Hannah Rice will take on work experience at the Department of Defence as part of a Scholarship program focussed on encouraging more women into the STEM workforce.
A former hardware store worker has been awarded a national cyber security scholarship and will have the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with Department of Defence and Australian Signals Directorate experts.
Hannah Rice won the Leisa Condie Defence Women in STEM Undergraduate Scholarship, worth $10,000 per year for the final two years of her studies.
The Scholarship also gives her the opportunity to undertake professional placements within the Department and the ASD.
The Scholarship is aimed at promoting diversity in the STEM workforce by increasing participation in and building a career path for women in the industry.
Ms Rice is in her second year of a Bachelor of Science (Cyber Security) degree. She said the scholarship was recognition of her success so far in her studies and would help cover costs associated with her degree.
"I'm a single mum, so the financial aspect is definitely really helpful, but obviously being recognised for this scholarship and the opportunities it provides are also really important," she said.
Ms Rice started her degree in cyber security almost by accident after completing a Bachelor of Arts and spending the first part of her working life at Bunnings.
But she said she was happy to be a model that other women pursuing a career in STEM could follow.
"I didn't know about everything I could learn studying cyber security and it just seemed like a fluke that I ended up here," she said.
"It's surprising to me that it's an industry that's hidden away but there's massive opportunities for women, but they aren't necessarily told that."
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the scholarship would help facilitate greater engagement from women across Australia with the Department.
"We are enabling the best talent to successfully complete their degrees and ensuring the workforce of the future is secured," she said.
25 women studying STEM degrees from universities around Australia were given scholarships as part of the program.
Enormous opportunities for graduates
It is well-documented that the cyber security sector is facing a massive skills shortage. In the next decade, Australia will need more than 60,000 skilled professionals to fill the looming employment gap.
ECU School of Science Executive Dean Professor Andrew Woodward said graduates from the university's cyber security program were in demand around Australia and the world.
"There's an enormous need for more Australians to get involved in this thriving sector, particularly women," he said.
ECU is considered one of the world's leading universities for training and research in cyber security.
Scholarships for both equity and excellence have the ability to transform the lives of students like Ms Rice. ECU is proud of its partnerships to bring these opportunities to students. To learn more, visit the Scholarships webpage.
For more information on the Defence Women in STEM Undergraduate Scholarships visit the Department of Defence webpages.
