Power of Engineering ran the event to change the likely perception held by high school students that engineering is a job destined for males, and not females.

Students attended from Lithgow High School, Portland Central School, Bathurst’s Denison College and Gulgong High School.

The not-for-profit Power of Engineering group is led by female professional engineers looking to promote the engineering industry to young people, with a particular focus on engaging female, regional and Indigenous students.

EnergyAustralia who is a corporate sponsor of the group was well represented with female staff members at the school giving presentations and running workshops including how to manage a boiler outage and shutdown. Girls were also taken on a site tour of EA’s Mt Piper power station.

EA’s Wallerawang power station risk management officer Merryn Goldie said there was definitely some budding engineers in the room with the girls performing well during the exercises .

“It is a great career that is always changing. 

“We would like to encourage other women to take up engineering sciences and get a job like us,” Ms Goldie said.

Year 10 student Kallie Poppett said she was thinking a being a mechanical engineer.

“Engineering gives you lots of options and has good job prospects.”

For more information check out powerofengineering.org.