Overview What does STEM mean? Stories or Perspectives of Accessing and Belonging (or not) in STEM?

This submission reflects the positions of RUN institutions, and in doing so, also aims to represent the views of the communities which RUN universities serve; the one-third of Australians who live outside of metropolitan centres in regional, rural, and remote locations. [...] RUN welcomes this opportunity to identify barriers encountered in the STEM system and contributing to changes increasing diversity in STEM. [...] However, despite increased attention and numerous initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion, comparatively little is known about how to translate these initiatives into meaningful and sustained cultural, social and structural improvements in the Australian STEM ecosystem. [...] There is a need for increased longitudinal research to identify evidence-based best practice in how to support and enhance diversity and inclusion in Australian STEM organisations (and beyond). [...] As a further example, to attend key stakeholder meetings in Brisbane from the CQUniversity campus in Rockhampton, academics are required to leave Rockhampton on 06:50 flights in order to get into Brisbane for the workday and in most cases cannot return until around 18:30 requiring significant family support to ensure children are dropped off and picked up from all levels of schooling.