A Marsden-based female-empowerment organisation has been awarded $20,000 funding for a STEM employability project.
BLAQ Diamonds Women’s Empowerment is dedicated to helping Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women “reach their full potential”, through economic empowerment and equality.
A BLAQ Diamonds’ project, The STEM Employability Training Workshop, was one of more than 40 projects in Queensland to receive a share of the state government’s $700,000 science grants program.
The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) project was designed to support the economic and employment opportunities for first nations women, and culturally and linguistically diverse women, in the STEM industry.
According to a government statement, the “engaging science” grants aim to “inspire more students to study STEM subjects, promote STEM careers and increase community awareness of science in Queensland”.
41 grants of up to $20,000 have been awarded to schools, universities, citizen science groups and organisations across Queensland.
These include projects that collect population data of manta rays in the waters off Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), and others that use artificial intelligence to study changes in the Great Barrier Reef.
The Minister for Science, Leanne Linard, said STEM was an increasingly important industry needed to create innovate solutions for global issues.
“The government is committed to increasing participation in STEM-based activities across the state, particularly among our First Nations peoples, girls and women, and disadvantaged groups,” Ms Linard said.
“I am very proud that more than 75% of funding in this round of the Engaging Science Grants will go towards projects that target these under-represented groups.
“Scientific innovation and discovery are the building blocks of a sustainable and thriving society, and investing in STEM projects is an investment in our future.”
