Girls power up clean energy careers with new SEC workshop at Casey Tech

Girls from secondary schools in Victoria attended Casey Tech School and received a hands-on introduction to careers in renewable energy last week when SEC delivered its new Power Your Clean Energy Career workshop for the first time.

Delivered as part of Casey Tech School’s 2026 STEM Futures: Celebrating Women and Diversity in STEM event, the interactive workshop allowed students to explore the range of clean energy career options from engineering, trades, digital technology, project delivery, and community engagement. By taking part, students gained an understanding of how their skills and interests translated into future career pathways.

STEM Futures was an inspiring and empowering event held for International Women’s Day. It brought together students, educators, and professionals to celebrate women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), showcasing diverse career paths, and inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders in STEM fields.

SEC was one of the event partners, with experienced educators delivering the 45-minute workshop that saw students work in pairs to match their skills and interests to potential careers in renewable energy.

SEC Student Engagement Lead Sian Fitzpatrick said building a diverse workforce is essential to delivering Victoria’s renewable energy future.

“Victoria’s renewable energy transition is creating thousands of new jobs, and we want young women to see themselves at the forefront of that change,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.

“By engaging students early and showing them the breadth of opportunities available from trades to engineering to community roles, we’re helping break down stereotypes and build confidence in careers that power our future.”

Casey Tech School Director Kim Bruce welcomed the partnership.

“Providing opportunities for students to explore STEM and renewable energy careers is incredibly important,” Ms Bruce said.

“This program, part of our STEM Futures celebration, gave students insight into real career pathways and showed them how their strengths can translate into meaningful, future-focused jobs in a fast-growing industry.”

Victoria’s shift to renewable energy will create thousands of jobs, including roles in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, maintenance, line work, welding, mechanics, machine operations, and community liaison roles. The state’s energy workforce is projected to grow to more than 67,000 workers by 2040 — more than doubling the current workforce.

Casey Tech School is a high‑technology STEM learning hub delivering innovative, future‑focused programs that connect students with emerging technologies and real‑world pathways. They work with schools across the Casey region to provide hands‑on, industry‑aligned learning experiences. The Tech School is funded by the Victorian Department of Education and hosted by Chisholm Institute, and aims to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to thrive in future-focused industries.

In the past year alone, SEC has engaged with more than 5,500 students and teachers through career events, school visits, and industry activities, helping raise awareness and interest in renewable energy jobs across Victoria.

The Power Your Clean Energy Career workshop is part of SEC’s broader education and workforce development initiatives, aimed at building the skilled and diverse workforce needed to support the state’s transition to renewable energy.

For more information about SEC’s school programs, visit our website.