative designed to connect emerging women in tech with established industry professionals.

From Exclusion to Action

Moran is clear: the problem isn’t women’s interest in STEM careers—it’s the culture of exclusion that starts in the classroom and follows them into the workplace.

“It’s clear to us that Girl Geeks don’t have to be convinced about STEM careers. But no matter how interested, talented, or dedicated they are, they experience attitudes and behaviours designed to freeze or squeeze them out or make them feel uneasy and unsafe.”

Women in tech are not asking for change—they are demanding it. With this $4.9 million investment, the FemTech initiative aims to eliminate barriers, challenge discrimination, and empower women to succeed in tech.

As Senator Katy Gallagher stated:

“For too long, the focus has been on fixing women instead of fixing the barriers that hold women back.”

This investment signals the beginning of a new era in tech, where women don’t just participate—they lead.