Minister for Women spends IWD at early childhood centre to learn more about STEM

Victoria’s Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins spent International Women’s Day (8 March) at an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in Melbourne’s west learning more about  Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee Professor Marilyn Fleer’s pioneering Conceptual Playworld Model.

Professor Fleer was inducted into the Honour Roll in 2022 in the Change Agent category for developing ways to help young students learn STEM as director of Monash University’s Monash Playlab research project.

Fellow inductee, Aishwarya Kansakar, was also present for the occasion. Ms Kansakar met Professor Fleer at the Victorian Honour Roll of Women induction ceremony in 2022, where they quickly realised they had a shared goal – the crucial need for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for women and girls. 

They have since gone on to collaborate on the world-first initiative that engages young children in kindergarten with STEM concepts through play using Professor Fleer’s Conceptual Playworld Model.

The model teaches complex STEM topics including robotics, manufacturing and automation in fun scenarios involving educators and children solving challenges together.

In Australia, only 28.8 per cent of jobs in the manufacturing industry and only 15 per cent of people in STEM-qualified occupations are filled by women.

Professor Fleer and Aishwarya Kansakar’s initiative makes learning and understanding complex STEM concepts accessible and fun for children, so they can have access to career paths in STEM when they’re older. 

Ms Kansakar was inducted into the Honour Roll in 2022 in the Emerging Leader category for her work in automation, robotics, manufacturing and AI and as a champion of STEM education and entrepreneurship.

The Honour Roll is open to any Victorian woman who has made a lasting and significant contribution at a local, state, national or international level, and can be nominated by themselves or peers. 

Nominations for 2024 open on Monday 18 March.

“Women should be publicly celebrated and each year the Victorian Honour Roll of Women does just that – honouring the success of so many incredible women, who make Victoria a great place to live,” the Minister said. 

“We can see a great example of that today, with two former Honour Roll recipients launching their own exciting initiative focused on engaging young girls with STEM concepts.”