BAMOS
Sep 2019
Article
Science and Technology Australia—
how it benefits AMOS and its members
Dr Sue Barrell FTSE, Vice President STA (and proud AMOS member)
Science & Technology Australia (STA) is Australia’s peak body
in science and technology, representing more than 75,000
Australian scientists and technologists, belonging to more
than 80 member associations (including AMOS) and working
across all scientific disciplines. STA’s mission is to bring together
scientists, governments, industry and the broader community
to advance the role, reputation and impact of science and
technology in Australia.
As well as providing a unified and respected voice for the STEM
sector as a whole on issues of national importance, STA offers
a range of resources and other benefits to its members to
enhance their capability, efficiency and connections. A detailed
description of STA and what it provides to its members can be
found on the STA website, but in summary, STA:
Connects with Policy
• STA connects scientists and technologists directly with
Parliamentarians through initiatives like Science meets Parliament
and the STEM Ambassadors Program, and to Departmental
decision‑makers through Science meets Policymakers;
• STA also makes regular submissions to government, publishes
statements on policy decisions, and contributes to national
discussions around the future of Australian science and
technology through Parliamentary Forums.
Connects with Business
• Through industry collaboration events, STA facilitates dialogue
between STEM professionals and industry leaders, and addresses
the obstacles scientists and technologists are faced with when
moving into the commercial sphere.
Fosters Collaboration
• STA forms partnerships and alliances to promote and enhance
the role of science and technology in Australia and facilitates
introductions for its members to sector influencers.
• Through initiatives like the National Research and Innovation
Alliance, STA brings representative bodies together to collaborate
on issues facing research and development in Australia.
The current STA Executive (pictured left to right): Kylie Walker
(CEO), Zoe Doubleday (Early Career Rep.), Sue Barrell (Vice
President), Darren Saunders (Secretary), Emma Johnston
(President), Sharath Sririam (Policy Chair), Jeremy Brownlie
(President‑Elect), Sumeet Walia (Early Career Rep.). Source: STA
Empowers STEM Professionals
• STA offers a range of workshops, programs and events which
empower members and staff of member organisations, including
Superstars of STEM (designed to propel Australian women of STEM
into the spotlight) and Super STEM Communicator Workshops.
Supports the growth and success of members
• Tailored advice, tools, how‑to guides, templates etc assist
members in crafting advocacy and communication strategies,
attracting new members, enhancing back‑end administration.
• Promotes equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through active
advocacy across the STEM sector, industry and government and
through direct assistance to members in developing their own
EDI policies and practices.
• Provide members (and their members, in turn) with access to
a range of benefits designed to help science and technology
associations, societies and other organisations to work smarter
while saving time, money and resources, such as discounts,
training, quality professional advice and exclusive offers from
a range of service partners offering accounting & auditing,
corporate governance and insurance, among other services.
As a respected and influential contributor to debate on public
policy since 1985, STA provides a strong voice for the science,
technology, engineering and mathematics sector. A thriving
and diverse STEM sector is critical to Australia’s future, with value
extending beyond economics and innovation potential, to our
wellbeing, prosperity, happiness and the environment. As an
example of STA’s advocacy, STA’s ‘Solve it with Science’ campaign
brought the collective voices of thousands of STEM professionals
to speak on behalf of the STEM sector leading up to the 2019
Federal Election, seeking a focus on a whole‑of‑government
plan for science and technology; a strategy to equip the future
Australian workforce with STEM skills; strong investment in
both fundamental and applied research; and a commitment to
creating policy across all portfolios that is informed by the best
available evidence.
STA is working to ensure the diversity of the STEM sector is
reflected in its representation, as a diverse and inclusive sector
will achieve better outcomes and more meaningful, lasting
success. Building on its achievements through programs such as
the Superstars of STEM, STA has become an inaugural champion
of the AAS‑ATSE Women in Science Decadal Plan.
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