Minister for Women Desley Boyle hopes a Statewide seminar - including four CQU campus videoconference sites - will dispel IT's nerdy image and encourage women to enter the lucrative industry.

"Fewer than 20% of IT professionals are women - yet it is one of the highest-paying industries in Australia," Ms Boyle said.

The State Government's Office for Women and industry group Women in IT is hosting the State-wide seminar to encourage women to join the IT industry, which is regarded internationally as one of the "hot" fields.

"Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Queenslanders with formal qualifications in IT earned an average of $999 a week in 2001," Ms Boyle said.

"This was higher than any other degree group apart from natural and physical sciences at $1075 a week. ".

Ms Boyle said women should not be put off by IT's traditional geeky image.

"The reality is, IT is not just for maths geniuses and computer nerds. IT is very people-oriented and is about solving problems - and that's what women are great at.

"By ruling out IT as a career option, women are ruling themselves out of careers that are lucrative, challenging and flexible.".

Ms Boyle said the Work IT seminar would be conducted from Brisbane on Friday, October 22 from 9.30am, with links to videoconference sites including CQU's Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay and Bundaberg campuses.

Representatives from global IT companies, local employers, recruiters, trainers and women who've made careers in IT will be involved in the free session.

The Work IT seminar is part of the Office for Women's Smart Women seminar series.