The scholarships are one of the ways BAE Systems is looking to provide opportunities for women and First Nations people, as part of the Company’s overall efforts to encourage and inspire Australians from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Since the Company’s announcement in February 2024, the scholarship initiative has expanded and now aims to offer a pathway for regional women and First Nations people to be supported through an engineering degree.
Selected scholars are anticipated to be announced in 2025.
BAE Systems will also provide opportunities for the scholars to undertake work placements across the Company over the course of their studies, giving the students invaluable industry experience aligned to their degree.
Williams Hicks Engineering Scholarship for women from regional Australia
$15,000 each year over a four-year degree (2025—2028) for students at:
These scholarships are inspired by the achievements of two trail blazing Royal Australian Air Force women. In 1988, Flight Lieutenant Robyn Williams and Officer Cadet Deborah Hicks — pictured above — etched their names in history as the first Australian women to become pilots in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Deborah was the youngest female pilot in Australia to fly solo, and Robyn was one of the RAAF’s first female engineers.
The scholarship’s objectives are to increase participation of regional women in STEM higher education, to remove financial barriers to study that come with living regionally, and to encourage women to aspire to a career in engineering and defence.
First Nations Scholarship in Engineering
$10,000 each year over a four-year degree (2025—2028) for students at:
These scholarships are aimed at reducing barriers for first nations people to participate in STEM higher education and to raise aspirations to pursue a career in defence.