WA social enterprise She Codes Australia is closing the gender gap in technology by empowering women and underrepresented groups with the skills, confidence and community needed to thrive in tech careers.
Like many great ideas, She Codes was born from lived experience. In 2014, founder Kate Kirwin was had just joined the innovation sector when she became fascinated by the idea that websites, apps and games could be built with little more than words, logic and creativity. Keen to learn, Kate attempted to teach herself to code, but quickly realised she needed support, guidance, and a safe space to ask questions without judgement. That insight became the foundation of She Codes Australia.
Kate – with her team of mentors – began offering grassroots, one-day workshops for women, and it soon grew into something much bigger – a social enterprise.
Rather than placing the burden solely on individuals, Kate designed She Codes as a social enterprise, partnering with industry partners (Rio Tinto, Canva, CommBank, Telstra, Bunnings, BHP, Bankwest – just to name a few) to upskill talent, meet diversity goals, and reinvest back into the community through scholarships and accessible programs. The result is a model that works for learners, employers, and the broader tech ecosystem alike.
WASEC had a chat with Kate Kirwin, Founder & CEO of She Codes Australia and 2024 WA Young Australian of the Year, to learn more about her social enterprise.
Who are you and what’s your role?
I’m Kate Kirwin – Founder and CEO of She Codes Australia. My mission is to create more inclusive pathways into the tech sector. I see my role as ‘rebranding’ tech – it doesn’t have to be secretive, scary or ‘just for the nerds’. It’s fun, and it’s for everyone.
What are the barriers facing women in tech?
There is a gender gap in technology and a lot of people think that women just aren’t interested in tech. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Interest in tech has never been a barrier for women – the interest is there. Women have always reached out to us, curious about coding and technology, but unsure where to start. Barriers like access, confidence gaps, lack of role models, financial constraints, or concerns around balancing work and family commitments are what’s creating the gap. By teaching technical skills, building clear career pathways for underrepresented groups, and inspiring Australians to be curious about tech and coding, we’re trying to close that gap. We also address the work/family time restraints – our programs are outside of business hours, and part time. Our bootcamp is evenings and weekends – almost all other bootcamps are during the day on weekdays, meaning folks need to quit their jobs to learn. We believe that learning should be possible around life – without compromising on the in-person experiences that builds confidence and connection.
Why was choosing a social-enterprise model important to you?
My strongest value is making a difference. A social-enterprise model allows us to balance impact with sustainability. Our model is, what we call a win-win-win. To me, success is when we can achieve a result for our corporate partners (customers) by giving them access to talent, hitting diversity goals and increasing their brand presence in the market while also providing scholarship opportunities for women in need, and impacting the community at large. For our partners – it’s hitting business objectives. For our learners, it means access, pathways to employment, and empowerment, not just education.
Can you share the impact of your social enterprise?
We’re really proud of our impact – so much so that we produce an impact report each year. The 2025 report is almost ready to drop – but until then, check out last year’s. Some highlights? 12,506 cumulative hours of code in a year. 92% felt an increase in confidence after attending (as a participant or mentor) a workshop or program. And importantly, 994 cupcakes were served!
I’ve also heard hundreds of stories. One of my students was told by a well-meaning university professor at age 17 that she was “too fun” to be in STEM, so she enrolled in business. She’s now in her 30’s, and thanks to learning through a She Codes Australia program is now working as a software developer.
Just yesterday one of my students shared that she’s never before felt a space where she fits in quite like she fits in at She Codes. She described the ‘magic’ in the air in the classroom, and the joy of being surrounded by likeminded women.
How can people get in touch?
You can reach me at [email protected], or follow @shecodesaus / or She Codes Australia on Linkedin (look for the purple logo). If you’re curious about coding – come along to one of our free workshops – shecodes.com.au