With Council support and strong community partnerships, Melbourne RoboCats gives girls in Monash the confidence to build robots – and their confidence in STEM.
Every weeknight and weekend in January, and all weekend in February and March, a group of girls gather in the City of Monash.
Some arrive straight from school. Others travel hours to be there. By the end of each session, they'll be deep in problem solving – and one step closer to bringing a 52kg robot to life.
They're part of Melbourne RoboCats, an all-girls, community-run robotics team that's quietly reshaping what STEM looks like for young people in Monash, with the support of Council and other community partnerships.
Build season
Each year, the RoboCats design, build and test an industrial-scale robot in just 6 to 8 weeks – otherwise known as build season.
It's part the FIRST® Robotics Competition, a global challenge that culminates in different teams battling their robots against each other. The Australasian tournament features 45-50 teams from Australia and the Oceania region.
Under the guidance of mentors, the girls are empowered to make design decisions, manage deadlines and work as a team. Through multiple iterations, the team designs, tests and refines their ideas, learning resilience and adaptability along the way.
Stepping into STEM
For many participants, it's their first exposure to engineering, coding or electronics. Around 80% join with no prior experience.
Questions are encouraged and mistakes are part of learning. "If you're thinking it, someone else is thinking it too," said organiser Singithi Karunaratne.
Singithi remembers one former participant who arrived shy, barely speaking during her first sessions. "Today, she leads teams and presents at public events!"
"It's not just about robots. It's about helping these girls become industry-ready – giving them confidence, communication skills and the belief that they belong."
It takes a village
Strong local partnerships have helped make that possible.
Through Council, Robocats connected with Mulgrave coworking and innovation space Eastern Innovation, with the team using the site as their weeknight base in January.
And with the support of a Monash Community Grant, they team was able to hire Monash Men's Shed in Glen Waverley for its intensive build workshops.
The Men's Shed has given RoboCats access to specialist machinery such as lathes, benders and drill presses – equipment that would otherwise be out of budget and out of reach.
Beyond competition, RoboCats is deeply connected to the community. The team takes part in school outreach, robot demonstrations and presenting at local schools. Senior students mentor younger members, while alumni return to give back – creating a strong cycle of learning and leadership.
How to get involved
Singithi says there are plenty of ways to get involved with Melbourne RoboCats, whether you're a student, parent or local business.
Girls aged 14–18 (and sometimes 13 as a foundation year) can try a few sessions to see what the program is like.
The main recruitment drive runs from August to October and onboarding continues through to mid-December, ahead of the January–March build season.
The team also welcomes adult mentors and coaches across mechanical, electrical, software, CAD, project management and media/outreach, as well as sponsors who can help with equipment, materials and competition costs.
As Singithi says, "once you're a RoboCat, you're part of a close, supportive community."
Want to get involved as a team member, mentor or sponsor? Visit the RoboCats website to learn how.
