The STEM Equity Evaluation Portal (the Portal) is an online evaluation tool and repository of STEM equity program evaluations, developed by Isabelle Kingsley from the [Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador][1] (the Office). The Portal exists to help users ... - **Evaluate** gender equity programs - **Search** program evaluations - **Connect** with program owners (individuals and organisations running equity programs) ... to collectively ‘move the needle’ on STEM gender equity issues. ---------- The STEM Equity Evaluation Portal was developed by the Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador — an an Australian Government initiative to increase the participation of girls and women in science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Portal was created in response to recommendations from the [Women in STEM Decadal Plan][2] for a standardised national evaluation framework that guides evaluation efforts across all existing and future STEM gender equity initiatives in Australia. In July 2021, the Office was awarded funding from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources to develop the Portal as an integral part of the [Australian Government’s Advancing Women in STEM 2020 Action Plan][3]. The Portal functions as an extension and complement to the [National Evaluation Guide][4] (the Guide), authored by Isabelle Kingsley and published by the Office in 2020. The Guide is a simple 5-step evaluation framework that outlines how to create an evaluation plan, put it into action and share the findings. As an extension to the Guide, the Portal contains standardised and interdependent elements (dropdown lists) that users can easily ‘click & select’ to build an evaluation plan and report on findings. It also includes a bank of recommended tools (surveys, tests and other instruments) to choose from for their evaluations. As a repository, it functions as a searchable database of existing STEM equity programs and their efficacy. The aim of the Portal (and the associated Guide) is to: - Enable project-level evaluation and demonstrate what works to attract, retain and progress girls and women in STEM - Support a culture of evidence-based practice, by enabling activities to be refined and improved based on evaluation data - Create consistency and comparability of evaluation data Publish and collate evaluation data in a national repository to: (1) improve awareness of existing programs and their efficacy, (2) identify and/or address any gaps, and (3) inform decision making about what works and what should be scaled up and/or funded across sectors - Support and incentivise collaboration between providers of programs within and across sectors to create stronger cohesion and consolidate efforts and resources. [1]: https://womeninstem.org.au/ [2]: https://www.science.org.au/support/analysis/decadal-plans-science/women-in-stem-decadal-plan [3]: https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/advancing-women-in-stem-strategy/2020-action-plan [4]: https://womeninstem.org.au/national-evaluation-guide/