Women in STEM Excellence (WISE)

Our Women in STEM Excellence (WISE) program supports current female students and inspires future generations of women to choose built environment, engineering, science, and technology careers.

We run hands-on workshops in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM) disciplines for secondary school students.

Initiatives & objectives

WISE organises regular activities such as seminars and workshops featuring female engineers, scientists and IT professionals from industry. We aim to attract and retain women in STEM field through continuous supports.

We also seek to increase the profile of female STEM graduates, academics, undergraduate, and postgraduate students by showcasing success stories online and on College notice boards.

Activities

WISE activities include:

regular meetings with current female and male students to encourage engineering students to be mentors for their peers and role models for female secondary-school students
participation in events such as Women in Engineering (WIE) in Engineers Australia, IEEE WIE, Victoria, to encourage greater participation of women in engineering and science
forums with female scientists and engineers in industry for networking and leadership development
collaborations with industry and professional organisations to encourage female students to engage in professional, career-building activities:
- Engineers Australia
- IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
- Australian Computer Society.

: We have an exciting lineup of events in store for you!

Our plans include attending university gatherings like Open Days and Orientation Festivals, where you can explore opportunities and engage with like-minded students and academics. Social gatherings, movie nights, and fun-filled activities will also be a regular part of our schedule.

Furthermore, we have planned exciting excursions and field trips to enhance your learning experience outside the classroom. Renowned speakers will be invited to share their expertise and get you inspired.

Additionally, there will be hands-on workshops and school visits to encourage potential students to explore and join STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

Get ready for a year filled with enriching experiences and endless possibilities!
: Embarking on a university journey is a significant milestone, and at VU, we strive to ensure that the initial days are seamless for our students. WISE participated VU family welcome event on 11 February 2023 and the VU O-Fest on 15 February 2023 to greet new students into our university community, particularly welcoming new members joining the clubs. This gathering served as an invaluable opportunity for fresh faces to acquaint themselves with the VU block, a resource designed to facilitate their transition and equip them with essential skills for success in their academic pursuits. Our primary objective was to provide students, along with their families and friends, with comprehensive information concerning the support services available through the WISE Club at VU. By doing so, we aim to empower our students and ensure that they feel well-supported throughout their time at the university.

Attendance at the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day event, 8 March 2023, Australia.

WISE International Women’s Day Event on 9 March 2023 - “Women in Construction” - presented by Anita Dorfer-Mehanic, a current Deputy Municipal Building Surveyor in the City of Melbourne. Anita has 20 years of experience in the building and construction industry. She shared her journey by reflecting on her career path as an engineer and building surveyor, focusing on the achievements and struggles faced by women in the construction industry, and the strategies to overcome gender barriers. The inspirational talk helped the audience understand the importance of women in this field and inspire WISE members to take an interest in construction and STEM.

The President of WISE Club Victoria University had the privilege of attending the Ecolinc Science and Technology Innovations Centre's Women in STEM program on 31 May 2023, where about 100 talented students from various schools attended the event. This event was a true celebration of women in STEM. We had the opportunity to share our experiences as a woman in STEM, discussing the challenges we faced and the rewards that came with perseverance and a growth mindset. It was a joy to witness the engagement and curiosity of these young minds as they soaked up the knowledge and wisdom shared by various speakers and industry professionals. Throughout the day, they explored exciting workshops, engaged in discussions, and participated interactive activities, all aimed at showcasing the diverse opportunities available in STEM fields. Witnessing the students' eagerness to learn and their desire to make a difference was truly inspiring.

WISE held a meetup lunch on 6 June 2023. It was an event that brought together inspiring women from various STEM fields and different corners of the world. The energy and passion in the room were truly awe-inspiring! During this remarkable gathering, WISE members had the opportunity to connect, shared experiences, and learned from each other's unique journeys. WISE’s mission to promote diversity and empower women in STEM was evident in every aspect of the meetup. Events like these remind us of the immense talent and potential that women bring to the fields of science and engineering. They are a testament to the amazing contributions women make and the impact we have on shaping the future of STEM.

WISE had the opportunity for a site visit to the Greater Western Water (GWW) Altona Treatment Plant. This event included a comprehensive tour to the sewage treatment plant and recycled sea water treatment process as well as networking opportunities with other industry experts (GWW) attending the event. With a positive experience shared, this event was highly successful in providing knowledge and further embarkment in the industry and towards Women in STEM.

WISE club was the winner of “Student group of the year 2023” at the student leadership awards, Victoria University
: WISE STEM Networking Event “Fun with Wearable Technology” was held at VU Footscray Park campus on Friday 22 July 2022. WISE members created their own fashion designs using LilyPad Arduino microcontrollers and other electronic components. The workshop provided students with network opportunities and enabled them to learn new skills like sewing electronic components with conductive threads and program the microcontroller to make their fashion design come alive.

