Perth GPN celebrated its biggest ever workshop, powered by community and aligned with UWA Data Institute’s mission to build a diverse, future-ready digital workforce.
Perth Girls Programming Network (GPN) closed out 2025 with record-breaking energy, welcoming more than 170 students, tutors and helpers to The University of Western Australia for its largest workshop to date. This milestone event introduced a wave of new participants to coding through a hands-on project: building virtual Tamagotchi-style pets using micro:bits and Python. The excitement was palpable, and the photos captured the joy, curiosity and teamwork that define the GPN experience.
Run entirely by volunteers, GPN continues to thrive thanks to the generosity and passion of its tutors, helpers, and industry mentors. This workshop’s “Mentor Hangz Career Chatz” session featured inspiring contributions from Natasha Hurley-Walker, Melissa Penny, Rachel Cardell-Oliver, Leah Kalimeris and Chathu Jayawarden, who generously shared their career journeys. Their guidance echoes a core pillar of the UWA Data Institute’s strategy: strengthening Western Australia’s digital capability by creating pathways for diverse young talent to find their place in tech.
The UWA Data Institute, together with the UWA Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, is proud to sponsor and host Perth GPN. Our commitment to building an inclusive and skilled data and technology ecosystem is made possible through the support of our Foundation Sponsors—BCG X, IMDEX, Kinetic IT and Chevron.
To get involved as a student or tutor in 2026, join the Perth GPN mailing lists at https://www.girlsprogramming.network/perth or contact the team at perth@girlsprogramming.network.
See you in 2026!
