The Skip Foundation in partnership with Australian National University (ANU) have unlocked academic opportunities for young women from regional areas who are wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
Women are consistently underrepresented in STEM-qualified fields, representing just 15 per cent of the workforce.
In engineering, women make up just 16 per cent of university graduates and constitute only 13 per cent of the engineering workforce, despite the sector being the largest employer of all STEM professions
Co-founder of the Kim Jackson Scholarship and long-time advocate of equality in education, Kim Jackson, won a scholarship in Engineering and Commerce, and studied at the ANU in the early 2000s, after moving from regional Queensland.
“When I finished high school I was awarded a scholarship which allowed me to pursue Engineering,” Jackson said.
“Without the scholarship I wouldn’t have been able to go to ANU to follow my passion and start my journey.
“It seems so simple, but you really can’t be what you can’t see. That’s what the Kim Jackson Scholarship is all about. I’m committed to helping young women, particularly those from non-metropolitan, rural and regional areas.
“I know first-hand how it feels to be the only woman in the room. By giving regional women the opportunity to study engineering, we're helping the next generation of Australian innovators,” she said.
The Kim Jackson Scholarship was recently increased to $25,000 annually for both existing and future scholars as part of a newly assigned agreement between the Skip Foundation and the ANU School of Engineering.
Scholarship recipient, Olivia Anderson, said the scholarship allowed her to leave Darwin to study Engineering at ANU.
“Growing up in Darwin, I dreamt of working in space and medical technology and coming to the ANU to study Engineering has put me on a path to make this a reality,” Anderson said.
“The Kim Jackson Scholarship has been life-changing—not just financially, but through its community of academic and industry leaders.
“The scholarship has helped cover the practical costs of uni life, but even more importantly, it has connected me with other women in STEM providing me with a support network from day one. It’s an opportunity that continues to grow and empower.”
Applications for the 2026 program close 15 May 2025. Find out how to apply