Multimedia Victoria - Warrnambool Teens Switch On To Hi-Tech Career Paths

Warrnambool Teens Switch On To Hi-Tech Career Paths Media release - 19 October 2007 More than 400 Warrnambool teens will get the real story about a future career in ICT as part of the Brumby Government’s ICT: Start Here. Go Anywhere campaign, Victoria’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Theo Theophanous announced today. “The Brumby Government wants Victorian students to gain a genuine insight on just how far study and a career in ICT can take them. So we are working with industry and the education sector to better inform our young people through a targeted campaign,” Mr Theophanous said. “The interactive Upload Your Future sessions provide students with the opportunity to hear recent graduates and young professionals explain exactly what is involved in technology courses and careers, so they can get the facts first-hand from the people in the field. “Our research study revealed that many teenagers continue to hold limited and stereotypical views about working in ICT, and these ideas tend to act as a barrier to students choosing tertiary-level ICT courses. “But these perceptions also seem ripe for change, with 40 per cent of the 14-19 year olds surveyed admitting they have little understanding about what working in ICT actually entails, suggesting better ICT career information might be exactly what young people need.” More than 3000 Victorian students have attended the Upload Your Future sessions over the past 18 months. Almost 90 per cent of students providing feedback last year responded that they would consider a career in ICT after having heard what was on offer. Western Victoria Region MP Gayle Tierney said an ICT Skills Working Group - including representatives from the technology sector, industry associations, businesses, the TAFE sector and nine Victorian universities - leads the campaign along with the Brumby Government. “The Australian Industry (Ai) Group and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) are the lead organisations working on the campaign,” Ms Tierney said. “The Brumby Government is matching industry and education sector contributions dollar for dollar, up to a total of $275,000.” The campaign complements the Brumby Government’s $2.3 million ICT skills package, which includes scholarships for talented ICT tertiary students, as well as grants for universities and TAFEs to develop strong industry links and offer additional industry-based learning opportunities for students. For more information on the Victorian Government’s ICT skills programs go to: www.mmv.vic.gov.au/ICTSkillsandCareers Further Information View Media Release as PDF, 24KB, 1 page. Download Adobe Acrobat to view PDF files