Be a part of shaping the media of the future.

The ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarships (WiBT) have been providing career opportunities for Australian women in broadcast technology for over 21 years.

Established in 1992, over 100 women have successfully completed the WiBT scholarship program.

Every year eight scholarships are available nationally, for Australian women studying TAFE or equivalent level courses, in electrical engineering, computer systems/shared technology, electronics technology and communications engineering.

Successful applicants will receive four weeks paid work in the Technology Division of the ABC, plus a $1,000 educational book allowance.

“ The Women in Broadcasting Scholarship cemented my desire to work in broadcasting, particularly radio. It is a career where I can learn more about cutting edge technology and the big picture, as well as the intricate detail – such as satellite, digital and transmission processes. It’s a fascinating and dynamic area to explore.” Anita Rolfe, 2012 Victorian WiBT scholarship recipient.

Visit the ABC Careers website for all the application details: abc.net.au/careers.

For media enquires or more information, call Kerrie Dash on 02 8333 3028, or email wibtscholarships@abc.net.au.

ABC Women in Broadcast Technology Scholarships

Entries close: April 19, 2013

Li Xu Western Australia

Technologist with ABC Western Australia’s Technical Services department, Li Xu, loved watching her electrician father repair TVs and video players when she was a child. She studied electronics in China and worked as a patent officer, before immigrating to Australia, where she studied electronic systems and electrical drafting at TAFE.

Li received a WiBT scholarship in 2009 and has been working

at the ABC ever since she completed her TAFE course.

“I love my job… I’m learning a lot and putting it to practice.

“ My dad’s really proud of me because there aren’t many girls working in the engineering field.”

Sharon Webster New South Wales

Acting Service Coordinator, Sharon Webster, has been working at the ABC since receiving a WiBT scholarship in 1994.

Sharon started her career as an electrician and re-trained at the Diploma level in radio transmission and audio engineering.

“ I’ve always had an interest in hands-on electrical work.

“ The broadcast industry is an exciting place to work at a very interesting time. There’s lots of variety, from audio recordings, to TV technology. It’s a rapidly changing industry and the job can involve IT computer based systems as well as electronic metal work and circuit board repairs.

“ Working for the ABC that everyone knows and trusts, gives me an added sense of accomplishment.”

Anne Boyle Tasmania

Ann has always been interested in science and problem solving, so it was a natural choice for her to pursue a career in engineering, specialising in electronics and communication technology. Anne completed the WiBT scholarship in 2005, as a Bachelor of Engineering student at the University of

Tasmania. She is now a Technologist based at the ABC in Hobart.

“ I enjoy the excitement of live broadcasting and the way everyone works together to get a program to air. I believe strongly in the importance of what the ABC does as a whole to entertain, educate and inform Australia and I am proud to be part of that.”

Successful applicants will receive four weeks paid work in the Technology Division of the ABC, plus a $1,000 educational book allowance.

Shuwen Li New South Wales

Service Coordinator for the ABC’s NSW Technical Services department, Shuwen Li, received a WiBT scholarship in 1995 and has been working at the ABC ever since. Shuwen came to Australia from China as a qualified electrical engineer and has since studied post-grad IT in Australia.

“ Broadcast involves so many technologies, from communications, to electrical engineering and computer systems. It provides a great opportunity to combine all this knowledge combine all this knowledge.

“ I love the ABC, it has the stations I listen to and watch. The scholarship gave me the opportunity to work at the ABC.”

Andrea Haynes Western Australia

When Andrea studied her Advanced Diploma in Engineering, Instrumental and Control, at Challenger TAFE, she was the only woman in her class. Andrea was thrilled to receive a WiBT scholarship and she joined the ABC as a Technologist six months after completing her studies.

“ It’s a busy place and we work on lots of outdoor broadcasts. We’re very lucky, we’re a unique niche unit and it’s a fast moving job, the variety of work is great and we get to work with the latest technology.”

Photo courtesy Challenger Institute of Technology.

Photo of Sharon Webster (left) and National Broadcast Technologist, Mary Thomson by Kerrie Dash.

Andrea Haynes and Cyril Culverhouse work on the back of OB6 (outdoor broadcast van #6).

Photo by Kerrie Dash.