Virgin Australia’s Future Aviators program gives around 60 young girls from South East Queensland schools a behind-the-scenes look at the aviation world to encourage them to pursue careers in the field. The students in Years 7 and 8, will tour Virgin’s head office, training facilities, and aircraft maintenance hangar, including pilot flight simulators.

Virgin Australia created the program to highlight the various jobs available in aviation, especially technical roles, and to address the industry’s gender pay gap and underrepresentation of women in technical positions like engineering and piloting. Virgin Australia is partnering with the Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program, led by Aviation Australia, to deliver the Future Aviators program. The program will conclude with a panel featuring women from Virgin Australia.

Chief People Officer of Virgin Australia, Lisa Burquest mentioned that the program is a response to the industry’s gender pay gap, where women are underrepresented in more specialised technical roles such as engineers and pilots.

“Aviation certainly faces challenges in gender diversity, however we don’t shy away from them – we’re leaning in with a determined focus, not only to inspire students to consider a career in aviation, but to actively support them on that path,” she said.

“It just so happens that this year’s International Women’s Day theme is Accelerate Action, so our Future Aviators program is a fitting alignment with that. We are committed to building awareness so that the next generation of girls have insight to opportunities and experiences that evoke an early love for aviation and fuels their career choice as they complete their schooling”

“This is a small but important step in increasing the visibility of some lesser-known roles in aviation for students who may not know where their skills could take them, or what roles are even available to them across the industry, so we look forward to building on the program in future years.”

“As well as showcasing our engineers and pilots, the program is also about promoting to students the broader roles that make up aviation, such as the specialist roles in our Integrated Operations Centre that are responsible for keeping the operation flying.”

“We recognise the technical training required to become an engineer or pilot comes with years of study, so we’re opening the door to early high school students who may not yet know what career path they’ll pursue or know the pathway to get there.”

Comments from Aerospace Gateway Schools Project Manager Natalie Allen:

“The Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program, led by Aviation Australia, connects industry and schools to provide hands-on learning and career pathways in aerospace,” she said.

“We’re excited to partner with Virgin Australia to deliver the Future Aviators program, inspiring the next generation of aviation talent from six participating Aerospace Gateway Schools across Southeast Queensland.”  

Students were invited to ask questions and meet the individuals working around Virgin Australia during a panel discussion promoting inspirational women at the end of the day.