TECH Girls

Mr GRANT McBRIDE (The Entrance) [7.05 p.m.]: On Tuesday 10 June I had the honour of officially opening the TECH Girls event held at Mingara Recreation Club at Tumbi Umbi. TECH Girls is aimed at making young women aware of the many career opportunities open to them in the information technology industry. Only about 10 per cent of information technology students are female, mainly due to the stereotype of an information technology person being a male geek. The event encourages young women to take up information technology and science-based subjects at school and in tertiary studies and also aims to engage girls with technology. TECH Girls is coordinated by Youth Connections Incorporated and is currently in its third year.

Youth Connections Incorporated is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides assistance and support for young people in their transition from school to employment and further training. It commenced in 1995 supporting 100 students into work placement, with around 30 employers participating in the program. Today the vision of Youth Connections Incorporated is turning education into jobs by offering all young people on the Central Coast aged 13 to 19 the opportunity to access quality career and transition support services. Every year 5,000 young people are given individual support and assistance to access employment, education and training opportunities. These include, for example, job placement, mentoring, work experience, career coaching, traineeships and apprenticeships, connecting indigenous youth with community and work placement support for young people with disabilities.

Emphasis is placed on providing support for young people to remain at school and realise their full potential or to complete year 12 or equivalent. Youth Connections Incorporated is a local community partnership that works together with all 33 high schools on the Central Coast, as well as TAFE NSW and alternative learning services. The hardworking staff of Youth Connections Incorporated coordinated the TECH Girls event. I thank especially Debbie Thompson, career and transition consultant; Maggie MacFie, General Manager; Maria Kelly, Local Community Partnership Manager; and Claudia Davies, Administration, for making this event such a success. I also recognise the generous sponsorship for TECH Girls 2008 made by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, Fatpublisher Web Design and Development, Kwik Kopy Gosford, the Mingara club, Star 104.5 FM and Youth Connections Incorporated.

The event kicked off with an address by Pia Waugh, an open source consultant, who recently established One Laptop Per Child Australia. Her project is an excellent example of using technology to make a better world. The theme of the day promoted fun, flexibility and satisfaction with a career in information technology. This was reinforced throughout the day by other presenters who suggested that students should find their passion, surround themselves with inspiring people, volunteer, love what they do and believe in themselves. Presenters included Sarah Ray, a service desk systems engineer; Jenine Beekuuyzen, a PhD student; Rebecca Dorries, a project manager; Leigh Wasson, a website developer; and also students Lisa Jacobsen, Jessica Morris, Teagan Hickey and Belinda-Ann Leicester, amongst others.

TECH Girls held demonstration zones providing the students with the opportunity to experience firsthand the many practical applications available in the information technology industry. These workshops consisted of exercises in computer applications such as web design, desktop publishing and technical support. Students were exposed to the many diverse applications the information technology industry has to offer, giving them the incentive and confidence to give it a go. Fourteen schools and 200 female students were able to experience the world of the information technology industry through these demonstration zones provided by local schools and businesses. Brisbane Water Secondary College provided a demonstration of production and theatre events.

The course at Brisbane Water Secondary College provides a niche that enables students to excel in an industry that gives them opportunities for success later in life. It enables them to enter a career that has many possibilities, is in demand and allows them to do something they love. Indeed, children give up their free time to do the course. It is also offered externally, allowing students that do not attend Brisbane Water Secondary College the opportunity to get involved and work towards an exciting career in the information technology industry. Other schools were also there demonstrating their information technology skills and abilities, including the Wyoming Technical School and The Entrance High School. TECH Girls is an innovative and empowering initiative giving young women the encouragement and enthusiasm to pursue careers in science and technology. Well done, Youth Connections Incorporated!