Wodonga Teens Switch On To Hi-Tech Career Paths
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Media release - 24 August 2007
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More than 200 Wodonga teenagers have heard the real story about future careers in ICT this week, as part of the Brumby Government’s ICT: Start Here. Go Anywhere campaign, Victoria’s Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Theo Theophanous announced.
“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 2300 Victorian students have attended the Upload Your Future sessions over the past 12 months. Almost 90 per cent of students providing feedback in 2006 responded that they would consider a career in ICT after having heard what was on offer.
An ICT Skills Working Group leads the campaign in close collaboration with the Brumby Government. The group includes representatives from the technology sector, industry associations, individual businesses, the TAFE sector and all nine Victorian universities.
“The Australian Industry (Ai) Group and the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) are the lead organisations working on the campaign,” Mr Theophanous 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 $1.9 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.
Eight Upload Your Future sessions have been held so far this year with a further six sessions scheduled to be held across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne. For more information about these events please contact Anne Younger at the Ai Group on 9867 0272.
For more information on the Victorian Government’s ICT skills programs go to: www.mmv.vic.gov.au/ICTSkillsandCareers
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