SuperGEMS are driving the future of STEM through motorsport.
SuperGEMS is a flagship outreach initiative designed to promote STEM pathways and develop future career opportunities for young women through the high-performance world of motorsport.
Delivered through Griffith University’s Science on the GO! program, SuperGEMS connects female students with industry, education, and real-world STEM applications, creating a powerful pipeline from classroom to career.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to providing inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Why SuperGEMS matters
Australia faces a critical need to increase participation in STEM and diversify the future workforce.
While demand for STEM skills continues to grow, female representation in engineering, technology, and automotive-related industries remains disproportionately low.
SuperGEMS addresses this gap by:
- Providing early, meaningful exposure to STEM careers
- Building confidence, identity, and belonging in young women
- Connecting students with visible role models and real industry pathways
- Aligning education with future workforce needs in high-performance industries.
By engaging students at a pivotal stage (Years 9–10), SuperGEMS helps shape subject selection, study pathways, and long-term career aspirations.
About the program
SuperGEMS is a year-long, immersive program designed to inspire and empower female students through hands-on STEM learning and direct industry engagement.
Through a unique collaboration between Griffith University and the Supercars, students gain unparalleled access to the people, technologies and challenges driving elite motorsport.
The program promotes:
- STEM pathway awareness and engagement
- Career exploration within motorsport and related industries
- Development of transferable skills including problem-solving, collaboration, innovation and employability.
Program experience
SuperGEMS is built around a structured, year-long learning journey, at the core of SuperGEMS is a guided research investigation aligned with real challenges in motorsport and STEM .
Students will:
- Explore a problem or innovation area inspired by the Supercars industry
- Apply scientific inquiry, data analysis, and critical thinking skills
- Develop solutions informed by industry insights and mentorship
- Build capabilities in research, communication, and presentation.
The program culminates in a Grand Final Showcase, where students present their research findings to an audience of industry partners, educators and peers.
This program provides students with the opportunity to:
- Demonstrate their learning and growth across the year
- Communicate complex ideas with confidence and clarity
- Engage directly with industry professionals and potential future mentors
- Celebrate their achievements as part of a cohort of emerging STEM leaders.
Industry experience and mentorship
Throughout the year, students will also participate in curated experience days and mentorship opportunities, providing context and inspiration for their research projects and future pathways.
STEM and career pathways
SuperGEMS is intentionally designed to support the development of clear study and career pathways. Through exposure to industry and higher education, students are supported to:
- Make informed decisions about subject selection in senior schooling
- Explore university and vocational STEM pathways
- Understand the breadth of careers within motorsport including:
- Engineering (mechanical, electrical, data)
- Technology and innovation
- Sports science and performance
- Business, operations and leadership.
Industry and education impact
SuperGEMS creates value across multiple sectors:
For students:
- Increased confidence and engagement in STEM
- Greater awareness of career opportunities
- Stronger connection between education and future pathways.
For industry:
- Early access to a diverse and emerging talent pipeline
- Opportunity to shape and influence future workforce development
- Meaningful contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
For education:
- Strengthened links between schools, universities, and industry
- Enhanced student engagement in STEM subjects
- Alignment with national STEM priorities and workforce needs.
SuperGEMS schools
These are the current GEMS driving STEM agendas within their school and into their school communities.
Benowa SHS
Boonah SHS
Clairvaux Mackillop College
Helensvale SHS
Robina SHS
Keebra Park SHS
St Hilda's School
Merrimac SHS
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences