USQ graduates helping to break stereotype

Kay Lembo will graduate from USQ this Saturday

Women graduates from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) are helping breakdown barriers and stereotypes after excelling in the traditionally male dominated areas of Science, Engineering and Technology (SETS).

A number of women will graduate from the University this Saturday (September 6) with degrees in these areas and are helping bridge the gap that currently exists between the two sexes across the disciplines.

With the added assistance of the Go WEST project, a USQ initiative, which is establishing links between USQ students and professionals, women are now receiving the support to be able to sustain and enhance their participation in SETS.

One such Go WEST member, Kay Lembo, will receive a Master of Professional Studies (Transdisciplinary) on Saturday for her studies in Biomedical Science and said that women were now getting a greater representation in these fields.

'It is definitely not an equity issue as women are just as capable as men, so I can't see why they wouldn't want to study in these areas,' Mrs Lembo said.

Mrs Lembo, who has worked for Education Queensland for two decades, added that it was important that if there were to be more women involved in SETS that the encouragement should start in schools.

'We have to encourage girls and break through that stereotype,' she said.

'They have to be aware of what is out there, that there are more degrees in specialist areas and we also have to ensure that they have a greater involvement at a younger age, such as been involved in workforce placements.

'I have been working in Education for 20 years and involved in a number of initiatives to address this issue and now we are seeing an increase in female interest, but there has to be continual encouragement.'

Sheeba Chinnam, who will also graduate on Saturday, will receive a Master of Information Technology (Professional) and has taken a much different path to her degree but is also seeing an increasing number of women undertaking similar study.

'I am from India but I have studied at Middlesex University in the UK and have spent the last two years here at USQ, which has been the right place for me,' Ms Chinnam said.

'A lot of Indian women are doing IT at the moment because it is booming right now and although they are offering similar degrees in India some are coming to Australia because they know there is a greater chance of getting a job.'

One person who knows first hand the opportunities that can arise from a career in SETS is Civil Engineer Nadia Ives, the 2004 USQ Medallist who will return to the University this weekend to address the graduates.

'I really haven't found being a woman in the engineering profession an issue since I have been in the workforce and all of the guys have been really accepting,' Ms Ives said.

'It is important that we explain this to girls who are at the high school age, that they can get a lot of opportunities and have a varied career in areas like engineering.

'With more women graduating in these fields it is fantastic to see and I think the more the better!'

More than one thousand students will receive their degrees as part of the September Graduations on Saturday at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, with the morning graduation beginning at 10.00am and the afternoon graduation getting underway at 2:30pm.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559