A gender equal future is only possible when everyone can be digitally included, confident and connected.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future. It’s all about how bold ideas, inclusive technologies and accessible education can combat discrimination and the marginalisation of women.

And with technology now woven into every aspect of our lives, this is more important than ever.

We know there is a stark inequality across STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) industries, at every level. This matters, because while inequalities exist across many industries, the gender bias inherent in technology impacts us in ways we might not even realise.

Products may not capture the needs of half of the population if women are not on the design teams.

Bias and existing inequities can grow if data fed to AI does not include contributions from women.

Basically, technology will never be equal or representative of its users if there is a lack of diversity in development teams – technology reflects its makers.

And we know this lack of diversity and underrepresentation exists.

Women are also more digitally excluded than men; and Australian women on low incomes, unpaid carers, women with disability, First Nations women and older women are more likely to have lower skills, confidence, and affordable access to the internet.

It’s not just in Australia, there’s a huge digital gender gap around the world, with 250 million fewer women than men online, and 327 million fewer women than men have a smartphone and access to mobile internet.

Ensuring equal access to education, career pathways, leadership opportunities and inclusive workplaces for women in STEM is key to #CrackingTheCode to gender equality. Being digitally included, confident and connected is more crucial than ever.

That’s why the Victorian Government is doing all it can to create a gender equal future in STEM and innovation, by boosting women’s participation in energy and manufacturing, supporting women-led start-ups and running specialised programs to support women in male-dominated industries. 

These initiatives are key to not only progressing gender equality but also a way to access an enormous pool of untapped talent and opportunity, achieve Victoria’s scientific potential and fill critical skills shortages.

When we boost the representation of women and girls in STEM, we all benefit from their wealth of unique ideas, perspectives and talents – and help create a fairer, more inclusive future.

Find out more about how the Victorian Government is #CrackingTheCode here, and how IWD is celebrated around the world on the UN Women Australia site.