Are you a mid-career Victorian looking for a career change? Do you want to learn new skills and gain valuable experience in the fast-growing technology sector? If so, you might be interested in the Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs program.
The Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs program aims to help 5,000 mid-career Victorians transition into digital careers. The program provides participants with:
An industry-focused digital certification in a high-demand area such as data analysis, web development, cyber security, and cloud computing, among others. Unlike other state and federal government funding programs that support nationally recognised qualifications, the Digital Jobs program focuses on delivering job-ready skills that are aligned with the current and future needs of the digital sector.
An opportunity to apply their new digital skills in a 12-week digital job placement with a Victorian business.
Ongoing mentoring and career support from industry experts and peers.
The initiative is designed to help Victorians who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, automation, or other factors that have affected their employment opportunities. It is also open to Victorians looking for a career change or want to upskill in the digital sector.
What’s more, the program partners with some of the state’s leading employers across various sizes and sectors. Students will have the opportunity to work for prestigious companies such as ANZ, Carsales, and Zendesk, among others.
To seize this opportunity, you must:
Be a resident of Victoria
Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or
Possess a legitimate visa enabling you to live, work, and study without any limitations within Australia for a minimum of the subsequent 12 months. (Some visa categories are not qualified; for instance, individuals holding a student visa – subclass 500 – cannot participate in this initiative.)
Be over 30 years of age with five+ years of work experience; or 10+ years of work experience if you are 30 years or under (years in total; not necessarily consecutively)
Have not previously participated in Digital Jobs training
You must also have good English communication and writing skills, be proficient in Microsoft Office, collaboration tools, and online services, and be able to perform tasks such as computer updates.
According to a recent report by the Digital Jobs program, the initiative now has 4,060 participants that have progressed through Rounds 1 to 7 of training and job placement. These participants were selected from a pool of over 28,000 applications. The Digital Jobs program assesses applications through a three-step process and offers placements to the most competitive applicants:
Online form covering employment history, work rights and mandatory criteria
An online, text-based behavioural interview
Personality Assessment on workplace preferences and timed Abstract Reasoning Assessment
The report also indicated that the participants' most favored digital stream was Data Analytics, boasting a total of 679 enrollments. Following in second place is Digital Marketing, with 604 enrollments, while Web Development takes the third spot with 425 enrolled individuals. Other popular streams include:
Project Management
Programming/Software Development
User Experience/User Interface
Cyber Security
IT Operations and Support
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Cloud Computing
Product Management
Customer Relationship Management
Enterprise Resource Planning
The Digital Jobs report revealed that a remarkable 58% of the participants are women, showing that the program is helping to reduce the gender gap and bring a new perspective to IT roles and teams. This is especially important in an industry that has historically been dominated by men and has faced challenges in attracting and retaining female talent. By empowering more women to pursue digital careers, the program is also contributing to the diversity and innovation of the IT sector.
Another interesting finding from the report is that 28% of the participants are in the 40-49 age range, and 9% are aged 50-59 years old. This indicates that the program is providing valuable training support for mid-life career changes, which can be a daunting and difficult process for many people. In today’s economy, where technological disruptions and market shifts are constantly creating new opportunities and challenges, it is essential for workers to be able to adapt and reskill themselves. The program is also addressing the skills gap that the IT industry is facing, by equipping more people with the relevant and in-demand digital skills.
The report also showed that 64% of the participants are proficient in multiple languages, and 11% hail from regional areas in Victoria. A significant portion of them hold either a bachelor’s/honour’s degree or a master’s degree. In terms of age distribution, 59% of participants fall within the 30-39 age range. The participants’ most common industry backgrounds are:
IT & telecommunications
Engineering & construction
Education & childcare
Tourism & hospitality
Banking & accounting
Legal
The Digital Jobs initiative's impact extends beyond just upskilling mid-career Victorians, as it has also provided businesses with access to a pool of high-quality talent. In fact, the program has drawn the interest of over 980 businesses spanning various sectors, all keen to offer work placements to participants.
An impressive 88% of Victorian businesses have expressed the intent to participate in future rounds, with an overwhelming 97% recommending the program to others. This showcases the highly positive feedback and experience these businesses have gained from their involvement in the Digital Jobs program. These statistics underscore the businesses' confidence and pride in being part of the program's community.
Applications are currently open for Round 9 training, which starts on January 29, 2024. You can apply for this round until late September 2023. Participant selection will start after applications close. If you are successful, you will work with recruitment agency Hudson to find the most suitable course and training provider according to your career goals.
The Victorian Government also offers the Digital Jobs for Manufacturing program, which provides funding to enrol a nominated manufacturing worker in a 12-week online, part-time industry endorsed digital skills course.
Lumify, the largest provider of vendor ICT training in Australia, along with Lumify Learn are partners of the Victorian Government's Digital Jobs program. Lumify Learn offers the following courses for Round 9:
To start your learning journey with us, download the brochure for your chosen course. When you are ready to enrol, contact your Digital Skills and Jobs Program mentor at Hudson to select your course.
The classes below are available under the Digital Jobs for Manufacturing program:
By taking a course with us, you can access a variety of tailored learning experiences, such as video content, quizzes, live labs, expert led webinars, and more. You’ll also connect with our carefully selected group of experts in the field, whose role is to mentor you through your course. The best part? You’ll launch your career with a globally recognised certification, highly respected by employers.
Don’t pass up this fantastic opportunity to grow your career and achieve your goals. Talk to a course advisor today or email us at [email protected] to learn more. If you live outside of Victoria, you can still inquire about a course with us by calling 1800 936 230 or sending an email to [email protected].
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