Every Swinburne STEM intern offered a job at Amazon Web Services, strengthening pathways for women in tech

Swinburne University of Technology and Amazon Web Service’s (AWS) Women in STEM Cadetships and Advanced Apprenticeships Program achieved a 100% job placement rate for its inaugural all-women cohort, carving out new pathways for females in the cloud computing industry.

After a highly competitive recruitment process, AWS welcomed its first cohort of 19 women from across Australia in 2022. The results were remarkable – all 19 students who completed the program secured ongoing employment in technology after graduating.  

The two-year apprenticeship blends on-the-job training at AWS offices with remote coursework from Swinburne. Apprentices spent three days per week embedded with AWS cloud support teams, gaining real-world experience while also studying a Diploma of Applied Technologies (Cloud Technologies) from Swinburne. 

Munopa Rukure and Afshan Siddiqui were both a part of the program which led to them being offered roles as AWS Cloud Support Associates, which will see them work with AWS customers on a range of cloud technologies.

For Munopa, gaining real-world work experience whilst learning proved to be invaluable. “Before the program, despite applying for over 150 job openings, the consistent feedback I received was that I was qualified on paper, but lacked the hands-on experience employers sought. The Swinburne apprenticeship program offered the invaluable chance to get that critical experience through comprehensive training, while being employed.”

Afshan's path was made extra-challenging as a single mother, but her unwavering determination shone through. She diligently attended AWS webinars whilst caring for her children, and the flexibility of the Swinburne program enabled her to study while meeting family obligations.  

“I’m grateful to be part of this positive step towards change and empowerment of women in tech careers.”

Madelyn Bolch, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Vocational Education at Swinburne, says the graduates’ stories exemplify how AWS' forward-thinking initiatives and Swinburne's tailored training can empower women to achieve their dreams of building purposeful careers in technology. 

“Swinburne is delighted to be collaborating with AWS on this program that has a real-world impact. Ensuring every Swinburne graduate gets a job after graduating is invaluable, as is supporting Women in STEM to upskill and gain essential industry experience.”

“Having 100% of our initial cohort being offered a permanent role is a testament to the tech and industry skills Swinburne is equipping their students with so that they leave job ready.” 

As the program continues to evolve and recruit more students, AWS has already launched a second apprenticeship intake. 

Simon Elisha, chief technologist for public sector in AWS in Australia and New Zealand, says the traineeship will be a game changer for attracting and retaining top female talent in cloud roles.

"At AWS, we’re focused on empowering individuals with digital skills ,including highly sought-after artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, that can transform lives and careers. The apprenticeship program with Swinburne provides an opportunity for women to develop hands-on cloud expertise while earning valuable qualifications. Amazonians such as Munopa and Afshan’s dedication and diverse perspectives will undoubtedly enrich AWS’s teams as we strive to better serve and innovate for customers across Australia and New Zealand.”

“This program is one of many that are intended to uplift underrepresented groups and cultivate a more inclusive future for the cloud computing industry. By combining world-class training with real-world experience, our training initiatives open new doors while nurturing the next generation of diverse cloud talent."