9 March 2024
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
In the late 1990s, when STEM roles for women were still uncommon, Sergeant Sarah Boyle chose an unconventional path as an avionics technician, having disliked earlier, less technical roles.
In 2008, Sergeant Boyle took “a leap into a technology realm that was rapidly evolving” and transitioned from Navy to Air Force.
Since then, she has witnessed a transformation in Air Force’s culture, with a digital shift manifesting in networking groups specifically for women, including women technicians.
She was also one of the aviation technicians behind the By Techs for Techs (BTFT) initiative, which aims to identify challenges and opportunities for discussing issues affecting enlisted women aviators working in the air and ground technical space.
Sergeant Boyle didn’t hesitate to list family as her greatest life achievement, but in the Air Force specifically, it’s becoming a role model for other aviator technicians.
“I recently stood up in front of over 100 technical women aviators [at the BTFT convocation] and spoke about the lack of female role models in my career,” she said.
“It can be challenging when the rate of women in your job role is less than 10 per cent at times.”
Juggling a demanding job, pregnancies and family life were particular challenges, as well as limited opportunities to engage with like-minded women.
Sergeant Boyle said that BTFT gives the junior workforce an opportunity to articulate the support they really want.
“It is an opportunity for inclusion, but also to better understand what we need to do to support inclusion,” she said.
“We spoke about career promotion challenges women face – what happens when you can’t be a technician but you want new opportunities?
“It provides a great opportunity for women at all levels by breaking down the barriers to communication felt due to the vast distance between flying squadrons across Australia, allowing other voices to be heard.
It came at a time when Air Force culture was ready for the sorts of topics they were discussing, which were no longer taboo or off the table.
“We have strong junior women with immense potential who feel empowered to stand up and talk about how hard it can be to be judged for being a woman technician in a male-dominated workforce,” Sergeant Boyle said.
She predicts big changes for future aviators.
“The options are there and so is the support,” Sergeant Boyle said.
“I anticipate even more women wanting to join a supportive organisation where a career can span five years, 10 to 20 years, or longer. More and more women are making a change and taking a seat at the table.”
