The Australian Government has released details of additional funding for its diversity in STEM measures, first announced as part of the 2024-25 Federal Budget.

The funding aims to help meet the growing demand for STEM workers by attracting and retaining more people from diverse backgrounds in STEM education and careers. 

The additional funding will scale up existing programs that are already driving positive change including:

• The Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grants will receive an additional $8.5 million from 2025-26 to fund long-term projects that support women. This includes First Nations women and women from regional and rural locations. It brings the total funding commitment for this program to $47.5 million. 
• Science in Australia Gender Equity will receive an additional $7.1 million over 5 years from 2024-25 to deliver an expanded diversity in science accreditation framework for Australia. This will help create safe, diverse and inclusive workplaces in the higher education, research and vocational education sector and combat discrimination in all its forms. It brings the total funding commitment for this program to $10.9 million.
• Superstars of STEM will receive an additional $3.8 million over 7 years from 2024-25. This will boost the number of diverse role models who can positively influence and inspire people to pursue STEM education and careers. It brings the total funding commitment for this program to $7 million. 
• The Girls in STEM Toolkit will receive an additional $2.0 million over 5 years from 2024-25 to create a toolkit that supports diversity more broadly. The current toolkit provides resources for students, parents and teachers to encourage girls’ interest in STEM and STEM careers. The additional funding will be used to expand the resources to reach young people from other underrepresented cohorts in STEM through primary and secondary education. This brings the total funding commitment for this program to $3.8 million.
• STEM Equity Monitor will receive an additional $0.7 million over 6 years from 2024-25. This will facilitate data collection and compilation on additional underrepresented groups in STEM education and organisations. It will also facilitate data-based evaluation of the impact of the department’s diversity programs. This brings the total funding commitment for this program to $3.4 million. 
• National Youth Science Forum will receive an additional $1.8 million over 4 years from 2024-25 to encourage more young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM education and careers. It brings the total funding for this program to $5.1 million.
• Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM program will be extended to 2031-32 to allow part-time scholars to finish their study. The program will be renamed to Elevate: Boosting Diversity in STEM. 

Changes to these initiatives are aligned with the recommendations of the independent Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review. 

The expert panel’s final report, released in February 2024, highlighted ways to break down persistent barriers to diversity in STEM education and careers. It acknowledged that a mix of approaches is needed to tackle the cultural and systemic barriers to diversity in STEM education and jobs. It also recommended expanding existing programs to attract and retain more diverse people along STEM pathways.