The inaugural National ICT Careers Week – under the theme Start Here, Go Anywhere – will be held from 28 July to 2 August this year to showcase the extensive and rewarding study and career opportunities currently available in ICT for young people.
In an Australian first, various companies, industry and professional bodies, education institutions, and government agencies are joining together to launch the National ICT Careers Week. This is an initiative of the ICT Industry Leadership Group co-hosted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) to promote ICT study and careers.
During the ICT Careers Week, participating organisations will host events and activities promoting the benefits of post-school ICT studies for school students, and of careers in ICT for graduates.
“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.
“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,” Ms Coulter said.
“And working in ICT pays well: new ICT graduates can expect to earn up to $62,000 a year as a starting salary. ICT provides rewarding and dynamic career opportunities and advancement in many of Australia’s economic, community and social aspirations into the future,” concluded Ms Coulter.
“ICT opens a world of possibilities and offers work across a range of exciting industries - from fashion and finance, to business and building,” added ACS CEO Kim Denham. “Current and future generations of Australian ICT professionals will be engaged in solving many of the most of the significant problems we face today – whether that is addressing impact of global warming, improving access to critical health services, or improving corporate governance systems.
AIIA CEO Ian Birks was pleased to see the number of organisations demonstrating their support for ICT study and career opportunities. “National ICT Careers Week is about getting young people, their parents and their teachers excited about what ICT study and work has to offer. Many people would be surprised at where an ICT qualification can take them – it is like a passport to the world,” said Mr Birks.
At this stage, over 70 companies, industry and professional bodies, education institutions, and government agencies have registered as participants during the week.
They have advised that they will be staging various activities, promotion and marketing initiatives, functions and events, study and career information.
Some will be demonstrating cutting-edge technology in areas ranging from climate change solutions, state-of-the-art security applications, space technologies, medical robotics and artificial intelligence to animation, entertainment and fashion.
The organisations, which are participating, and their proposed activities are listed on the National ICT Career Week web site: www.aiia.com.au/pages/nationalictcareersweek.aspx
The web site is being constantly updated with new registrants and ICT week activities.
The National ICT Careers week will be held during the week 28 July to 2 August 2008 across Australia.
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Media contacts:
Michel Hedley
Australian Information Industry Association
0417 695 616
m.hedley@aiia.com.au
Len Joynson
Australian Computer Society
02 8296 4418
len.joynson@acs.org.au