Empowering Pathways Award Form

This award recognises any staff member who actively challenges gender stereotypes, creates visible and meaningful opportunities for girls to engage with aviation, and helps students see themselves in aviation careers, including piloting, aircraft engineering, aircraft maintenance, avionics, flight operations and aviation-related STEM roles. The winner will receive a trophy, a certificate and a one day professional development experience during 2027 that includes behind-the-scenes access to Virgin Australia operational environments and team members, tailored to the winner’s interests and learning objectives. Each remaining finalist will receive a $100 gift card and a certificate.

This award is open to any staff member employed at an Aerospace Gateway to Industry School, including but not limited to teachers, education and career counsellors, administration staff and other school personnel. Where an initiative involves more than one staff member, only one candidate may be named as the lead.

Please note that each completed application/nomination form, including any personal information provided, will be shared with judging representatives. The committee will review the written application, along with supporting materials and statements endorsing the application. Selection will be based on the extent to which candidates can demonstrate and substantiate how they have demonstrated any of the following criteria: o How the candidate has increased girls’ engagement, participation, confidence and/or aspiration in aviation careers. o How the candidate has challenged gender stereotypes and created a more inclusive perception of who belongs in aviation careers. o How the candidate has created meaningful exposure to women and role models in aviation, including pilots, aircraft engineers, maintenance professionals, avionics specialists, flight operations personnel and aviation STEM professionals. o How the candidate has supported girls to explore subject choices, career pathways, school-to-work transitions or further study options linked to aviation careers. o How the candidate can demonstrate measurable impact, such as participation data, student voice, retention, subject selection, program growth or other evidence of change.