Media Release - ACS congratulates Goanna on Digital Cadetship success
Building Indigenous technology skills becomes top priority
7 April 2022
ACS, the professional association for Australia’s technology sector, is delighted to be working with Goanna Solutions Education as part of the Federal Government's Digital Skills Cadetship Trial.
Goanna is an Aboriginal-owned and operated tech education to employment solution company, and the leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Registered Training Organisation specialising in ICT.
Under the scheme, Goanna will be providing trainees and cadets to industry employers with funding to deliver 13 courses over two years. These courses will commence over coming weeks with 260 participants enrolled.
ACS CEO, Rupert Grayston said: “We are delighted to be helping Goanna deliver this pilot program and hope its success will see the program adopted as a permanent Federal government program.
“In last year’s ACS Digital Pulse report, Deloitte Access Economics forecast an ongoing shortage of 60,000 IT workers and the Digital Skills Cadetship trial offers a solution that will see more young Australians join the industry.
“It’s important the benefits of the digital economy are shared among all Australians and the technology jobs of the future are available to everyone, so Goanna’s focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is very welcome.”
The Digital Cadetship trial is expected to focus on growing fields including cybersecurity, cloud computing and data analytics, and to target cohorts including those who have been displaced as a result of COVID-19 or are returning to the workforce.
This Trial will target a wide audience, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women returning to the workforce, migrants, refugees, people with disability, and those aged under 24. Each cadetship will span four to six months and may include vocational or higher education units, plus industry training.
Goanna CEO Lisa Sarago highlighted the importance of the program: “As an Aboriginal company, we need to deliver differently to diverse cohorts, and this funding will give us the platform to showcase our quality training to community, the wider industry, and our students.”
ACS will be assisting Goanna with enhancements to support the program’s student development and Digital Skills Cadetship streams including:
ACS Membership and mySFIA Self-Assessment
Students will have access to an array of networking and professional development opportunities to kick-start their career. Furthermore, throughout their cadetship program, students will explore the SFIA Framework through self-assessment and skills-gap analysis to identify their strengths and potential career pathways.
ACS Online Mentorship Engagement
Student cohorts will undertake a 13-week online companion course with a dedicated mentor; delivered in tandem with the cadetship. Through asynchronous discussions, journals, assessment, and informal online mentorship, students will reflect on their industry experience while also expanding their knowledge and ability to navigate the Australian tech and digital sector.
Formal Skills Assessment
Upon successful completion of the Digital Cadetship, graduates are encouraged to engage ACS in a final skills assessment exercise to review and externally assess their skills (likely ranging from Level 1 to 3). Successful applicants may then receive formal recognition of specialist skills and industry experience, further futureproofing them for the job search and evolving market expectations.
For more information on the Digital Skills Cadetship Trial, visit: www.dese.gov.au/digitalskillscadetshiptrial
-ENDS-
Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy
ACS is the professional association for Australia's technology sector. ACS members work across business, education, government, and the community delivering the digital services essential to the nation’s prosperity and security.
ACS exists to create the environment and provide the opportunities for members and partners to succeed. ACS strives for technology professionals to be recognised as drivers of innovation in our society, relevant across all sectors, and to promote the formulation of effective policies on technology and related matters. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.