Students in Western Sydney high schools are gaining hands-on experience in STEM subjects with the University of Sydney’s Khuda Women in STEM Program, as the historic initiative passes the 12-month mark.
The University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott, and program donor and founder of the Khuda Family Foundation, Robin Khuda, visited Prairiewood High School on Wednesday to see the program in action, attending a hands-on mathematics outreach workshop.
While women’s participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has improved over recent decades, significant gaps remain. Women account for just 37 percent of university STEM enrolments in Australia, and only 15 percent of people working in STEM jobs. Thanks to a landmark $100 million donation from the Khuda Family Foundation – the largest ever made to the University of Sydney and the largest in NSW – there is now a pathway program for girls and young women from Western Sydney into STEM education and careers.
The program works with students from Year 7 through to graduation at the University in a staged approach. It is designed to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM by supporting participation at key moments throughout their education. In this first year, the program has worked with an initial six schools, running 157 sessions for thousands of students, with well over 8,000 individual student interactions taking place.
Khuda Women in STEM programs in action
Outreach workshops form the first stage of the program and aim to attract more young women to STEM subjects in school, with University of Sydney educators and student mentors engaging students in Years 7 to 10 through practical workshops aligned with the school curriculum.
The Khuda Women in STEM Academy, launched in November 2025, forms the second stage of the Khuda Women in STEM Program. It supports successful applicants in Years 11 and 12 through mentoring, on-campus experiences and academic and financial support. Prairiewood High School, one of six partner schools in Western Sydney participating in the program, has 24 students in the Academy. Next year, the University will admit its first Khuda Women in STEM Scholars.
Prairiewood High School students speak with Robin Khuda at their school. From left: Catherine Ly, Sienna Byrne, Sophie Shlimon and Claire Nguyen. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Fiona Wolf.
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LinkPrairiewood High School captain Sienna Byrne said the program had encouraged her to consider further study in STEM.
“Participating in the Khuda Women in STEM program has made me more confident in pursuing a STEM career,” she said. “It’s made me more curious and is creating a lot more opportunities for me.”
Fellow Year 12 student Sophie Shlimon agreed. “As someone from a lower socio-economic background, I've always thought that it’d be harder to access opportunities in STEM. Through participating in the program, I’m confident I'll be able to do what my heart desires,” she said.
“The scholarship money we’ve received as students in the Khuda Academy has been so helpful to get us resources and technologies that we wouldn't be able to access otherwise. I used my scholarship money to buy an iPad so I could take notes more easily. It’s made me more motivated to study.”
Prairiewood High School Year 10 students Katie Nguyen and Loan Tran work together in a Khuda Women in STEM Outreach workshop. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Fiona Wolf.
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LinkYear 10 student Katie Nguyen has been participating in the Khuda Outreach workshops, and is now a member of the school’s STEM Club, established by Year 11 students participating in the Khuda Academy.
“Each fortnight I go to STEM Club and we do fun experiments, like making slime and sherbert, and we get to learn from them.
“I’m definitely going to apply to join the Khuda Academy. I’d like to continue the legacy of the Year 11 students and ensure that the STEM club keeps going.”
Creating lasting change for women in STEM
Robin Khuda, founder and CEO of AirTrunk and founder of the Khuda Family Foundation said the program was intended to create lasting change.
“I’m delighted to celebrate the first year of the Khuda Women in STEM Program with Prairiewood High School and the University of Sydney,” he said.
“With this program I want to give back and create lasting social impact, especially by supporting diversity in STEM.
“It’s been inspiring to see such strong engagement from students and staff, because that’s what this long-term partnership is all about: creating opportunity, building confidence and growing a lasting community to support young women into STEM,” he said.
Expanding educational access, improving gender equality
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Scott said it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm of the Prairiewood High School students.
“Our shared goal is real, generational change – challenging who feels they belong in STEM and creating life-changing opportunities for girls and young women in Western Sydney that will in turn strengthen gender equity in STEM industries and careers.
“The University is enormously grateful to Robin and the Khuda Family Foundation, the NSW Department of Education, and Western Sydney schools including Prairiewood High School for their trust and support as we grow the program’s momentum and impact.”
The program aligns with the University’s 2032 Strategy, supporting objectives to expand educational access and improve gender equality across all fields. Recent initiatives have included a historic recruitment drive for women in engineering, the launch of the world leading Gender Equality @ Work Index and the ongoing implementation of the Science in Australian Gender Equity (SAGE) program.
As someone from a lower socio-economic background, I've always thought that it’d be harder to access opportunities in STEM
Sophie Shlimon, Year 12 student
Prairiewood High School and Khuda Academy
Participating schools
Partner schools in Western Sydney working to deliver the program are currently a combination of government, selective and independent schools. In addition to Prairiewood, participating schools include:
- Bossley Park High School
- Catherine McAuley Westmead
- Girraween High School
- Our Lady of Mercy College (OLMC) Parramatta
- Penrith Selective High School
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