Young Australians are turning away from IT careers, presenting a stark challenge for the Australian tech industry, which needs urgent solutions to address its appeal amongst early-age pathways into technology careers.
This issue was highlighted in the 2024 Australian Computer Society (ACS) Digital Pulse report, which found only 10 per cent of school-age girls are considering studying information and communications technology subjects.
Even more concerning, the report and anecdotal evidence indicate that many parents do not see tech as a viable career path for their children.
As the professional body representing over 38,000 IT workers and a voice for the industry for nearly 60 years, ACS is addressing this perception gap through a range of initiatives.
Sharon Singh, head of ACS’s ICT Educators Committee and an educator at St. John’s Anglican College, is leading the charge to inspire young women to embrace tech careers.
One of the primary obstacles to fostering a new generation of female tech leaders is societal and parental perception. Singh highlights that subject choices made in Year 8 significantly shape a student’s academic and career trajectory.
“At this pivotal stage, peer pressure and parental biases often steer girls toward ‘safer’ subjects like biology or chemistry, perceived as more likely to yield high grades for university entry,” Ms Singh said.
“Tech subjects, by contrast, are often relegated to the bottom of the priority list.”
This is compounded by a lack of parental understanding about tech careers, with many unaware of the lucrative and diverse opportunities available.
Singh said there is a need for parents to be “curious, not cautious,” urging them to explore the potential of tech rather than defaulting to traditional STEM fields.
Cultural stereotypes and a lack of female role models further deter girls. Singh notes that many senior school IT teachers are male, creating a representation gap that can make tech feel inaccessible.
Career guidance counselors, too, sometimes fail to promote tech pathways due to outdated biases or limited knowledge. Ms Singh recounted a surprising incident where a university showcase omitted ICT as a career option entirely, underscoring the need for better education of ICT for counselors.
According to Ms Singh, ACS is tackling this by planning a parent portal on its website, a one-stop resource to inform parents about tech courses, events, and career paths, ensuring they can guide their children effectively.
ACS president Helen McHugh emphasised the importance of addressing these issues, saying: “the gender imbalance in technology isn’t just an industry issue, it’s a challenge for the national economy.”
“As the second female president and having enjoyed some 50 years in this industry I truly am behind getting the visibility of tech careers in front of parents, girls, boys and industry. I’m the grandmother of four girls and I’m proud three of them are showing tech potential and I would like them to have a great future in the sector.
“We’re committed at ACS to breaking down these barriers by engaging parents, educators, and industry leaders to showcase rewarding careers awaiting women in technology.
“By challenging outdated perceptions and providing clear pathways from school to industry, we can ensure Australia’s digital future benefits from all the talent our country has to offer.”
ACS’s initiatives extend beyond awareness to actionable programs that empower girls. Ms Singh shared inspiring success stories, such as leading a team of three girls and one boy to an international coding competition in Sri Lanka, where the girls were the only female participants.
“Their presence on stage was a powerful moment, with the entire audience clapping emphatically as the girls walked on”, Ms Singh said. This demonstrated to the girls, their peers and parents alike that they belong in tech.
Similarly, at a Lockheed Martin Code Quest competition in Canberra, Ms Singh’s all-girl team drew attention from the chief executive, who strode directly to their table after entering to take a selfie with them to share with his daughters.
“These experiences not only boost confidence but also create a ripple effect, inspiring other girls to consider tech,” Ms Singh said.
ACS promotes other successful programs, such as the Queensland ICT Gateway to Industry and the National Big Day In conference that bring students face-to-face with industry leaders, showcasing tech’s diverse career paths.
ACS also supports awards recognising women in tech and offers free memberships to high school students, fostering a sense of belonging.
For underrepresented groups, including Indigenous and regional communities, ACS partners with organisations to provide scholarships, mentoring, and culturally responsive programs such as LiteHaus International which redistributes laptops to communities in need.
Ms Singh also champions micro-credentials as a gamechanger for broadening access. These bite-sized, high-impact learning modules offer flexible pathways for those who may not pursue traditional degrees, such as regional or Indigenous students.
ACS’s collaboration with the Queensland government on a cybersecurity micro-credential for teachers addresses the shortage of qualified IT educators, particularly women, equipping them to confidently teach emerging technologies.
To shift perceptions, Ms Singh advocates reframing tech education from a focus on coding to problem-solving and impact. “It’s not about tools; it’s about thinking,” she says, emphasising computational, design, and systems thinking as key parts of her educational approach.
“This thinking can be embedded across all subjects and sectors, it’s about teaching young people how to think critically to solve real world problems,” she said.
By embedding digital literacy across all subjects, educators can demystify tech and make it accessible to everyone. Ms Singh’s school, for instance, has introduced quantum computing to Year 9 students, proving that complex concepts can be taught early with the right approach.
The path forward requires a collective effort. Ms Singh calls for educators to integrate technology into all classrooms, and for employers to invest in entry-level opportunities, and policymakers to boldly back initiatives that close the gender gap.
With ACS’s leadership and programs gaining momentum, there’s hope for a future where young women see tech not as a male-dominated field but as a space where they can thrive and lead.
This article was produced by InnovationAus.com in partnership with ACS as part of its partnership with the InnovationAus Awards for Excellence 2024.
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