Through the efforts of the Victorian Government, more tech talent will be available to help develop a stronger pipeline of qualified and experienced tech talent.
According to a recent press release, Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula visited RMIT University in order to announce that the State Government will be investing AU$ 200,000 to expand the Microsoft Traineeship Program to Victoria. He explained that an investment is being made for the next generation of IT professionals through this program.
This will guarantee that they will have the skills and real-world experience to forge ahead in their careers. Australia currently faces a shortfall of 100,000 workers by 2024 in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
Unfortunately, the number of people graduating with degrees in this area is not enough to meet the demand.
Traineeship Program
- As reported, the new traineeship program is being developed by the technology company, in partnership with the State Government, and will be offered in the University.
- Starting with a small pilot in Melbourne, the first 15 trainees will commence the program in the coming weeks before expanding to take on more trainees in February next year.
- The Program will provide trainees with industry-recognised credentials such as a Certificate IV in Information Technology while they undertake paid, hands-on learning with some of the country’s biggest companies.
- Specifically, the program aims to create career pathways for people who have been under-represented in the IT industry to date.
- The course is suitable for those with an interest in IT including school leavers, recent graduates, those looking to change careers, women returning to work, people from Cultural and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Indigenous people, and people living with a disability.
- Trainees are not required to have a background in IT and can be at any stage in their career.
- The Traineeship Program was launched in NSW in late 2018 and is now up and running in NSW, the ACT and South Australia.
- Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney shared that partnerships like this one between employers and training providers are critical to ensuring the students get relevant training and on-the-job experience.
Victoria, a Leader in Tech
Victoria is Australia’s tech city and an emerging tech hub in the Asia-Pacific. The Victorian Government is determined to ensure that the state remains a leading location for the tech industry.
They are investing record funding in training and skills and higher education to make Victoria the Education State. Since 2015, more than AU$ 1.3 billion has been invested to rebuild the TAFE system and guarantee that students can get the skills they need for the jobs they want.
