TECH GIRLS ARE SUPERHEROES 2019
VICTORIAN SHOWCASE
Announcement of Victorian Finalists & Winners
2019 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero Competition
Melbourne, Victoria, August 2019 – The Tech Girls Movement Foundation (TGMF) announced the Victorian Finalists and winners at the Victorian Showcase for the 2019 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition. The Showcase was hosted by TGMF’s long-time Strategic Partner Xero at their office in Melbourne.
TGMF run a successful STEM Entrepreneurship program called ‘Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero’ (SNTGS). Teams of girls aged 7-17 across Australia and New Zealand identify a problem in their local community, research it, develop a business plan, design an app, code an app prototype, and pitch it to leaders from the Australian STEM industry. The winning teams are then invited to travel to the Silicon Valley to pitch their ideas to top technology execs & engineers. The competition is in its 6th year and is on track to have 10 000 girls through our STEM Entrepreneurship program by 2020.
Congratulations to our Victorian State Winners Team Hamilton Hustle. 5 tech girls from Salesian College in Sunbury with their app Codie. Their app helps children develop positive coping strategies through a gender-neutral character. The team is obviously very passionate about improving well-being. Check Codie out here: https://youtu.be/x6VL2Lz0YeA
Our highly commended award went to The Killester Innovators. A team of 5 girls from Killester College, Springvale with their app KC’s Food Aid. An app connecting restaurants with surplus food with homeless shelters in Victoria. This team presented a very innovative idea, with brilliant graphics. You can view their pitch video here: https://youtu.be/O8-cVxKlp7c
Congratulations to our VIC regional winner HealthSpot – a solo effort from Nina from Emmanuel College in Warrnambool. The topic of supporting children’s mental health is a very important one. You can see Nina’s app in action here: https://youtu.be/Jtfm6rilwzI
The Victorian Showcase was not only an opportunity to celebrate our tech girls teams but also a chance to thank and celebrate our awesome female STEM industry mentors and coaches who helped guide the teams through the 12-week program.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Tate from Coder Academy for ensuring all the tech girls and their father’s made awesome wearable superhero masks to take home with them for Father’s Day.
Founder & CEO of the TGMF Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen; “Our research tells us that 78% of students who have participated in SNTGS are more likely to consider a career in STEM, and 69.5% of them are more likely to start their own business after completing our program. These figures are significant, and we are passionate about encouraging more girls to get into STEM because our nation’s future as a tech leader depends on finding pathways to rebalance gender participation in this critical field! Why? Because we all think differently, and we all have a part to play in solving problems using technology. And that means everyone!”
“This year teams from Victoria have worked hard in defining a problem that has a purpose for them. Problems such as mental health, recycling, food waste, feeding the homeless and mindfulness. It just shows we cannot discount the contribution our young tech girls can make to ensuring the diversity of STEM industries”.
James O’Reilly, Global Head of Talent for Xero; “Working in tech provides the opportunity for individuals to use their creativity to solve real world problems in so many shapes and forms. Xero continues to support the Tech Girl Movement; a small but mighty group who are breaking down barriers and creating ‘lightbulb moments’ for young females regarding careers in STEM.”
To get involved in the Tech Girls Movement Foundation, or the Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero Competition please contact the Tech Girls Movement Foundation.
https://searchforthenexttechgirlsuperhero.org/
https://www.techgirlsmovement.org/