Girl power: Optus celebrates International Day of the Girl Child

By Poppy Fassos

At Optus, we are strengthened by others. It's all about how we connect with each other and providing access to opportunity. We leverage ​the power of diversity and inclusivity, so that together we and our customers can thrive. That’s truly the power of ‘yes’.

This year’s theme for the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl Child is ‘Digital generation. Our generation’. Globally, more than 2.2 billion young people under the age of 25 still do not have internet access at home.

The internet gender gap grew from 11 per cent in 2013 to 17 per cent in 2019. This means that, globally, there are fewer girls and women who are using the internet. This is about far more than connectivity. Globally, girls are less likely than boys to use and own their own devices, develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, or apply for school or jobs. That’s a worrying trend.

As a mother of an amazing daughter, I am proud to work for an organisation like Optus that invests so much in powering girls’ futures through opportunities and options to get connected.

Optus respects and values diversity and the contribution of every person, regardless of their gender identity. This International Day of the Girl Child, we want to celebrate the next generation of girls who embody Optus’ optimism and challenger spirit – girls who are breaking new ground, leaders, innovators, creators, dreamers, and seekers, as well as women who are mothers, carers, providers, teachers, and role models. We believe in a future in which gender equality has been achieved and all women and girls have been empowered.

In 2005, Optus became a founding member of the Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN). ABCN partners with low socio-economic status schools around the country to deliver mentoring programs that empower young Australians to reach their full potential. The impact of these programs is felt in the moment, and benefits have been tracked many years after participants leave the program.

While COVID-19 made last year the one of the toughest yet, it super-charged ABCN’s digital transformation, allowing them to reach more disadvantaged communities, including regional, rural and First Nations young people, as well as engage mentors at home or wherever they are located. Optus supported ABCN with vital activities beyond mentoring, including Donate Your Data, Laptops4Learning and ABCN Connects.

Knowing that many of us are still juggling work and schooling from home, to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child, we put together an event schedule filled with opportunities that inspired and empowered Optus parents, carers, teachers and role models and the girls in their households. This included hearing from women across Optus about how they found their passion for technology, listening to trailblazer and film director Taryn Brumfitt on knowing when to speak up and when to break the rules and family HIIT workouts powered by our partnership with Healthy Mummy.

I hope this International Day of the Girl Child encourages you to start a conversation with the girls in your life about a career in STEM.