Geomatic Technologies Women in Geospatial Scholarship (RMIT students)

New scholarship supports women in surveying

Geomatic Technologies is offering a scholarship for women studying surveying or geospatial science at RMIT University to encourage young females to enter the currently male dominated sector.

The ‘Geomatic Technologies Women in Geospatial Scholarship’ will provide the recipient with $8000 per year towards her degree. Women commencing semester 1 or 2 of the Bachelor of Science (Geospatial Science) (Honours) or Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) (Honours) in 2018 are eligible to apply. The recipient will be chosen based on academic achievement, a passion for geospatial science, and strong career goals. Students with a financial or educational disadvantage are strongly encouraged to apply.

The online application requires students to answer several questions and upload supporting documents, allowing candidates to demonstrate that they are deserving of financial support.

The scholarship is sponsored by Geomatic Technologies (GT), a mobile and spatial technology company that provides data and asset management solutions to the government, utility and transport sectors and is passionate about promoting a greater balance of gender in the profession.

Women are largely underrepresented in the surveying profession, however the demographic is starting to change as more women consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) careers than ever before. The recent appointment of female Surveyor Generals in NSW and WA has bolstered this, providing advocates and role models for young female surveyors to look up to.

Kellie Dean, a Senior Licensed Surveyor in Victoria says she was immediately attracted to the profession in Year 12 because of the mix of science and engineering.

“I am suited to the profession as I am organized, diligent and ambitious. I enjoy the problem solving and mathematics involved, together with cadastral law and report writing aspects,” said Kellie.

Kellie has worked in the profession for over 13 years on various projects including the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Athletes Village.

For Briallen Frisken, Trainee Licensed Surveyor for JRL Land Surveyors in Melbourne, the variety of projects and mix of indoor and outdoor work were what attracted her to the profession.

“I really like the variety. Getting a bit of outside and inside, doing some maths, doing some creative stuff, getting to talk to different people about things and getting to give advice. It’s really variable every day.”