AIIA - Australian Information Industry Association - National ICT Careers Week promoting a growing jobs market

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Friday 11 July 2008

From July 28 to August 2 this year, the inaugural National ICT Career’s Week will promote the growing jobs market in ICT careers to students and their parents across the country.

‘More than 100,000 new ICT jobs have been created in the past decade alone, and the long-term career prospects for graduates continues to strengthen,’ said AIIA CEO Ian Birks. ‘While national employment levels have risen by 1.6 per cent over the past five years, ICT professionals have seen a growth of 47.6 per cent in the 10 years to May 2008.’

One reason for this is that ICT skills play an increasingly vital role in almost all occupations, and contribute to productivity gains, innovation and employment growth across all Australian industries. It is leading to exciting career opportunities. The industry is now taking a front-row seat in the development of innovative solutions to many of Australia’s most pressing issues, such as climate change and management of water resources.

‘When you work for a company in ICT, you’re there, right at the very beginning of all of that innovation,’ said Tracey Fellows, Managing Director of Microsoft Australia. ‘You are constantly learning. And because of that continuous learning, you are constantly acquiring new skills that can take your career in many different directions. It really does open up a world of possibilities.’

‘I can honestly say I cannot think of a better field to work in,’ Ms Fellows said.

Over 200 companies, educational institutions, government organisations and industry bodies have now registered to host events and activities in across the country under the ‘Start Here, Go Anywhere’ banner.

In Tasmania, the Australian Computer Society, the University of Tasmania and a number of local businesses have combined forces to run a series of workshops for tertiary students that will focus on ‘Landing that job!’ Included will be instruction in writing CVs and job applications as well as mock job interviews.

In the ACT, the Australian Government Information Management Office will be hosting a career counsellor’s forum promoting ICT careers in the Australian Public Service (APS). The focus will be on how the APS and education institutions can work together to encourage students into this incredibly diverse sector.

During the week, the ACS Foundation will also be formally launching a Memorandum of Understanding with AIIA. The ACS Foundation focuses on work placement for graduate students with dynamic ICT companies, and is today the prime scholarship facilitator with an exclusive focus on the ICT industry.

National ICT Careers Week will be held in all states and territories from 28 July to 2 August 2008 as an initiative of the ICT Industry Leadership Group, co-hosted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).

Full details of participating organisations, and their proposed activities, are listed on the National ICT Careers Week web site.

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For more information, contact:

Rhett Somers
Australian Information Industry Association
Mobile: 0411 670 007
r.somers@aiia.com.au