ACS Female Leader Spotlight – Michelle Chomiak

A Decorated Educator with a Passion for Digital Technologies

Michelle was awarded the Digital Technologies Teacher of the Year 2018 by the Educational Computing Association of WA (ECAWA) and 2024 Secondary School Teacher of the Year (Non-Government) by The Educator Australia. Not only does she teach the concepts that drive technology, but she also creates resources to make teaching Digital Technologies easier and to highlight amazing female ICT role models. Recently elected Secretary of the ECAWA, Michelle was also a finalist in the 2025 Women Leading Tech awards.

Creating Resources to Bridge the Gap

Michelle’s motivation for sharing resources and uplifting digital teacher efficacy is simple: when she first started teaching in 2016, she discovered that there were few accessible resources, and their quality was hit or miss. The content wasn’t relevant or aligned to the curriculum, and unless a teacher had a background in IT, they wouldn’t know what content was fit for purpose. So, Michelle put together a website to share the resources she had used previously, which were good quality and aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum. Over the years, Michelle has updated these resources, with the latest release being the Australian-focused ‘Women in Technology’ series of classroom posters (see if you can locate the secret profile!).

Role Models Are Real People

Michelle acknowledged, “Through researching this new poster series, I learned that my idols are in fact real people with hobbies. It was great to connect with them and find out things that are not on their LinkedIn profile. I also learned that a lot of women did not have a linear IT pathway and came to IT from other fields using transferrable skills.”

Insights from the ECAWA 2025 State Conference

In February 2025, Michelle shared a detailed presentation on ‘Supporting and Increasing Girls Studying Computing’ at the ECAWA 2025 State Conference. While researching for the session, Michelle learned that the number of girls sitting the WACE exams in Computer Science each year is not increasing as fast as she expected. “The trend is upwards, but only just. I also learned that there are many contributing factors to why girls choose (or don’t choose) to study computing at a post-compulsory level. It’s a complex problem with many actors and influences, including self-efficacy and confidence, peers (support or judgement), parents (awareness & bias), teachers (pitching, content, encouragement), and classroom (environment, vibe).”

How Schools Can Support Girls in ICT

Michelle suggests that schools can implement subtle yet important changes to encourage more girls to pursue ICT courses. An inclusive classroom environment, set through neutral décor and a welcoming vibe (using natural materials like plants and wooden side tables), can be inviting for all students. Teachers should be selective and mindful of stimulus materials, as gaming posters can sometimes objectify women.

Creating a Welcoming and Inspiring Learning Environment

It's important to highlight the creative, collaborative, and impactful nature of computing as a tool for solving real-world problems. Best practices include providing gender-neutral example scenarios for projects and ensuring that learning materials are not solely focused on male references. Encouraging female role models, inviting guest speakers, and celebrating the successes of women in tech can help female students see a place for themselves in the field.

Student Success Stories and the Power of Mentorship

Like all teachers, Michelle is thrilled when her students enjoy her classes. “I have two girls in my Year 12 ATAR Computer Science class, which is the most ever in the history of the school, whom I have taught since Year 6, and it is such a joy to see their progress. They have attended Girls Programming Network workshops and other similar opportunities during school holidays over the years and also competed in the PeCan+ CTF Cyber Security Competition. Both jointly won the subject award for ATAR Computer Science in Year 11, which is a testament to their work ethic.”

Adapting to AI and Emphasising Ethical Use

Preparing students to thrive in their study and career pathways is a teacher’s job. With the acceleration in Artificial Intelligence development, Michelle is adapting the syllabus to address the rapid progress. “It’s clear that AI is reshaping how we study and work, and it’s not going away. I integrate AI literacy by helping students understand the fundamentals of machine learning, ethics, and privacy. I also emphasise the importance of lifelong skills like critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. emphasise the importance of lifelong skills like critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. My students are learning that AI can be used to help with study and understanding concepts, but must not touch anything submitted for assessment. Like a lot of schools around the country (and the world!) at the moment, frameworks and policies surrounding the use of AI is something that is currently being developed at a school and system level. It’s important to equip students and teachers with both technical skills and a strong ethical framework, and clear usage guidelines to engage with AI thoughtfully and responsibly. Educational Tech Leaders such as Sharon Singh (Qld), Leon Furze (Vic), and Miriam Scott (NSW) are also doing great work in this area”.

Volunteering, Representation and Role Models

2025 has already been eventful for Michelle, and she is involved in other outreach projects that will inspire students. “As part of my information gathering for my posters, I’ve also connected with the Tiddas in Tech group. This group is helping to elevate deadly Indigenous women in tech, which is much needed, so that's been absolutely fantastic. I’m also on the Perth Leadership committee for the Girls Programming Network, a volunteer organisation that I have been part of for 8 years now. It’s going from strength to strength, and our 2025 Term 1 workshop had just under 120 students attend. We’re now bringing in amazing mid-career women from industry to chat with the girls. The inaugural event was enjoyed by not only the students but the industry professionals too!”

Inspiring the Future Digital Workforce

Tech industry, take note: leaders like Michelle are promoting tech careers, upskilling students, providing resources to teachers, and connecting future digital professionals with industry experts both in the classroom and through volunteer outreach to increase the pipeline of workers who may one day work alongside you.

Explore More Resources

Visit Michelle’s website for inspiration, knowledge, resources, and coding puzzles - https://sites.google.com/view/mrschom/home?authuser=0

Find out more about ACS Gender Parity Initiatives: ACS Gender Parity

International Girls in ICT Day – 24 April 2025

International Girls in ICT Day was established by the United Nations specialised agency for digital technologies, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and will be celebrated on the 24th of April 2025. Find out more at ITU's Girls in ICT Page. 

Written by Matthew Jorgensen

Matthew is the Education Pathways & Partnerships Manager at ACS. 

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