State honour for Go WEST

Over the past three years the Go Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (Go WEST) team at USQ have worked tirelessly to promote non-traditional fields of study to girls and women in rural and regional areas.

Now the group’s hard work has been recognised after Go WEST won an Our Women, Our State Award at a special presentation in Brisbane last night.

The team won the award in the ‘Public or community sector’ category, placing first ahead of other worthy nominees from across the state for their dedication to promoting Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) to girls and women across rural and regional communities.

A Queensland Government initiative, the Our Women, Our State Awards program recognises the achievements of Queensland girls and women in advancing other females in the non-traditional SET industries.

'This is great recognition of all the work that we have done and what we have achieved over the past few years,' Go WEST team member Associate Professor Aileen Cater-Steel said.

'It was also a thrill to win the Award from the other outstanding groups that were nominated, including a team from the University of Queensland and Central Queensland University Bundaberg.

'All eight members of our team as well as USQ Chancellor Bobbie Brazil and Faculty of Engineering and Surveying Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Frank Bullen were able to attend the award ceremony in Brisbane and celebrate together.'

This was not the first time that USQ has had success at the Awards with the University receiving individual honours in years gone by.

'Our team leader Dr Jacquie McDonald actually got the idea to start Go WEST after her daughter won a Smart Woman- Smart State award in 2006,' Assoc Prof Cater-Steel said.

'She noticed that there was little to no representation at the Awards from rural and regional areas so she came up with the idea to start Go WEST.

'Also in 2007 we had a USQ staff member win an award while we had two recipients in 2008 so the University and Go WEST have a good history with the Awards.'

The honour also carried a $3000 prize, which Assoc Prof Cater-Steel said would go towards funding further Go WEST activities.

'This will help us put on more events, which we try to hold monthly.

'These events include the Best of the WEST awards and our ongoing mentoring and workshops for USQ female staff and students in the areas of Engineering, Science (including Maths) and Technology.

'In 2010 we intend to focus on getting more involved in secondary schools, promoting these study areas and showing girls that they can have a rewarding career in these fields.

'With the publicity from this Award we hope to get these girls more interested in SET.'

USQ’s Go WEST team are Dr Jacquie McDonald, Lyn Brodie, Assoc Prof Aileen Cater-Steel, Maggie Fryer, Dr Birgit Loch, Petrea Redmond, Dr Shirley Reushle and Sandy Sharman.