Victorian Girls Urged to Go for IT

Victorian Girls Urged to Go for IT


Media release - 24 October 2006

Girls looking for a fast paced, creative and leading edge career need look no further than the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

ICT Minister Marsha Thomson said the Go Girl – Go For IT initiative starting at Deakin University today was aimed at making girls aware of the many work opportunities available through ICT.

"More than 2,400 girls from Years Nine to 12 will gather at the university's Burwood campus today and tomorrow to hear from women who have exciting careers in ICT and learn how ICT opens doors into industries as diverse as film, advertising, medicine, and science,' Ms Thomson said.

"Victoria's ICT sector generates $23 billion per annum and accounts for $303 million annual expenditure on private sector research and development. And over 75,000 people work in a sector that produces world-class products and continues to grow.

"But despite these facts, women constitute less than 20 percent of the ICT workforce - a trend the Bracks Government is working hard to reverse.

The Go Girls event is being run by the Victorian Women in ICT Network, a cluster established through a $100,000 Bracks Government grant.

"The Network is a collaboration of Government, industry and the education sector and has three main goals: to encourage women to enter the ICT industry; to retain women in the industry; and to enable women to achieve their full potential within their career," Ms Thomson said.

The Go Girls event joins an innovative suite of ICT skills programs including the ICT: Start Here Go Anywhere careers campaign and the Victorian Government's $1.9 million scholarships package.

ICT skills development is targeted through scholarships for talented ICT undergraduates and postgraduate students, as well as funding support for tertiary institutes to develop strong industry links and offer additional industry-based learning opportunities for students.

Healthy Futures package designed to strengthen Victoria's world-class medical research facilities, improve the health of Victorians and create new industries and jobs."