Australian social enterprise Code Like A Girl has partnered with Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta on the company’s Immersive Learning Academy.
The partnership will see Meta provide free, guided training in AR for more than 200 women and gender-diverse people so they have the confidence, tools and support they need to enter the world of immersive technologies and explore careers in AR and VR.
Meta’s Spark AR curriculum will equip women with skills to create and publish AR filters as well as experiences and will feature the work of prominent Australian AR creators, Jess Herrington and Raymond Leung.
Ally Watson, CEO and founder of Code Like A Girl said, “Our digital and physical realities are inextricably linked, so addressing the gender imbalance within tech is paramount. We’re delighted to bring this program and cutting-edge curriculum to the Code Like a Girl community where it will introduce a much-needed diverse range of creators into the Metaverse – leading us towards more equitable experiences for all genders.”
Developing relevant skills
In addition to the launch of its Immersive Learning Academy, Meta has also created a self-guided online curriculum that is now available to all Australians. The course includes quick start, fundamentals and pro modules that’ll make it easy and free for anyone to be up-skilled on AR effects, most notably seen on Instagram as ‘Facial filters’.
Mia Garlick, Meta’s regional lead for APAC said, “We want to support creators to make a living. That’s why we’ve partnered with Code Like a Girl and T&DA to help grow Australia’s creator ecosystem by providing a platform where creators can upskill, build community and learn how to market and monetise their work.”
Participants who complete the course will be able to develop face filters, target tracker and world effects; information sessions and community building events for women to connect and build networks; and the opportunity to apply for formal Meta Spark certification upon completion of the course.
The Code Like a Girl and T&DA course will launch in May, with a training and coaching duration over an eight-week period that also includes free support for women in the Code Like A Girl community to upskill in AR.
Meta’s Immersive Learning Academy is a global initiative to support the next generation of creators for the metaverse that’ll now help grow Australia’s creator ecosystem by providing upskilling, community building, mentoring and monetisation opportunities.

Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