Proudly sponsored by JayCar Electronics with 40 Digital Multimeter Kits, WISE conducted a creative networking event by running a soldering workshop using the Electronics Digital Multimeter Kits on Friday 26 August 2022. Participants have learned a lot about component recognition and basic electronics with the comprehensive Digital Multimeter kits and gained enormous experience in soldering
: Attendance at the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day event, 10 March 2021, Australia.
WISE International Women’s Day Event – “Engineering for Sustainability”, presented by 2020 Young Professional Engineer of the Year, Amy Lezala Zahr. Amy explored her journey through engineering and management as well as UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals , 9 March 2021.
WISE Rising Stars –WISE members graduated from VU share their journey and experiences in STEM education and career to inspire and encourage current and future WISE members, 30 September 2021.
: Attendance at the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day Event, 5 March 2020, Australia.
WISE International Women’s Day Event, VU – presented by Dr. Maia Sauren, Project Manager, ThoughtWorks (IT), 7 March 2019.
: Attendance at the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day event, 7 March 2019, Australia.
WISE International Women’s Day Social Event - “Pursuing Your Passion” presented by the entrepreneur and philanthropist, Megan Jaworski, 7 March 2019.
STEM Networking Event - the event focused on exploring industry mentorship and internship opportunities for females studying in STEM related areas. Industry guests and mentors from City West Water (CWW), Ford Motors and Greenwood Solutions presented at the event. 9 October 2019.
: Joint event “Live stream of Women in Data Science (WiDS) conference” - hosted by WISE and VU’s own SAP Next-Gen Lab on 6 March 2018 at VU's City Flinders Campus.
Attendance at the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day #PressforProgress event, 7 March 2018, Melbourne.
WISE International Women’s Day Event - What I wish I learnt at university to help me start my career, 9 March 2018, VU's Footscray Park Campus.
Girls in Physics Breakfast, 20 April 2018, VU Sunshine Convention Centre
Science & Engineering Challenge activities for Year 10 students, 7 June 2018, VU Footscray Park Campus
Spark Engineering Camp, 3-6 July 2018
: Staff and students attended the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day event in March.
'Breaking Down Boundaries and Stereotypes' seminar. Presented by Julia Gibney, who has an Aviation Engineering background, with 23 years in the defence industry working in engineering processes, maintenance, administration, auditing, technical risk management and personnel training.
The WISE Club @VU was nominated to represent Victoria University at the Women of the World (WOW) Festival in March at the Footscray Community Arts Centre. The club also conducted STEM activities at the Inaugural African Diaspora Women Summit.
WISE Coordinator, Dr Juan Shi, and Mr Lovelesh Ramsahye, Industry and Community Engagement Coordinator, met with companies including Carrier Australia Pty Ltd, the Lion group, and the Flight Centre Travel Group's Campus Travel to discuss internship opportunities and graduate programs for students at VU.
Dr Juan Shi worked on a STEM Travel Grant Victorian Review Panel, the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy - Women in Mining Network, Women in Aviation Aerospace Australia (AAA), Vicphysics Teachers' Network Inc., Vic ICT for Women, and Optimum Recruitment to promote careers for women in STEM.
Many female graduate students found work or secured internships through our industry links.
One of our PhD students, Ruwangi Fernando, from the Centre of Applied Informatics, set up and received funding for 'VU STEM Sisters', a group for VU’s female graduate research students.
: College staff and students attended the Engineers Australia International Women’s Day event in March.
Three WISE seminars in May and August welcome and support female students. The keynotes speakers were Vivian Chi from IT industry; Ghofran Al-nasiri, PhD research scientist at VU; and Regina Moran from Beca, former VU Building Engineering student.
WISE outreach activities in August to inspire women to choose engineering and science careers through hands-on workshops. The College hosted visits from Keysborough Secondary College and Haileybury College.
WISE identified and pursued professional collaborations, celebrating the IEEE Region 10 50-year anniversary in November.
WISE-organised STEM seminar at VU in December. Keynotes speakers Professor Petra Lucht and Dr Baerbel Mauss from Center for Interdisciplinary Women's and Gender Studies (ZIFG) at Technische Universität Berlin presented their innovative study program.
: Engineering-student meetings to discuss peer-mentoring and acting as role models for female secondary-school students.
Participated in Engineers Australia’s Engineering Week to encourage greater participation of women in engineering and science.
Forum with female scientist Dr Shu-Yen Lee from Davies Collison Cave featured an inspirational talk, 'From Scientists to Patent Attorney - How training in science can lead to alternative careers'.
Presentations at VU Women's Collective Women in Science and Engineering Careers Forum by WISE coordinator, Dr Juan Shi; Truc Nguyen, the current Chair of the Engineers Australia Women in Engineering (WiE) Victorian Branch; and Process Engineer at Hexion Pty Ltd.
Participated in the National Science Week Energised Fashion Runway and laboratory activities organised by IEEE Women In

Success stories

An engineer with an advantage

Bachelor of Architectural Engineering

"I believe that the extracurricular activities I was involved in at VU were vital for the process when looking for work, setting me apart from other applicants."

Emma's story