Girls in STEM Mentoring Program

The veski Bionics Institute Girls in STEM Mentoring Program empowers secondary school girls to explore the exciting possibilities of a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Launched in 2017 by the Bionics Institute with just two students, the program has grown to include more than 70 students from 18 schools—and we’re just getting started. From 2025, the program is proudly facilitated by veski, continuing the mission to connect students with inspiring women in STEM and spark curiosity, confidence and capability.

How the Program Works

Each year, schools nominate up to eight students from Year 9, 10 or 11 who show a strong interest in STEM. Students are grouped in small teams and paired with a female STEM professional for monthly online mentoring sessions from May to September.

Throughout the program, students will:

• Explore real-world STEM study and career options
• Learn how to research and interpret scientific and technical information
• Gain confidence in communicating STEM concepts
• Present their learnings to peers in a final five-minute PowerPoint presentation

Where possible, mentors also offer students the chance to tour their workplaces, offering a behind-the-scenes look into STEM in action. The program concludes with a celebration event that brings together all participants and mentors.

A Journey of Discovery

Over six months, students gradually build their understanding of a specific STEM topic—from broad concepts to deeper insights into their mentor’s area of expertise. They receive personalised guidance and feedback throughout, developing skills in scientific thinking, communication, and collaboration. The program culminates in a short school-based presentation, allowing students to share what they’ve learned with classmates and teachers.

Why It Matters

This program offers more than just exposure to STEM—it helps girls see themselves in STEM. With hands-on experiences and mentors who’ve walked the path before them, students build confidence, expand their aspirations, and take real steps toward a future in STEM. Many past participants have gone on to pursue STEM Degrees at leading universities.

Who Can Join?

The Girls in STEM Mentoring program is open to girls in Year 9, 10 and 11 from public and independent schools across Victoria.

Feedback from the Girls in STEM Mentoring Program

Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School teacher testimonial
Our students have been involved with the Bionics Institute for several years and students have relished the opportunity of working in research science with acclaimed female mentors.

Not only have they had experience in laboratories and other research settings their mentors have given a firsthand account of a career for women in science research fields.

Mentors have provided insight all the way from undergraduate entry and experiences, through the process of applying for grants and other funding as well as presenting research findings at conferences. These insights have been invaluable for our students.

In addition, they have enhanced their communication skills, effectively and regularly communicating with their mentors and ultimately presenting their projects to a broad audience.

Former Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School student story
Tara Stewardson was one of the first participants in the inaugural program and she told us how it inspired her to pursue a career in STEM in this case study.

Loreto Mandeville Hall School news article

Three students from Loreto school describe their experience of the program in this news article on the Loreto website.

Koonung Secondary College School Newsletter article

Two students from Koonung Secondary share their esxperiences in their school newsletter

What Students are saying

“I loved going in-person to see my Mentor’s labs! She was so accommodating, intelligent and kind and I was very grateful for this opportunity”

“My favourite part was the excursion to the Research Facility, where my peers and I were introduced to research devices and machinery and shown many interesting ongoing experiments and correlations between STEM, research, and the real world”

“I enjoyed learning about my mentor’s job and what her learning journey has looked like. She has helped me understand her university courses and what kind of possibilities are out there”

“Learning about new niche topic which I had previous not known about was very interesting and cool”

“For me, the best part of this program was learning what it could look like to become a researcher and what their daily life is like“

What Mentors are saying

“The sense of fulfilment you gain is truly special. For me, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the students grow and learn, even in such a short time. At the beginning, they were shy and quiet, but with gentle encouragement they gradually opened up and started to show genuine interest in the topics we explored together”

“It only takes a little of your time but is highly rewarding and really beneficial for the students!”

“Let’s show future engineers, scientists, and innovators what’s possible”

“Be the mentor you wish you had”

“Having participated as a mentor twice I have not only shared my knowledge to encourage the girls in STEM participants but also benefitted from the program by seeing how enthusiastic and talented our future STEM professionals are”

“This is your chance to inspire younger generations”

 

What Teachers are saying

“This program makes STEM real for students”

“It allows the girls to get a glimpse of the research world”

“This program offers students an engaging and tangible experience of what it is like to apply their science knowledge and skills in the real world and workforce”

“It is worth it. It opened the girls’ eyes to opportunities they did not know might exist for them in the future”

“Males have many automatic mentoring systems within society. We need to work to build equivalent mentoring systems for women in STEM. My quiet, but very capable female students came out of their shells during this program. They built their confidence and were inspired by their wonderful mentors. The work was challenging, but it was what these very capable students needed to see all the possibilities STEM holds for them”

 

Register Your Interest

If your school would like to be involved in this inspiring program, we’d love to hear from you.

Email [email protected] to register your interest or request more information.

Curious about the finer details? Head to the Girls in STEM FAQ Page for more information on timelines, mentoring sessions, and student requirements.