Expressions of Interest: EmpowerHer Year 10 Program
EmpowerHer
A two-day careers-focused bootcamp for Year 10 girls and their teacher mentors
Hosted on campus at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) | September 9–10
EmpowerHer is a two-day, on-campus learning experience designed to prepare young women for the fastest-growing and most impactful sectors shaping Australia's future—anchored in the clean energy transition and the cross-disciplinary careers it demands.
Developed by The Orbispace Initiative in partnership with UNSW’s Digital Grid Futures Institute, EmpowerHer is more than a bootcamp—it’s a workforce readiness experience mapped to the Australian curriculum and designed to ignite purpose, confidence, and clarity in the next generation of STEM leaders.
Why it matters
The world of work is changing faster than most students—and educators—can keep pace. The clean energy transition is now one of the most urgent and opportunity-rich sectors in Australia, yet:
- 61% of Gen Z say they’re interested in a “green job” within the next five years¹
- 48% report they lack awareness of what those job opportunities are²
- 44% of post-secondary educated Gen Z feel unprepared to pursue a career in this space²
- 65% say we need new training programs that equip them to step into these roles²
EmpowerHer is built to respond directly to this gap, giving students access to the real challenges, real skills, and real people shaping the energy economy—and showing them how they fit into it.
At the core: Simulation City
Students take part in Simulation City, a hands-on, role-based simulation built around a real Australian town with deep roots in coal and energy production, now navigating the complex shift to renewables.
They are challenged to reimagine the town’s future through the lens of:
- Workforce transformation and skills demand
- Economic diversification
- Population shifts and social dynamics
- Infrastructure pressures
- Community and cultural considerations
- Innovation opportunities
- Environmental and stakeholder trade-offs
Acting as environmental engineers, AI specialists, policymakers, energy consultants, and community leaders, students engage in:
- Interactive team challenges, such as drone-based infrastructure inspections
- Stakeholder engagement scenarios
- Systems-thinking and problem-solving exercises
- Career pathway exploration tied directly to Year 10 subject selection
What students gain
- Confidence and direction in how their talents and interests connect to real-world impact
- Exposure to emerging careers in energy, engineering, digital technology, policy, and innovation
- Workforce-ready skills including collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and systems thinking
- A deeper sense of purpose in their learning—and a clear view of what’s possible
What teachers gain
- Enrichment of student learning, with all content mapped to the Australian curriculum
- Real-world context for STEM and cross-disciplinary learning, aligned with future industries
- Co-learning model that strengthens student engagement and teacher-student relationships
- Classroom-ready content and strategies to integrate energy transition and innovation into teaching
- Insight into future workforce needs, enhancing career education and subject relevance
- Connections to UNSW researchers and industry leaders, expanding professional networks and context
EmpowerHer isn’t just about increasing interest in STEM—it’s about making future careers visible, possible, and personal. It supports both students and educators to engage with Australia’s energy future in ways that are practical, meaningful, and immediately impactful.