The Allan Labor Government is making sure more Victorians can get the skills they need for the job they want, with boosted investment helping people make the jump into a digital job of their choice.
Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins today announced applications are now open for the latest rounds of the Labor Government’s Digital Jobs program – supporting 400 mid-career Victorians with 12 weeks of training in digital fields.
From data analytics, digital marketing, IT operations and support, user experience, programming, and web development, this free training provides an accessible pathway for people to get the training they need for the job they deserve.
Once training is complete, program participants will have the opportunity to apply for a 12-week work placement to gain invaluable real-world experience in their chosen field.
The Victorian Budget 24/25 invested $4.4 million to enable more workers to re-shape their job prospects by moving into state’s growing tech sector and filling critical skill shortages through the Digital Jobs program.
The Government’s investment is also supporting 600 existing program participants with ongoing employment services support to help them get a job in Victoria’s tech sector.
More than 5,000 people have been supported to transition into a digital career since the program launched in August 2021, with more than 59% of participants being female, 63 per cent spoke a language other than English and 40 per cent were over 40 years of age.
Program participants from non-digital backgrounds that transitioned into digital roles saw an average increase of $500 in their weekly wages.
The program has more than 1,300 employers registered as business hosts, from small businesses to companies like the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, which has successfully placed five candidates into permanent employment.
After completing her placement, software engineer Melissa Burnett was offered a permanent position with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, where she is supporting the Bank’s digital transformation.
The Digital Jobs program is one of a range of Government initiatives to support the growth of digital skills and talent. Others include the Women in Security program, which provides a pathway for women to transition into cyber careers, and the Cremorne Digital Hub.
Applications are now open for the round 10 intake commencing early-August and the round 11 intake commencing mid-November. To learn more about the Digital Jobs program or to apply, please visit vic.gov.au/digitaljobs
As stated by Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins
“We’re supporting more Victorians to gain critical skills and transition into jobs in tech to bolster our state’s business competitiveness and sustain productivity growth.”
“The latest round of this nation-leading initiative will help industry address demand for digital skills while enabling more people to transform their careers.”
As stated by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chief People Officer Louise Tebbutt
“The Program has provided a reliable, diverse and quality pipeline of tech and transformation talent to the Bank and has been particularly beneficial in building both female and regional talent across our teams.”
As stated by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Software Engineer Melissa Burnett
“The Digital Jobs Program was a fantastic foot in the door for me, and a real launching pad for my career in tech.”