Every Thursday YWCA Canberra Clubhouse opens its door exclusively to girls from a local primary school to learn about science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

The girls that attend on Thursday are eager to learn and explore different areas of the STEAM fields and have approached their time at the Clubhouse with enthusiasm. Over the past two weeks, after brainstorming some ideas for a short film, the girls decided on making a horror movie. First they discussed key things included in horror films, things like lighting, music, and jump scares and then they decided which of these things they wanted to include. Next they allocated the different roles like who would play the protagonist and antagonist roles, as well as someone to perform the sound effects like playing the piano, slamming the door, etc. The girls then spent the remainder of the afternoon taking turns recoding the short films, and rotated the roles. The girls were very proud of what they achieved in such a short period of time and see it published on social media. They are also eager to continue to improve and record more short films.

Another activity the girls have been exploring is photography. After participating in an interactive tutorial on how to use the DSLR cameras the girls went outside to test their photography skills. Since then they have been experimenting with depth of field, framing, and the importance of having the subject of a photograph in focus.

The girls’ engagement in the Clubhouse has proven to have a positive impact on their commitment to school, with their teacher reporting that the girls’ have been looking forward to and talking about their weekly visits to the Clubhouse. We are excited to continue to provide a supportive learning environment where members are encouraged to lead their learning process.

YWCA Canberra Clubhouse is passionate about creating opportunities for young women in particular to explore their passion for STEAM. It is becoming widely known that the majority of jobs of the future will require a qualification in technology and engineering.

Census data from 2006 and 2011 shows that only 16 per cent of STEM qualified people are female. These statistics demonstrate why the Clubhouse is so passionate about women’s leadership in STEAM. The Clubhouse is very proud to report that 48 per cent of new members this year identify as female, and this is a 48 per cent increase compared to previous years’ statistics.

Without opportunities for young women to learn more about the endless possibilities for a career is STEAM, the statistics may not change.

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