Swinburne, Monash and Deakin Universities are partnering with secondary schools in Victoria to persuade students that ICT careers are not just for the boys.
The Digital Divas program is based on research sponsored by an Australian Research Council grant that found women held only 18% of ICT jobs in Victoria. First trialled in 2008, Digital Divas is an elective class in co-educational schools offered to girls only.
The scheme started with one class and now runs at 12 schools throughout the state.
Dr Catherine Lang from Swinburne University’s Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies, said: "Digital Divas is unique in its curriculum, which is designed specifically to interest girls.
"The girls learn from applying computer skills to practical activities like designing branded products, or using programming software to animate 3D stories."
Girls also meet women from the ICT industry to show students that it can be an attractive career option.
"We want to break the stereotype that ICT is only for boys," Dr Lang said.
Find courses from Swinburne, Monash and Deakin Universities.