Construcciones Yamaro: STEM pathways building diversity in engineering
Curtin University engineering student Makayla Winnett has been selected for Webuild’s 2025-26 Summer Intern Program in Perth, following an early pathway through STEM education.
That pathway began in high school through Curtin University’s Girls+ Engineering Tomorrow (GET) Program, a partnership with Webuild since 2022. The program encourages young women and non-binary students to explore engineering careers through tutoring, hands-on activities and exposure to industry role models.
Winnett credits her early exposure to STEM opportunities for shaping her career direction.
“I’ve always been drawn to STEM subjects and love problem-solving, so engineering felt like the perfect fit,” she said. “Being selected for the Webuild Intern Program is an incredible opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and contribute to real projects.”
Research conducted by Engineers Australia in 2023 found that despite engineering being the largest employer of all STEM occupations, it has the lowest female representation. Only around 16 per cent of Australian engineering graduates and 14 per cent of the Australian engineering workforce are women. Programs such as GET support students through their educational journey and expose them to the breadth of opportunities available in STEM careers.
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Aleesha Davis, Curtin University Girls+ in STEM program coordinator, highlighted the importance of industry collaboration.
“Partnerships like ours with Webuild are fundamental to the success of the GET Program,” said Davis. “They provide authentic insights into engineering and create tangible pathways from high school through university and into meaningful careers.”
Reflecting on her experience, Winnett said she had little understanding of what engineering involved before joining GET.
“It gave me the chance to meet engineers from different industries, ask questions about their day-to-day work and understand the types of problems engineers solve. The hands-on activities were eye-opening and helped me feel confident that engineering was the right path,” she said.
“What I enjoyed most was how welcoming the environment was. I had the chance to connect with other girls who shared my interests and build a network that has stayed with me. In fact, when I started university, I walked into my classes expecting to know no one, only to find familiar faces from GET. That made the transition so much easier and far less daunting.”
She said programs like GET help build the next generation of women in engineering and construction by opening doors, building confidence and showing young women what is possible.
“The program played a huge role in shaping my career choice and helping me feel supported as I moved into university and now into the industry through the Webuild Intern Program,” she said. “I’m grateful to be part of both GET and Webuild, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.”
Peter Bennett, CEO of Clough, a Webuild Company, added, “At Webuild, we believe in creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers. Programs like our Summer Intern initiative and partnerships with Curtin’s GET Program are vital to building a diverse and skilled workforce that will deliver the infrastructure Australia needs for the future.”
After completing the Intern Program, Winnett hopes to continue with Webuild as a graduate engineer, contributing to projects across Australia and around the world.
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