Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has launched the new ‘Come Fly with Me’ programme that aims to support young women across Western Sydney to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The programme, which has been launched alongside the airport’s technology partner, Amadeus, was delivered on Monday 30 June and saw a total of 35 students from high schools in south-west Sydney complete a series of workshops and exercises to raise awareness of different aspects of STEM.
WSI CEO, Simon Hickey, said:Western Sydney International has created thousands of jobs during construction and it will continue to be a jobs creator and catalyst for investment for decades to come, and that’s the key for students coming through high school today who are beginning to consider tertiary studies and career opportunities.
Hands-on workshops like this give students real insights into the type of education and skills required to work in industries like aviation, but also smart manufacturing, science, and technology, which can have many applications that will grow exponentially over the course of these young people’s professional lives.
We’ll continue to engage local high schools through initiatives like this, and we’re working with training institutions like TAFE NSW and Western Sydney University to map the job opportunities required and see how we can best ensure people are getting trained with the right skills for the right jobs at the right time.
Attending students were taught about both 3D printing and robotics, as well as technology applications within the aviation industry and examples of lean manufacturing with demonstrations led by Amadeus lab members.
Students were also given brainstorming and problem-solving exercises to test out knowledge they’d gained during the workshops.
Michelle Wilson, Head of Site Pacific at Amadeus, said:It was great to share our excitement about making the experience of travel better for everyone, everywhere,” she said. “Empowering young women to pursue careers in technology is an important step for driving innovation and building a more inclusive travel industry.
