Networking – Breakfast, lunch or evening events in Sydney with stimulating speakers and opportunities to keep up to date and network with other people in the ICT industry.
	Mentoring– events and strategies to help women reach their potential and influence the direction of the ICT industry.
	Skills Development Workshops – practical workshops to increase women’s career opportunities.
	School Education – speakers for career events and other educational activities to encourage more females to join the industry.

	Encourage more women into the ICT industry
	Inspire women in the industry to achieve their personal aspirations and potential.
	Assist women to broaden their understanding of the ICT industry.
	Facilitate networking opportunities.

FITT also participates in national organisations and alliances to represent the interests of women in ICT.

FITT is a Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and is also sponsored by Telstra.

FITT’s position on the issue of under-representation of women in the ICT industry

The FITT Steering Committee believes that it can contribute by promoting the industry to girls and women who are choosing their careers and by supporting those who enter the industry, encouraging them to reach their potential.

Female participation in ICT has been fairly stable over the last few years, averaging 18 per cent of all ICT workers and 18 per cent of ICT professionals (ABS Labour Force Survey). We think the percentage needs increase, given that females make up 52% of Australia’s population.

Women's drastic under-representation in the ICT industry is of concern to both government and the organisations that make up the ICT industry. However, this is a complex issue that will require time and resources to reverse.

Another concerning statistic is that not enough girls of school age are not choosing to study ICT-related subjects.

The proportion of females commencing Bachelor Degree and Higher Award in Information Technology courses declined over the years 2001 to 2004, from 26 per cent of ‘All Students’ in 2001 to 20 per cent in 2004. The proportion of females commencing Bachelor Degree and Higher Award Courses in Information Technology courses remained stable over the years 2004 to 2008 at approximately 20 per cent of All Students.

Females accounted for a consistent proportion of ‘All Student’ Completions over the years 2001 to 2004, averaging approximately 27 per cent. This proportion dropped in 2005 to 22 per cent prior to stabilising at approximately 20 per cent over the years 2006 to 2007.

It was our 20th birthday in 2009
FITT started in 1989. To celebrate 20 years, FITT reviewed our achievements in a presentation 20 Years of FITT by Maggie Alexander. We created a Roll of Honour of the Steering Committee Members since our inception. Also see Computerworld for an brief overview of 20 years of FITT.