‘Girls on Track’ STEM Program – ‘Sandown 500’

Nineteen GWSC girls from Year 7 were recently invited to attend a special STEM based excursion at the 60th Anniversary of the ‘Sandown 500’ Enduro, one of 12 rounds of the Supercars Championship. This special event was hosted and run by the ‘FiA’ Motorsport Australia ‘Girls on Track’ program.

The ‘Girls on Track’ initiative aims to grow interest in STEM subjects and industries amongst school aged girls with the goal of increasing female participation in these sectors, using motorsport as a tool to expose them to the incredible pathways and careers on offer. The program also connects girls who are willing to spark change with leading female role models from a variety of motorsports, inspiring the next generation to smash preconceptions and prejudices allowing them to better understand the opportunities that are available to women in STEM related fields.

Our girls were engaged in a range of unique motorsport experiences, STEM challenges and exciting workshops that were run by leading female drivers, engineers, mechanics, administrators and managers of national motorsport teams. The ‘Girls on Track’ participants were also put through their paces in a pit stop pressure test, experienced a VIP tour of the motorsport team garages and Pit Lane, raced model F1 cars in the coding and robotics challenge, broadcast a live motorsport media cross, whilst also competing in Supercars driver reaction time and fitness testing challenges.

They even had the chance to meet and talk with legendary Australian race car driver, Mr Dick Johnson, who is now the owner and team leader of the Shell ‘DJR’ Racing team that competes in the Supercars Championship. Dick was so generous with his time, providing our group with multiple photo opportunities and answers to many interesting motorsport related questions.

All of our students had a great time throughout this ‘Girls on Track’ STEM Program, learning more about possible opportunities, pathways and future careers that are available to them within the motorsport industry. Thank-you to all of the Year 7 girls who participated in this special program, you all represented our College with great distinction. We can’t wait to see what STEM-related careers you all forge into the future! Special thanks also to Miss Archana Kuppadakath and Mr Mark Robinson for organising and supervising this exciting excursion for our future STEM leaders!