Under the theme Start Here, Go Anywhere Australia’s first National ICT Careers week will be held from 28 July to 2 August this year to showcase the dynamic career opportunities currently available to graduates across the industry.

ICT Career’s Week has captured the imagination of the Australian industry and a wide range of organisations, from ICT interests to educational institutions, are supporting the week through events being planned across the country.

No matter what area today’s students want to work in, studying ICT will help them realise their goals; recognised ICT skills are like a passport to the world. ‘I'm currently on a one year assignment to Australia from Chicago, and my career prospects are very wide,’ said Dahlia Bock, Software Developer from participating company Thoughtworks. ‘I could potentially work in any industry, be it banking, manufacturing, insurance or entertainment.’

Among the activities planned for the week, the Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association will host an expo for Victorian students and parents on 2 August to meet with tertiary and industry groups to gain a better understanding of the available career options in ICT and how tertiary training in the field will become an increasingly important prerequisite in many forms of business.

In NSW, the Northern Sydney Institute will be promoting Digi-Girls Robotics on July 29 and 30, a technical skills acceleration program for girls in Years 10–12. The majority of jobs in today’s workforce require a basic understanding of computers and industry technology; to increase awareness of the types of technology used in the workplace, the Digi-Girls program demonstrates the relevance and use of the equipment through hands-on training.

And in South Australia on July 30, high-profile radio and television science commentator and author, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, will be proudly hosted by the University of South Australia School of Computer and Information Science to talk about some of the great career opportunities in IT. Dr Karl’s presentation will examine the exponentially growing opportunities in IT, and how the contemporary workforce needs to be aware of these changes and adapt with them.

‘The National ICT Careers Week will broaden the horizons of young school leavers who may not have considered undertaking ICT studies or the possibilities that surround a career in the ICT industry,’ said Penny Coulter, Chair of the Careers Week Steering Committee and President of the Information Technology Contract and Recruitment Association.

‘Working in ICT is not just about sitting at a desk in front of a computer. There’s a world of opportunity out there for young people to become leaders and team players in almost any field of high-technology they choose.’

National ICT Careers Week will be held in all states and territories from 28 July to 2 August 2008. Full details of participating organisations and proposed activities are listed on the National ICT Career Week web site.