Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that harmful gender stereotypes can have a huge impact on young Australians. We know that by the age of six a girl's interest in science, technology, engineering and maths—in STEM education—is already negatively impacted by gender stereotypes and biases. This has lifelong consequences. Currently, women make up only 15 per cent of the STEM workforce in Australia. We should be encouraging young women to pursue an education in the sciences, and we absolutely should be doing all that we can to knock down the stereotypes that hold them back. That work starts at an early age.

The Albanese Labor government wants to ensure that our early childhood educators are well equipped to provide the best learning environment to teach children about STEM concepts early. I'm proud to be part of a government that is funding a 15 per cent pay increase for early childhood educators, but our work doesn't stop there. I'm pleased that the government has provided $6.7 million to the Little Scientists program. This includes professional learning for early childhood educators that aims to improve their confidence and ability to introduce STEM concepts.

I recently had the pleasure of representing the education minister, Minister Jason Clare, at the Little Scientists Early STEM Education Awards ceremony at Froebel's Carlton early learning centre. The awards celebrate and recognise excellence in early STEM education for children aged zero to seven. This year's theme was 'overcoming gender bias in early STEM education'. The awards recognise the critical role early childhood educators and teachers play in overcoming gender stereotypes and implicit gender biases that impact young girls' participation in STEM education. I received such a warm welcome at the centre. Congratulations to Froebel Carlton's Warin team for being awarded an outstanding early STEM education award for their project 'Blue! It sounds blue!' Congratulations also to Laura Cetina and Rebecca Drysdale.